Huatulco vs Oaxaca City
Cost of living comparison for expats considering Huatulco or Oaxaca City, Mexico.
Based on a typical expat lifestyle
Huatulco is 6% cheaper than Oaxaca City
Monthly savings
$91
Mexico
Huatulco
$1,337
$23,398
Cheaper option
Mexico
Oaxaca City
$1,428
$24,990
Category Breakdown
Housing (Rent)
Utilities
Groceries
Dining Out
Transportation
Lifestyle & Entertainment
Healthcare
Phone & Subscriptions
Based on a typical expat lifestyle: 1BR furnished apartment in mid-range neighborhood, mix of cooking/eating out, rideshare transportation, moderate entertainment, basic health insurance.
City Insights
Huatulco
Huatulco offers exceptional value among Mexico's beach destinations—approximately 50% cheaper than Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, or Los Cabos. The critical variable is electricity: AC usage can push bills from $12 to $180+ monthly, and triggering DAC (high consumption) rates can triple costs overnight. Long-term rentals run 75% less than Airbnb—searching in Spanish on Inmuebles24 or walking neighborhoods for signs delivers the best deals. Uber/DiDi don't operate here, but fixed-rate taxis at 35 MXN within town make transport easy. No dedicated coworking exists, but Golden Circle at Best Western Chahué offers ~200 Mbps for remote workers. Healthcare is adequate for basics but limited for specialists—serious conditions require Oaxaca City (5 hours) or Mexico City (1-hour flight).
Oaxaca City
Oaxaca delivers possibly the best food-to-cost ratio in Mexico—tlayudas for $4-6, tacos de tasajo at Central de Abastos for just $0.17 each. Mezcal runs $8-15/bottle vs $60+ in the US. The valley climate at 5,080ft means no AC needed—utility bills stay minimal year-round. The rental market is two-tiered: English listings charge 30-100% premiums over Spanish sources. Average rent citywide is $890, but smart seekers using Inmuebles24 pay far less. CRITICAL: Severe water crisis—public authority supplies only 33% of capacity. Some neighborhoods get municipal water only once every 42 days; budget for pipa delivery (800-1,000 pesos/10,000L). Uber does NOT operate here (taxi unions blocked it). DiDi works with limitations. Rising popularity pushes Centro rents up, but Xochimilco and outer Reforma offer 20-40% savings.
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These estimates use a typical expat profile. Adjust housing, dining, and lifestyle preferences to match your actual situation.
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