Huatulco vs San Miguel de Allende
Cost of living comparison for expats considering Huatulco or San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Based on a typical expat lifestyle
Huatulco is 18% cheaper than San Miguel de Allende
Monthly savings
$300
Mexico
Huatulco
$1,337
$23,398
Cheaper option
Mexico
San Miguel de Allende
$1,637
$28,648
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).
San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel operates on two parallel tracks: English-language rental sites charge 30-50% premium over Spanish listings on Inmuebles24 and Segundamano. The Tuesday tianguis market is essential for local prices. Healthcare offers 60-80% savings vs US prices. The walkable centro means many skip car ownership entirely. Water is unsafe due to arsenic/fluoride—budget $15-20/month for garrafones or reverse osmosis.
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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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