Riviera Maya vs San Miguel de Allende
Cost of living comparison for expats considering Riviera Maya or San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Based on a typical expat lifestyle
San Miguel de Allende is 26% cheaper than Riviera Maya
Monthly savings
$589
Mexico
Riviera Maya
$2,226
$38,955
Mexico
San Miguel de Allende
$1,637
$28,648
Cheaper option
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
Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya corridor offers dramatic price variations by town. Puerto Morelos two-bedroom condos run $700-900 on the colonia (local) side, $1,500-2,500 beach-side. Akumal skews 30-50% higher due to vacation rental dominance. Puerto Aventuras' gated security commands premiums—studios start at $900. Mahahual offers beachfront casitas at $400-800 but 4+ hours from Cancún. Seasonal swings of 30-50% between high (Dec-Apr) and low season. The CFE electricity DAC threshold is critical—exceeding 400 kWh monthly average triggers 5-6x higher rates. Uber does not operate here; colectivos are the budget transport backbone at $2-3 per segment.
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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