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City Profile

San Fernando, Tamaulipas

Mexico · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Compare San Fernando Custom Comparison
70
Overall Score

San Fernando is a significant municipality and city located in the northern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Historically rooted in agriculture, livestock, and regional trade, the city serves as a vital crossroad connecting central Tamaulipas with border regions. Characterized by its semi-arid landscape and proximity to the Laguna Madre, it features a distinct regional culture deeply tied to northern Mexican traditions. While primarily a rural and commercial hub rather than a major tourist destination, it remains a key locality within the state's geographic framework.

About Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas, a northeastern Mexican state bordering Texas and the Gulf of Mexico, is characterized by diverse landscapes ranging from coastal plains to mountainous regions. Its economy is robust and diversified, with major industries including oil and gas, manufacturing (especially automotive and electronics maquiladoras), and agriculture, which benefits from extensive irrigated cropland. The climate varies from hot, humid subtropical in the south to arid and semi-arid in the central and northern areas, with an average annual temperature around 23.5 °C (74.3 °F). Living costs can vary, with an estimated average monthly cost for a single person around $1,580 including rent, and a lifestyle that blends cultural traditions with outdoor activities like exploring beaches and natural reserves.

57,856
Population
$7K
Avg Salary
45
Cost Index
70.0
Quality Score
How this 70/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 52 / 100 52.0 30% 15.6
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 45.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $9,500 Income needed to live here: $6,000 Unemployment rate: 3.2% 91.5 20% 18.3
Growth Population growth rate: 0.5% Job growth rate: 1.2% 40.8 15% 6.1
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 50 / 100 50.0 10% 5.0
Overall score 70.0

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
50
Livability
58
Affordability
82
Growth
52

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in San Fernando is generally lower than the national average for Mexico, reflecting regional economic conditions in Tamaulipas. Everyday expenses such as local produce, basic services, and public transportation remain affordable for residents compared to larger industrial or metropolitan centers. Housing costs, including rentals and property acquisition, are relatively modest due to the municipality's smaller urban footprint. Imported goods and specialized services, however, can introduce slight cost variations depending on supply chains from larger cities like Reynosa or Ciudad Victoria.

Average Rent
$350/mo
Groceries
$200/mo
Transport
$60/mo
Utilities
$75/mo
Healthcare
$80/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$25.00
Cinema ticket
$5.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$12.00
Monthly groceries
$180.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$30.00

Income

Salary Insights

San Fernando's economy is predominantly driven by agriculture, cattle ranching, and commercial trade serving the surrounding rural communities. Local commerce, small businesses, and public sector employment provide the primary sources of livelihood for the urban population. Agro-industrial activities and logistical services tied to regional transport routes also play a supportive role in employment. Opportunities in advanced corporate sectors or remote-work technology hubs are limited, though digital connectivity continues to expand gradually.

The average salary in San Fernando is $7,200 per year. You would need approximately $6,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Construction +1.00% Agriculture and Livestock +1.10% Transportation and Logistics +1.30% Retail and Commerce +1.50% Public Administration and Services +0.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
25°C
Avg Temp
☀️
34°C
Summer High
❄️
14°C
Winter Low
🌧️
25.10"
Annual Rain
💧
65.00%
Humidity
🌤️
280
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation in San Fernando relies heavily on private automobiles, local taxis, and regional bus services connecting to major Tamaulipas cities. Walkability is moderate within the central core where basic commercial services are concentrated, but outlying neighborhoods often require vehicular transport. The municipality is traversed by key federal highways, making road transport the primary lifeline for both passenger travel and freight movement. Public transit options within the urban area are primarily limited to local combis and taxis.

20 min
Avg Commute
40.00/10
Transit Score
55.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Housing and rental costs are significantly lower than major Mexican metropolitan areas
Rich regional culture and proximity to the natural ecosystems of the Laguna Madre
Strategic geographic position along key transport corridors in northern Tamaulipas
Strong sense of community with traditional local festivals and public spaces
Affordable everyday cost of living for basic goods and local services
Drawbacks
Limited local employment diversity outside of agriculture, trade, and public services
Proximity to regional security challenges affecting Tamaulipas highway corridors
Limited availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure requiring travel for specialized care
Very few high-paying professional or corporate career opportunities locally
Limited public mass transit infrastructure within the municipality

Head to Head

Compare San Fernando

San Fernando VS Tigard San Fernando VS Toledo San Fernando VS Elyria San Fernando VS Owasso

Community Q&A

Questions about San Fernando

What people ask about living in and moving to San Fernando, Tamaulipas.

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Gathering the most common questions about San Fernando…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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