Cost of Living

Monterrey, Mexico

Live cost-of-living data for Monterrey — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
32/ 10068% cheaper than New York
+36% rent since Jul 2026
$1,350/mo
Median Income
52/100
Safety
18%
Income Tax
subtropical semi-arid
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
62/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,155/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$850/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,857/month
Food & Groceries
50/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.6/kg
Transportation
48/100
Monthly Transit Pass$65/month
One-Way Ticket$0.86/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
42/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$128/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$40/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$28/month
Healthcare
58/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$65/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$550/month
International Primary School (yearly)$13,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$420/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$5.74/ticket
Clothing
52/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$60/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$38/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$38/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
50/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$14/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$55/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8.17/meal
Childcare
58/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$750/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
48/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$42/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

80 Mbps
Internet Speed
$220
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
62/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: San Pedro Garza García, Barrio Antiguo, Centro

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monterrey cheap to live in?

Monterrey has a cost of living index of 32/100, where New York = 100. It is 68% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,160–$1,624 per month.

How much does rent cost in Monterrey?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Monterrey costs approximately $1,155/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $850/month.

Is Monterrey good for digital nomads?

Monterrey has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 80 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $220/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Monterrey?

The median net monthly salary in Monterrey is approximately $1,350 USD. The income tax rate is around 18%.

How does Monterrey compare to New York for cost of living?

Monterrey (cost index 32) is 68% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,700/month by moving from New York to Monterrey.

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