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
31/ 10069% cheaper than New York
+36% rent since Jul 2026
$1,106/mo
Median Income
52/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
60/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,021/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$712/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,857/month
Food & Groceries
45/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.7/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
50/100
Monthly Transit Pass$35/month
One-Way Ticket$0.86/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.1/km
Utilities
40/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$110/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$40/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$22/month
Healthcare
55/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$40/visit
Dentist Visit$55/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
50/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$55/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4/bottle
Dining Out
50/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$14/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$55/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8.6/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$16/pack
Fitness & Sports
48/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

86 Mbps
Internet Speed
$250
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
70/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: San Jerónimo, Obispado, Valle Oriente

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monterrey cheap to live in?

Monterrey has a cost of living index of 31/100, where New York = 100. It is 69% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,120–$1,568 per month.

How much does rent cost in Monterrey?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Monterrey costs approximately $1,021/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $712/month.

Is Monterrey good for digital nomads?

Monterrey has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 86 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $250/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Monterrey?

The median net monthly salary in Monterrey is approximately $1,106 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

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

Monterrey (cost index 31) is 69% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,725/month by moving from New York to Monterrey.

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