Cost of Living in Monterrey

Mexico

Monthly budget (single)

$1,231–$1,949/month

$21,224 – $33,603 (local currency)

Overall 7.9Safety 8.8Housing 7.3Quality of life 8.4

Last updated: 2026-03

Can you afford to live in Monterrey?

Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).

Cost breakdown

CategoryUSDLocal currency
Rent (1-bed, city center)$923–$1,436$15,914 – $24,759
Rent (1-bed, outside center)$487–$769$8,397 – $13,259
Utilities (electricity, heating, water)$38–$74$655 – $1,276
Internet & Mobile$15–$26$259 – $448
Groceries (monthly)$195–$292$3,362 – $5,034
Eating out (per meal, mid-range)$26–$46$448 – $793
Coffee$2–$3$34 – $52
Public transport (monthly pass)$49–$59$845 – $1,017
Gym membership$18–$33$310 – $569
Cinema ticket$7–$9$121 – $155

Budget scenarios

Single

$1,231–$1,949/mo USD

$21,224 – $33,603

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,436/mo
  • Groceries: ~$292/mo
  • Transport: ~$59/mo

Couple

$1,949–$2,974/mo USD

$33,603 – $51,276

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,436/mo
  • Groceries: ~$292/mo
  • Transport: ~$59/mo

Family

$2,821–$4,359/mo USD

$48,638 – $75,155

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,436/mo
  • Groceries: ~$292/mo
  • Transport: ~$59/mo

Neighbourhood guide

Monterrey Center

Central

Urban core, transit access

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,154–$1,795/mo ($19,897 – $30,948)

Monterrey Midtown

Central

Mixed residential

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,015–$1,580/mo ($17,500 – $27,241)

Monterrey Outer

Suburban

Quieter, family-friendly

Est. 1-bed rent: $738–$1,149/mo ($12,724 – $19,810)

Quality of life scores

Housing7.3/10
Safety8.8/10
Healthcare8.8/10
Education8.4/10
Environment9.2/10
Economy7.5/10
Culture8.1/10
Internet8.5/10

Pros & cons

βœ… Pros

  • β€’ Industrial capital
  • β€’ US trade
  • β€’ Mountains

❌ Cons

  • β€’ Water stress
  • β€’ Heat

Similar cities & cheaper alternatives

Compare Monterrey with another city

Related articles

Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.