Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Cerro de Pasco: $555 a month against $1,608 in Monterrey, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cerro de Pasco
🇵🇪 Peru
$555
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cerro de Pasco and in Monterrey

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cerro de Pasco and in Monterrey actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $555 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,608 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Cerro de Pasco $555
  • Monterrey $1,608

A couple spends around $891 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $2,521 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Cerro de Pasco $891
  • Monterrey $2,521

A family of three spends $1,227 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $3,433 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Cerro de Pasco $1,227
  • Monterrey $3,433

Cerro de Pasco is about 65% cheaper than Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Cerro de Pasco sits 59% below the global median, while Monterrey is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 PEN 9.70
$13.85 MX$256
-79.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.34 PEN 101
$49.70 MX$918
-40.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.74 PEN 23.16
$11.05 MX$204
-39.00%
Cappuccino
$2.05 PEN 7.03
$4.09 MX$75.6
-49.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 PEN 2.61
$1.68 MX$30.97
-54.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 PEN 1.55
$1.03 MX$18.98
-56.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 PEN 9.22
$2.40 MX$44.28
12.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 PEN 15.27
$4.35 MX$80.3
2.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 PEN 5.23
$1.92 MX$35.55
-20.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 PEN 8.07
$2.94 MX$54.2
-20.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PEN 4.34
$1.88 MX$34.66
-32.98%
Eggs
$2.47 PEN 8.47
$2.55 MX$47.06
-3.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 PEN 31.53
$11.84 MX$219
-22.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.04 PEN 20.74
$9.36 MX$173
-35.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.92 PEN 27.20
$13.10 MX$242
-39.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 PEN 6.86
$3.38 MX$62.5
-40.83%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 PEN 2.61
$1.52 MX$28.13
-50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.43 PEN 1.46
$2.19 MX$40.51
-80.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 PEN 3.91
$2.36 MX$43.63
-51.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 PEN 2.41
$2.26 MX$41.76
-69.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PEN 1.87
$2.73 MX$50.5
-80.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 PEN 2.85
$1.52 MX$28.17
-45.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 PEN 2.88
$1.24 MX$22.90
-32.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78 PEN 19.84
$4.75 MX$87.8
21.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 PEN 24.68
$13.66 MX$252
-47.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 PEN 6.60
$1.89 MX$34.95
1.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 PEN 9.11
$2.99 MX$55.2
-11.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.85 MX$15.78
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$30.95 MX$572
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 PEN 13.68
$1.68 MX$30.98
136.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 PEN 6.84
$1.13 MX$20.87
76.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.46 PEN 25.62
$11.15 MX$206
-33.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 PEN 5.74
$1.56 MX$28.91
7.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 76.4K
$21.4K MX$395.8K
3.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K PEN 89.9K
$25.1K MX$463.2K
4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.8 PEN 250
$119 MX$2,206
-39.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.46 PEN 56.5
$26.21 MX$484
-37.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.53 PEN 94.6
$26.78 MX$495
2.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$31.03 MX$573
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.43 MX$396
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.15 PEN 24.56
$5.29 MX$97.7
35.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 PEN 606
$691 MX$12.8K
-74.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K PEN 44.4K
$11.5K MX$212.1K
12.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 PEN 183
$72.3 MX$1,335
-26.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 PEN 121
$42.72 MX$789
-17.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 PEN 286
$110 MX$2,024
-24.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 PEN 267
$117 MX$2,158
-33.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$970 MX$17.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$664 MX$12.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$408 PEN 1,400
$1,857 MX$34.3K
-78.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,287 MX$23.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,162 MX$76.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,349 MX$43.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerro de Pasco
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$470 PEN 1,616
$1,146 MX$21.2K
-58.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
11.79
-24.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: October 12, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
$203
Monterrey
$310 53% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
$117
Monterrey
$172 47.5% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
$112
Monterrey
$154 36.8% $41
Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
$95
Monterrey
$225 137% $130
Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
$14 *
Monterrey
$42 191% $27
Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
$14 *
Monterrey
$42 199% $28
Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
- *
Monterrey
$664

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 144% higher in Monterrey, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco versus $50.0 in Monterrey. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $310 – making Cerro de Pasco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Cerro de Pasco
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
07:55 7:55 AM
06:55 6:55 AM
1 h behind Cerro de Pasco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,899
1,142,994
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.78 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cerro de Pasco Monterrey 4,810 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cerro de Pasco
  • Monterrey

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cerro de Pasco vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monterrey cheaper than Cerro de Pasco?
Yes – Monterrey is pricier by about 190%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $832 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $2,412 in Monterrey. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Cerro de Pasco or in Monterrey?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco and $50.0 in Monterrey. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cerro de Pasco and in Monterrey?
Groceries cost about 53% more in Monterrey, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cerro de Pasco or in Monterrey?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cerro de Pasco, where all-in costs run around $555, than in Monterrey at $1,608. In Cerro de Pasco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monterrey it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cerro de Pasco or Monterrey more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cerro de Pasco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cerro de Pasco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monterrey makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cerro de Pasco vs other spots: cost of living compared

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