Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Edwardsville, IL and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,608 a month against $2,693 in Edwardsville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Edwardsville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,693
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Edwardsville, IL 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 Edwardsville, IL and in Monterrey actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,693 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $1,608 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Edwardsville, IL $2,693
  • Monterrey $1,608

A couple spends around $3,826 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $2,521 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Edwardsville, IL $3,826
  • Monterrey $2,521

A family of three spends $4,960 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $3,433 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Edwardsville, IL $4,960
  • Monterrey $3,433

Edwardsville, IL costs about 67% more than Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Edwardsville, IL and Monterrey sit above the global median – Edwardsville, IL by 99%, Monterrey by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.46 $21.46
$13.85 MX$256
54.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.0 $78.0
$49.70 MX$918
56.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 $11.36
$11.05 MX$204
2.81%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$4.09 MX$75.6
43.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.68 MX$30.97
50.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.03 MX$18.98
89.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.26 $6.26
$2.40 MX$44.28
160.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.37 $6.37
$4.35 MX$80.3
46.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.92 MX$35.55
-43.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.71 $3.71
$2.94 MX$54.2
26.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$1.88 MX$34.66
115.43%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$2.55 MX$47.06
65.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.09 $13.09
$11.84 MX$219
10.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.22 $10.22
$9.36 MX$173
9.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$13.10 MX$242
11.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$3.38 MX$62.5
55.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.52 MX$28.13
-2.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$2.19 MX$40.51
92.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.36 MX$43.63
105.08%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.26 MX$41.76
36.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.73 MX$50.5
-6.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.52 MX$28.17
26.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.24 MX$22.90
96.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.67 $10.67
$4.75 MX$87.8
124.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.70 $15.70
$13.66 MX$252
14.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.89 MX$34.95
-10.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.99 MX$55.2
-1.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.75 $1.75
$0.85 MX$15.78
105.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.0 $99.0
$30.95 MX$572
219.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.68 MX$30.98
71.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.13 MX$20.87
46.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.64 $32.64
$11.15 MX$206
192.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.56 MX$28.91
-38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K $38.5K
$21.4K MX$395.8K
79.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$25.1K MX$463.2K
12.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$119 MX$2,206
54.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.5 $59.5
$26.21 MX$484
126.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$26.78 MX$495
159.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.00 $41.00
$31.03 MX$573
32.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.43 MX$396
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.50 $14.50
$5.29 MX$97.7
174.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,411 $1,411
$691 MX$12.8K
104.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$11.5K MX$212.1K
119.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$72.3 MX$1,335
-27.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.21 $41.21
$42.72 MX$789
-3.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 $87.6
$110 MX$2,024
-20.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$117 MX$2,158
-0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,744 $1,744
$970 MX$17.9K
79.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 $1,332
$664 MX$12.3K
100.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,602 $2,602
$1,857 MX$34.3K
40.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,949 $1,949
$1,287 MX$23.8K
51.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,555 $2,555
$4,162 MX$76.9K
-38.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,439 $2,439
$2,349 MX$43.4K
3.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edwardsville, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,935 $4,935
$1,146 MX$21.2K
330.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
11.79
-44.27%

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

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Edwardsville, IL
$1.3K
Monterrey
$664 50.2% $668
Groceries & Markets
Edwardsville, IL
$388
Monterrey
$310 20.1% $78
Eating Out
Edwardsville, IL
$338
Monterrey
$225 33.6% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edwardsville, IL
$313
Monterrey
$172 45% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Edwardsville, IL
$134
Monterrey
$154 14.5% $19
Getting Around
Edwardsville, IL
$117
Monterrey
$42 64.4% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Edwardsville, IL
$70
Monterrey
$42 40.5% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,744 in Edwardsville, IL versus $970 in Monterrey. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 330% higher in Edwardsville, IL, 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 $78.0 in Edwardsville, IL versus $50.0 in Monterrey. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $310 – making Monterrey the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Edwardsville, IL
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
02:12 2:12 AM
01:12 1:12 AM
1 h behind Edwardsville, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,808
1,142,994
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Edwardsville, IL Monterrey 1,750 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Edwardsville, IL
  • 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
Edwardsville, IL vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monterrey cheaper than Edwardsville, IL?
Yes – Edwardsville, IL is pricier by about 67%, 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 $4,040 per month in Edwardsville, IL and $2,412 in Monterrey. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Monterrey, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Edwardsville, IL and in Monterrey?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,693 in Edwardsville, IL and $1,608 in Monterrey. That's a gap of about 67%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 220% less in Monterrey. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Edwardsville, IL or in Monterrey?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,608, than in Edwardsville, IL at $2,693. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edwardsville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Edwardsville, IL or Monterrey more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Monterrey – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Edwardsville, IL or Monterrey?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Monterrey. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edwardsville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Edwardsville, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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