Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hackensack, NJ and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,641 a month against $3,366 in Hackensack, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $20,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hackensack, NJ, United States
Monterrey, Mexico
Hackensack, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,366
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,641
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,366 in Hackensack, NJ versus $1,641 in Monterrey.

  • Hackensack, NJ $3,366
  • Monterrey $1,641

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,165 in Hackensack, NJ versus $2,573 in Monterrey.

  • Hackensack, NJ $5,165
  • Monterrey $2,573

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,964 in Hackensack, NJ versus $3,504 in Monterrey.

  • Hackensack, NJ $6,964
  • Monterrey $3,504

Living in Hackensack, NJ is roughly 105% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hackensack, NJ 149% above, Monterrey 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.04 $25.04
$13.37 MX$251
87.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.4 $99.4
$47.95 MX$900
107.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.92 $12.92
$10.79 MX$203
19.74%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$3.77 MX$70.7
44.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.51 MX$28.37
54.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.03 MX$19.33
47.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.02 $8.02
$2.48 MX$46.60
223.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$4.36 MX$81.8
84.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.89 MX$35.58
-29.63%
White Bread (500g)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.85 MX$53.5
51.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$1.86 MX$34.86
220.43%
Eggs
$5.77 $5.77
$2.47 MX$46.31
133.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 $12.67
$11.81 MX$222
7.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.74 $7.74
$8.97 MX$168
-13.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.11 $17.11
$12.57 MX$236
36.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$3.20 MX$60.0
72.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.50 MX$28.23
18.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$2.12 MX$39.90
96.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$2.33 MX$43.82
132.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.10 $3.10
$2.22 MX$41.75
39.64%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.58 MX$48.54
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.45 MX$27.15
97.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.22 MX$22.94
138.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86 $11.86
$4.80 MX$90.1
147.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$13.30 MX$250
13.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.93 MX$36.28
-12.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.86 MX$53.6
28.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.54 $3.54
$0.80 MX$15.00
342.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.0 $60.0
$30.94 MX$581
94.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.83 MX$34.42
67.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.06 MX$19.86
92.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.98 $23.98
$10.82 MX$203
121.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.47 MX$27.65
-25.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$24.1K MX$452.3K
13.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.5K MX$442.0K
8.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$115 MX$2,152
84.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 $55.1
$26.37 MX$495
108.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.7 $50.7
$25.70 MX$483
97.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.79 $45.79
$30.53 MX$573
49.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.27 MX$400
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 $19.88
$4.96 MX$93.1
300.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,415 $1,415
$679 MX$12.7K
108.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K $20.2K
$14.2K MX$266.4K
42.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.69 $43.69
$72.2 MX$1,356
-39.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5 $56.5
$41.94 MX$788
34.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$107 MX$2,019
-19.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$119 MX$2,228
-15.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,383 $2,383
$1,018 MX$19.1K
134.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,949 $1,949
$722 MX$13.6K
170.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,123 $4,123
$1,966 MX$36.9K
109.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,726 $3,726
$1,416 MX$26.6K
163.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,656 $3,656
$4,203 MX$78.9K
-13.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,357 $3,357
$2,782 MX$52.2K
20.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hackensack, NJ
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,193 $6,193
$1,096 MX$20.6K
465.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.92
11.79
-41.31%

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

Last update for Hackensack, NJ: November 2, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hackensack, NJ
$1.9K
Monterrey
$722 63% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Hackensack, NJ
$421
Monterrey
$302 28.3% $119
Eating Out
Hackensack, NJ
$376
Monterrey
$216 42.6% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hackensack, NJ
$317
Monterrey
$167 47.4% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Hackensack, NJ
$129
Monterrey
$153 18.3% $24
Getting Around
Hackensack, NJ
$87
Monterrey
$41 52.8% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Hackensack, NJ
$86
Monterrey
$40 52.7% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,383 in Hackensack, NJ and $1,018 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hackensack, NJ pays about 5.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $99 in Hackensack, NJ vs $48 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $421 vs $302 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hackensack, NJ
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
00:03 12:03 AM
23:03 11:03 PM
1 h behind Hackensack, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,756
1,142,994
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.08 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hackensack, NJ Monterrey 2,950 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hackensack, NJ
  • 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
Hackensack, NJ vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hackensack, NJ or Monterrey?
Monterrey wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Hackensack, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Monterrey the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hackensack, NJ or in Monterrey?
Average pay in Hackensack, NJ is about 5.7 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hackensack, NJ compared to Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,383 in Hackensack, NJ versus $1,018 in Monterrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Hackensack, NJ and in Monterrey?
Childcare runs $1,415 in Hackensack, NJ versus $679 in Monterrey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Hackensack, NJ or in Monterrey?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Hackensack, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Hackensack, NJ or in Monterrey?
At $1,641 in Monterrey versus $3,366 in Hackensack, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Hackensack, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Monterrey is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hackensack, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Hackensack, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Hackensack, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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