Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Killeen, TX and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,599 a month against $2,106 in Killeen, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Killeen, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,106
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,599
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,106 in Killeen, TX versus $1,599 in Monterrey.

  • Killeen, TX $2,106
  • Monterrey $1,599

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,276 in Killeen, TX versus $2,493 in Monterrey.

  • Killeen, TX $3,276
  • Monterrey $2,493

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,447 in Killeen, TX versus $3,387 in Monterrey.

  • Killeen, TX $4,447
  • Monterrey $3,387

Living in Killeen, TX is roughly 32% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Killeen, TX 55% above, Monterrey 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.34 $20.34
$13.80 MX$255
47.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.3 $65.3
$47.99 MX$887
36.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 $11.77
$10.65 MX$197
10.52%
Cappuccino
$5.43 $5.43
$3.99 MX$73.7
36.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.66 MX$30.76
75.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.99 MX$18.21
88.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$2.36 MX$43.64
114.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.78 $5.78
$4.43 MX$81.8
30.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.82 MX$33.58
-42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.83 MX$52.4
-18.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.92 MX$35.44
148.44%
Eggs
$3.99 $3.99
$2.48 MX$45.78
60.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 $8.67
$11.74 MX$217
-26.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.14 $11.14
$9.10 MX$168
22.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.15 $18.15
$12.53 MX$232
44.85%
Apples (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$3.34 MX$61.6
72.16%
Banana (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.57 MX$29.10
-40.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.16 MX$39.86
133.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$2.47 MX$45.65
67.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 $2.40
$2.31 MX$42.64
3.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.68 MX$49.47
7.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.46 MX$26.90
31.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.19 MX$22.07
139.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.03 $6.03
$4.75 MX$87.8
26.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.73 $11.73
$13.58 MX$251
-13.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.92 MX$35.52
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.88 MX$53.2
-36.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 MX$14.66
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.9 $72.9
$31.36 MX$579
132.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.59 MX$29.44
93.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.06 MX$19.58
68.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.76 $14.76
$10.80 MX$200
36.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.55 MX$28.59
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$24.2K MX$446.4K
48.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$24.3K MX$449.4K
-0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 $191
$117 MX$2,159
63.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$26.38 MX$488
119.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.6 $66.6
$26.04 MX$481
155.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.01 $23.01
$30.26 MX$559
-23.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.25 MX$393
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.96 $12.96
$5.23 MX$96.6
147.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,090 $2,090
$673 MX$12.4K
210.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.0K $24.0K
$11.1K MX$205.2K
116.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.16 $38.16
$72.1 MX$1,332
-47.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.71 $19.71
$42.38 MX$783
-53.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.4 $63.4
$112 MX$2,066
-43.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3 $64.3
$119 MX$2,200
-45.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,010 $1,010
$949 MX$17.5K
6.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$882 $882
$666 MX$12.3K
32.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 $1,553
$1,821 MX$33.7K
-14.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,791 $1,791
$1,271 MX$23.5K
40.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,747 $1,747
$4,050 MX$74.8K
-56.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,758 $1,758
$2,348 MX$43.4K
-25.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Killeen, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,303 $3,303
$1,155 MX$21.3K
185.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
11.79
-43.09%

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

Last update for Killeen, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Killeen, TX
$882
Monterrey
$666 24.5% $216
Groceries & Markets
Killeen, TX
$372
Monterrey
$304 18.2% $68
Eating Out
Killeen, TX
$319
Monterrey
$221 30.6% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Killeen, TX
$315
Monterrey
$169 46.3% $146
Getting Around
Killeen, TX
$85 *
Monterrey
$41 51.2% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Killeen, TX
$83
Monterrey
$155 86.1% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Killeen, TX
$49
Monterrey
$41 16.8% $8.2

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,010 in Killeen, TX and $949 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Killeen, TX pays 186% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Killeen, TX vs $48.00 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $304 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Killeen, TX
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
11:58 11:58 AM
10:58 10:58 AM
1 h behind Killeen, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
153,095
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 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Killeen, TX Monterrey 660 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Killeen, TX
  • 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
Killeen, TX vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Killeen, TX and in Monterrey?
Killeen, TX and Monterrey differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,106 vs $1,599 including rent). Monterrey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Killeen, TX or Monterrey?
Average pay runs 186% higher in Killeen, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Killeen, TX and in Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,010 in Killeen, TX versus $949 in Monterrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Killeen, TX and in Monterrey?
A monthly transit pass in Monterrey runs roughly 132% less than in Killeen, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Killeen, TX and Monterrey?
Childcare runs $2,090 in Killeen, TX versus $673 in Monterrey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,599 in Monterrey versus $2,106 in Killeen, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Killeen, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Killeen, TX and Monterrey?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Killeen, TX or Monterrey?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Killeen, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Killeen, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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