Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manassas, VA and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,641 a month against $3,079 in Manassas, VA, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Manassas, VA, United States
Monterrey, Mexico
Manassas, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,079
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,641
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,079 in Manassas, VA versus $1,641 in Monterrey.

  • Manassas, VA $3,079
  • Monterrey $1,641

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,491 in Manassas, VA versus $2,573 in Monterrey.

  • Manassas, VA $4,491
  • Monterrey $2,573

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,904 in Manassas, VA versus $3,504 in Monterrey.

  • Manassas, VA $5,904
  • Monterrey $3,504

Living in Manassas, VA is roughly 88% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manassas, VA 128% above, Monterrey 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.78 $23.78
$13.37 MX$250
77.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.9 $88.9
$47.95 MX$897
85.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.49 $12.49
$10.79 MX$202
15.76%
Cappuccino
$6.17 $6.17
$3.77 MX$70.4
63.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.51 MX$28.26
71.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.03 MX$19.25
127.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.30 $7.30
$2.48 MX$46.41
194.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.47 $8.47
$4.36 MX$81.5
94.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.89 MX$35.43
-41.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.16 $4.16
$2.85 MX$53.3
45.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.91 $6.91
$1.86 MX$34.71
271.51%
Eggs
$5.35 $5.35
$2.47 MX$46.12
116.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.02 $17.02
$11.81 MX$221
44.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.45 $14.45
$8.97 MX$168
61.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.30 $18.30
$12.57 MX$235
45.58%
Apples (1kg)
$7.46 $7.46
$3.20 MX$59.8
133.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.50 MX$28.12
57.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.32 $8.32
$2.12 MX$39.74
292.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.02 $7.02
$2.33 MX$43.64
201.29%
Potato (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$2.22 MX$41.58
144.59%
Onion (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$2.58 MX$48.34
58.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.45 MX$27.04
64.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.22 MX$22.85
117.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.55 $9.55
$4.80 MX$89.7
98.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.07 $14.07
$13.30 MX$249
5.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.93 MX$36.14
20.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.86 MX$53.4
66.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.91 $4.91
$0.80 MX$14.94
513.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 $100
$30.94 MX$579
223.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.83 MX$34.28
116.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.06 MX$19.78
47.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.14 $24.14
$10.82 MX$202
123.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.47 MX$27.54
-28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K $34.3K
$24.1K MX$450.4K
42.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$23.5K MX$440.2K
10.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$115 MX$2,144
86.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.1 $62.1
$26.37 MX$493
135.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.4 $77.4
$25.70 MX$481
201.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.99 $42.99
$30.53 MX$571
40.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.08 $20.08
$21.27 MX$398
-5.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.99 $17.99
$4.96 MX$92.8
262.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,921 $1,921
$679 MX$12.7K
183.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.2K $28.2K
$14.2K MX$265.3K
98.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 $53.4
$72.2 MX$1,350
-26.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41 $43.41
$41.94 MX$784
3.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$107 MX$2,011
-5.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$119 MX$2,219
-9.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,843 $1,843
$1,018 MX$19.0K
81.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 $1,488
$722 MX$13.5K
106.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,874 $2,874
$1,966 MX$36.8K
46.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,416 MX$26.5K
65.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,716 $2,716
$4,203 MX$78.6K
-35.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,499 $2,499
$2,782 MX$52.0K
-10.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manassas, VA
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,809 $4,809
$1,096 MX$20.5K
338.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.86
11.79
-41.82%

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

Last update for Manassas, VA: October 31, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Manassas, VA
$1.5K
Monterrey
$722 51.5% $767
Groceries & Markets
Manassas, VA
$515
Monterrey
$302 41.3% $213
Eating Out
Manassas, VA
$375
Monterrey
$216 42.4% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manassas, VA
$353
Monterrey
$167 52.8% $186
Clothing & Footwear
Manassas, VA
$138
Monterrey
$153 11.4% $16
Getting Around
Manassas, VA
$131
Monterrey
$41 68.6% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Manassas, VA
$79
Monterrey
$40 48.8% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,843 in Manassas, VA and $1,018 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manassas, VA pays about 4.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $89 in Manassas, VA vs $48 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $515 vs $302 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Manassas, VA
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
13:55 1:55 PM
12:55 12:55 PM
1 h behind Manassas, VA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,772
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 = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 21.01 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Manassas, VA Monterrey 2,580 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Manassas, VA
  • 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
Manassas, VA vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manassas, VA or Monterrey?
Monterrey wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Manassas, VA. 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 Manassas, VA or in Monterrey?
Average pay in Manassas, VA is about 4.4 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 Manassas, VA compared to Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,843 in Manassas, VA versus $1,018 in Monterrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Manassas, VA compared to Monterrey?
A monthly transit pass in Monterrey runs roughly 69% less than in Manassas, VA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Manassas, VA and in Monterrey?
Childcare runs $1,921 in Manassas, VA versus $679 in Monterrey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Manassas, VA or in Monterrey?
At $1,641 in Monterrey versus $3,079 in Manassas, VA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Manassas, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Manassas, VA or 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Manassas, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Manassas, VA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?