Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Midland, TX and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,608 a month against $2,137 in Midland, TX, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Midland, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,137
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,137 per month in Midland, TX vs $1,608 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Midland, TX $2,137
  • Monterrey $1,608

A couple spends around $2,947 per month in Midland, TX vs $2,521 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Midland, TX $2,947
  • Monterrey $2,521

A family of three spends $3,758 per month in Midland, TX vs $3,433 in Monterrey, rent included.

  • Midland, TX $3,758
  • Monterrey $3,433

Midland, TX costs about 33% more than Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Midland, TX and Monterrey sit above the global median – Midland, TX by 58%, Monterrey by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.07 $16.07
$13.85 MX$256
16.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 $55.7
$49.70 MX$918
11.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 $9.85
$11.05 MX$204
-10.86%
Cappuccino
$5.16 $5.16
$4.09 MX$75.6
26.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 $4.66
$1.68 MX$30.97
177.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 $4.36
$1.03 MX$18.98
323.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.07 $10.07
$2.40 MX$44.28
319.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.20 $12.20
$4.35 MX$80.3
180.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.92 MX$35.55
-57.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.94 MX$54.2
14.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$1.88 MX$34.66
133.51%
Eggs
$2.94 $2.94
$2.55 MX$47.06
15.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.20 $11.20
$11.84 MX$219
-5.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$9.36 MX$173
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.10 MX$242
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.38 MX$62.5
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.52 MX$28.13
-28.95%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.19 MX$40.51
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.36 MX$43.63
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.26 MX$41.76
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.73 MX$50.5
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.52 MX$28.17
15.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.24 MX$22.90
62.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.20 $12.20
$4.75 MX$87.8
156.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.76 $14.76
$13.66 MX$252
8.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.89 MX$34.95
-8.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.99 MX$55.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Midland, TX
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)
-
$1.68 MX$30.98
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.13 MX$20.87
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$11.15 MX$206
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.56 MX$28.91
-43.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.4K MX$395.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.1K MX$463.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$119 MX$2,206
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$26.21 MX$484
103.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4 $71.4
$26.78 MX$495
166.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.04 $10.04
$31.03 MX$573
-67.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.43 MX$396
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.67 $12.67
$5.29 MX$97.7
139.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$691 MX$12.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.5K MX$212.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.4 $79.4
$72.3 MX$1,335
9.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.46 $29.46
$42.72 MX$789
-31.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$152 $152
$110 MX$2,024
38.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$117 MX$2,158
28.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 $1,530
$970 MX$17.9K
57.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,280 $1,280
$664 MX$12.3K
92.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 $2,095
$1,857 MX$34.3K
12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,806 $1,806
$1,287 MX$23.8K
40.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,029 $2,029
$4,162 MX$76.9K
-51.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,029 $2,029
$2,349 MX$43.4K
-13.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Midland, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,648 $5,648
$1,146 MX$21.2K
392.68%
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 Midland, TX: October 13, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Midland, TX
$1.3K
Monterrey
$664 48.2% $617
Eating Out
Midland, TX
$331
Monterrey
$225 32.1% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Midland, TX
$185
Monterrey
$154 17% $31
Groceries & Markets
Midland, TX
$181 *
Monterrey
$310 71.7% $130
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Midland, TX
$125 *
Monterrey
$172 38.2% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Midland, TX
$35
Monterrey
$42 17.6% $6.2
Getting Around
Midland, TX
- *
Monterrey
$42

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,530 in Midland, TX 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 393% higher in Midland, TX, 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 $56.0 in Midland, TX versus $50.0 in Monterrey. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Midland, TX vs $310 in Monterrey – so Midland, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Midland, TX
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
11:04 11:04 AM
10:04 10:04 AM
1 h behind Midland, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
132,524
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 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Midland, TX Monterrey 720 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Midland, 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
Midland, TX vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Midland, TX or Monterrey?
Midland, TX costs about 33% more than Monterrey, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Midland, TX and in Monterrey?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,206 per month in Midland, TX and $2,412 in Monterrey. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Midland, TX or Monterrey?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Midland, TX compared to Monterrey?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,137 in Midland, TX and $1,608 in Monterrey. That's a gap of about 33%.
Are groceries more expensive in Midland, TX or in Monterrey?
Interestingly, groceries are about 72% cheaper in Midland, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Midland, TX or in Monterrey?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,608, than in Midland, TX at $2,137. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Midland, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Midland, TX or Monterrey?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Monterrey costs $1,608 versus $2,137 in Midland, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Midland, TX or to Monterrey?
If budget matters most, go with Monterrey. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Midland, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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