Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Minneapolis, MN and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,607 a month against $2,735 in Minneapolis, MN, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Minneapolis, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,735
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,735 in Minneapolis, MN versus $1,607 in Monterrey.

  • Minneapolis, MN $2,735
  • Monterrey $1,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,128 in Minneapolis, MN versus $2,512 in Monterrey.

  • Minneapolis, MN $4,128
  • Monterrey $2,512

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,521 in Minneapolis, MN versus $3,417 in Monterrey.

  • Minneapolis, MN $5,521
  • Monterrey $3,417

Living in Minneapolis, MN is roughly 70% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Minneapolis, MN 104% above, Monterrey 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.15 $22.15
$13.75 MX$252
61.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 $81.0
$50.2 MX$921
61.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$11.13 MX$204
8.18%
Cappuccino
$6.56 $6.56
$4.04 MX$74.2
62.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 $3.12
$1.70 MX$31.29
83.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$0.99 MX$18.17
127.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 $7.19
$2.41 MX$44.21
198.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$4.48 MX$82.3
77.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.92 MX$35.31
-52.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.89 MX$53.1
24.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.51 $6.51
$1.94 MX$35.67
235.57%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$2.50 MX$45.90
44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.45 $10.45
$12.30 MX$226
-15.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.40 $13.40
$9.33 MX$171
43.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.58 $19.58
$13.07 MX$240
49.81%
Apples (1kg)
$5.94 $5.94
$3.38 MX$62.1
75.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.58 MX$29.02
18.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.63 $6.63
$2.20 MX$40.45
201.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$2.45 MX$44.89
117.55%
Potato (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.26 MX$41.47
96.46%
Onion (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$2.74 MX$50.4
51.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.53 MX$28.09
52.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.26 MX$23.16
102.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.89 $12.89
$4.84 MX$88.9
166.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 $16.10
$13.59 MX$249
18.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 $2.90
$1.91 MX$35.01
51.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 $5.53
$3.06 MX$56.3
80.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.80 MX$14.60
143.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.3 $85.3
$31.77 MX$583
168.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 $4.92
$1.62 MX$29.78
203.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.10 MX$20.17
59.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.01 $24.01
$10.97 MX$201
118.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.52 MX$27.93
-31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K $36.6K
$21.4K MX$392.4K
71.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$25.5K MX$467.6K
1.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$120 MX$2,198
51.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$27.08 MX$497
102.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$26.70 MX$490
165.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.7 $65.7
$31.15 MX$572
110.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.32 $27.32
$21.95 MX$403
24.46%
Cinema Ticket
$15.92 $15.92
$5.14 MX$94.4
209.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,345 $1,345
$688 MX$12.6K
95.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.6K $35.6K
$11.4K MX$209.8K
211.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 $57.6
$71.9 MX$1,321
-19.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.87 $43.87
$43.30 MX$795
1.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 $98.4
$112 MX$2,059
-12.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 $106
$122 MX$2,236
-12.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,808 $1,808
$957 MX$17.6K
88.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 $1,261
$670 MX$12.3K
88.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$1,887 MX$34.7K
51.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,155 $2,155
$1,305 MX$24.0K
65.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,337 $3,337
$4,159 MX$76.4K
-19.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,163 $2,163
$2,437 MX$44.7K
-11.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minneapolis, MN
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,249 $4,249
$1,133 MX$20.8K
275.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
11.79
-43.51%

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

Last update for Minneapolis, MN: October 5, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Minneapolis, MN
$1.3K
Monterrey
$670 46.9% $591
Groceries & Markets
Minneapolis, MN
$456
Monterrey
$312 31.5% $143
Eating Out
Minneapolis, MN
$365
Monterrey
$224 38.8% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minneapolis, MN
$307
Monterrey
$174 43.6% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Minneapolis, MN
$138
Monterrey
$157 14.1% $19
Getting Around
Minneapolis, MN
$107
Monterrey
$42 60.6% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Minneapolis, MN
$98
Monterrey
$41 57.5% $56

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,808 in Minneapolis, MN and $957 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Minneapolis, MN pays 275% 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: $81.0 in Minneapolis, MN vs $50.0 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 vs $312 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Minneapolis, MN
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
03:34 3:34 AM
02:34 2:34 AM
1 h behind Minneapolis, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
429,954
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 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Minneapolis, MN Monterrey 2,240 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • 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
Minneapolis, MN vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Minneapolis, MN or Monterrey?
Monterrey wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Minneapolis, MN. 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 Minneapolis, MN or in Monterrey?
Average pay runs 275% higher in Minneapolis, MN, 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 Minneapolis, MN compared to Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,808 in Minneapolis, MN versus $957 in Monterrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Minneapolis, MN and in Monterrey?
Childcare runs $1,345 in Minneapolis, MN versus $688 in Monterrey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Minneapolis, MN or in Monterrey?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Minneapolis, MN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Minneapolis, MN or in Monterrey?
At $1,607 in Monterrey versus $2,735 in Minneapolis, MN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Minneapolis, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Minneapolis, MN or Monterrey?
Both work as nomad bases, but Monterrey delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,607 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monterrey hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Minneapolis, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Minneapolis, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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