Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Amarillo, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,599 a month against $2,282 in Amarillo, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,599
/mo nomad
Amarillo, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,282
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Amarillo, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Monterrey and in Amarillo, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,599 per month in Monterrey vs $2,282 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

  • Monterrey $1,599
  • Amarillo, TX $2,282

A couple spends around $2,493 per month in Monterrey vs $3,529 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

  • Monterrey $2,493
  • Amarillo, TX $3,529

A family of three spends $3,387 per month in Monterrey vs $4,775 in Amarillo, TX, rent included.

  • Monterrey $3,387
  • Amarillo, TX $4,775

Monterrey is about 30% cheaper than Amarillo, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Monterrey and Amarillo, TX sit above the global median – Monterrey by 18%, Amarillo, TX by 68%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.80 MX$255
$14.80 $14.80
-6.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.99 MX$887
$68.3 $68.3
-29.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$197
$13.07 $13.07
-18.52%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$73.7
$6.94 $6.94
-42.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$30.76
$2.30 $2.30
-27.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.21
$1.58 $1.58
-37.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 MX$43.64
$4.09 $4.09
-42.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 MX$81.8
$7.14 $7.14
-37.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 MX$33.58
$1.21 $1.21
50.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 MX$52.4
$3.23 $3.23
-12.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.44
$3.39 $3.39
-43.36%
Eggs
$2.48 MX$45.78
$4.44 $4.44
-44.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.74 MX$217
$16.18 $16.18
-27.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 MX$168
$12.66 $12.66
-28.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.53 MX$232
$27.71 $27.71
-54.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 MX$61.6
$4.26 $4.26
-21.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.10
$1.86 $1.86
-15.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 MX$39.86
$4.60 $4.60
-53.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 MX$45.65
$3.90 $3.90
-36.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$42.64
$2.24 $2.24
3.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 MX$49.47
$2.81 $2.81
-4.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$26.90
$1.65 $1.65
-11.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$22.07
$2.57 $2.57
-53.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.75 MX$87.8
$10.01 $10.01
-52.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.58 MX$251
$11.78 $11.78
15.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 MX$35.52
$2.07 $2.07
-7.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$53.2
$2.05 $2.05
40.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 MX$14.66
$0.99 $0.99
-20.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.36 MX$579
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 MX$29.44
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.58
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.80 MX$200
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$28.59
$0.88 $0.88
76.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K MX$446.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
-9.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K MX$449.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 MX$2,159
$291 $291
-59.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.38 MX$488
$51.2 $51.2
-48.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.04 MX$481
$88.2 $88.2
-70.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.26 MX$559
$60.8 $60.8
-50.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.25 MX$393
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 MX$96.6
$9.97 $9.97
-47.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$673 MX$12.4K
$706 $706
-4.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K MX$205.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1 MX$1,332
$37.68 $37.68
91.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.38 MX$783
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$2,066
$60.8 $60.8
83.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,200
$118 $118
0.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$949 MX$17.5K
$1,118 $1,118
-15.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 MX$12.3K
$949 $949
-29.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,821 MX$33.7K
$1,833 $1,833
-0.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 MX$23.5K
$1,979 $1,979
-35.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,050 MX$74.8K
$1,848 $1,848
119.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,348 MX$43.4K
$1,603 $1,603
46.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Amarillo, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,155 MX$21.3K
$3,827 $3,827
-69.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
6.12
92.65%

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

Last update for Monterrey: October 18, 2026

Last update for Amarillo, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$666
Amarillo, TX
$949 42.4% $283
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$304
Amarillo, TX
$429 40.8% $124
Eating Out
Monterrey
$221
Amarillo, TX
$291 31.4% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$169
Amarillo, TX
$431 155% $262
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$155
Amarillo, TX
$97 * 37.3% $58
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Amarillo, TX
$4 * 90.5% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$41
Amarillo, TX
$81 98.3% $40

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $949 in Monterrey versus $1,118 in Amarillo, TX. 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 231% higher in Amarillo, 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 $48.00 in Monterrey versus $68.0 in Amarillo, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $429 – making Monterrey the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Amarillo, TX
🕒 Local time
18:48 6:48 PM
19:48 7:48 PM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
198,645
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Amarillo, TX 1,060 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Amarillo, TX

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
Monterrey vs Amarillo, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Monterrey and in Amarillo, TX compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,599 in Monterrey, $2,282 in Amarillo, TX – roughly 43% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Monterrey compared to Amarillo, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,399 per month in Monterrey and $3,423 in Amarillo, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Monterrey and Amarillo, TX?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Monterrey and $68.0 in Amarillo, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Amarillo, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,599, than in Amarillo, TX at $2,282. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Amarillo, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Monterrey and Amarillo, TX?
It depends on your priorities. Monterrey has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,599 in Monterrey to $2,282 in Amarillo, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Monterrey and Amarillo, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Monterrey. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amarillo, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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