Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Ashland, WI

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,599 a month against $2,514 in Ashland, WI, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,599
/mo nomad
Ashland, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,514
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Ashland, WI

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 Ashland, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,599 per month in Monterrey vs $2,514 in Ashland, WI, rent included.

  • Monterrey $1,599
  • Ashland, WI $2,514

A couple spends around $2,493 per month in Monterrey vs $3,751 in Ashland, WI, rent included.

  • Monterrey $2,493
  • Ashland, WI $3,751

A family of three spends $3,387 per month in Monterrey vs $4,988 in Ashland, WI, rent included.

  • Monterrey $3,387
  • Ashland, WI $4,988

Monterrey is about 36% cheaper than Ashland, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Monterrey and Ashland, WI sit above the global median – Monterrey by 18%, Ashland, WI by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.80 MX$255
$15.40 $15.40
-10.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.99 MX$887
$67.8 $67.8
-29.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$197
$9.99 $9.99
6.61%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$73.7
$5.21 $5.21
-23.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$30.76
$3.02 $3.02
-45.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.21
$2.63 $2.63
-62.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 MX$43.64
$5.91 $5.91
-60.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 MX$81.8
$7.67 $7.67
-42.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 MX$33.58
$0.90 $0.90
102.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 MX$52.4
$3.95 $3.95
-28.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.44
$3.48 $3.48
-44.83%
Eggs
$2.48 MX$45.78
$3.07 $3.07
-19.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.74 MX$217
$9.84 $9.84
19.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 MX$168
$9.54 $9.54
-4.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.53 MX$232
$13.52 $13.52
-7.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 MX$61.6
$4.84 $4.84
-30.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.10
$1.11 $1.11
41.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 MX$39.86
$6.18 $6.18
-65.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 MX$45.65
$5.01 $5.01
-50.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$42.64
$3.82 $3.82
-39.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 MX$49.47
$3.52 $3.52
-23.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$26.90
$1.98 $1.98
-26.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$22.07
$1.76 $1.76
-32.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.75 MX$87.8
$12.99 $12.99
-63.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.58 MX$251
$14.59 $14.59
-6.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 MX$35.52
$1.68 $1.68
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$53.2
$3.56 $3.56
-19.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 MX$14.66
$1.76 $1.76
-55.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.36 MX$579
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 MX$29.44
$2.48 $2.48
-35.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.58
$1.51 $1.51
-29.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.80 MX$200
$30.58 $30.58
-64.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$28.59
$1.03 $1.03
50.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K MX$446.4K
$27.6K $27.6K
-12.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K MX$449.4K
$26.4K $26.4K
-7.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 MX$2,159
$232 $232
-49.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.38 MX$488
$51.2 $51.2
-48.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.04 MX$481
$64.6 $64.6
-59.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.26 MX$559
$41.22 $41.22
-26.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.25 MX$393
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 MX$96.6
$12.94 $12.94
-59.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$673 MX$12.4K
$1,451 $1,451
-53.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K MX$205.2K
$27.5K $27.5K
-59.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1 MX$1,332
$42.18 $42.18
70.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.38 MX$783
$40.12 $40.12
5.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$2,066
$79.8 $79.8
40.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,200
$111 $111
7.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$949 MX$17.5K
$1,802 $1,802
-47.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 MX$12.3K
$1,310 $1,310
-49.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,821 MX$33.7K
$2,314 $2,314
-21.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 MX$23.5K
$2,404 $2,404
-47.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,050 MX$74.8K
$2,475 $2,475
63.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,348 MX$43.4K
$2,127 $2,127
10.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Ashland, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,155 MX$21.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
6.31
86.85%

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

Last update for Monterrey: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ashland, WI: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$666
Ashland, WI
$1.3K 96.6% $644
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$304
Ashland, WI
$365 20% $61
Eating Out
Monterrey
$221
Ashland, WI
$283 27.9% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$169
Ashland, WI
$348 106% $179
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$155
Ashland, WI
$123 20.9% $32
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Ashland, WI
$17 * 58.7% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$41
Ashland, WI
$67 64.8% $26

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 $1,802 in Ashland, WI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Monterrey versus $68.0 in Ashland, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $365 – making Monterrey the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Ashland, WI
🕒 Local time
17:28 5:28 PM
18:28 6:28 PM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
21,684
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Ashland, WI 2,470 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Ashland, WI

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 Ashland, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monterrey or Ashland, WI?
Ashland, WI costs about 57% more than Monterrey, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 Monterrey and in Ashland, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,399 per month in Monterrey and $3,771 in Ashland, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Monterrey or Ashland, WI?
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 do dining costs compare in Monterrey and in Ashland, WI?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Monterrey and $68.0 in Ashland, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Monterrey or in Ashland, WI?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Ashland, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Monterrey or in Ashland, WI?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,599, than in Ashland, WI at $2,514. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ashland, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Monterrey or Ashland, WI?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Monterrey costs $1,599 versus $2,514 in Ashland, WI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Monterrey compared to Ashland, WI?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Monterrey or to Ashland, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Monterrey. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ashland, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Monterrey vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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