Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Bergen County, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,641 a month against $4,277 in Bergen County, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $31,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey, Mexico
Bergen County, NJ, United States
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,641
/mo nomad
Bergen County, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$4,277
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Bergen County, NJ

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 Bergen County, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Monterrey versus $4,277 in Bergen County, NJ.

  • Monterrey $1,641
  • Bergen County, NJ $4,277

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,573 in Monterrey versus $5,463 in Bergen County, NJ.

  • Monterrey $2,573
  • Bergen County, NJ $5,463

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,504 in Monterrey versus $6,649 in Bergen County, NJ.

  • Monterrey $3,504
  • Bergen County, NJ $6,649

Living in Monterrey costs roughly 62% less than in Bergen County, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monterrey 21% above, Bergen County, NJ 216% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 MX$250
$23.75 $23.75
-43.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.95 MX$897
$89.0 $89.0
-46.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 MX$202
$12.99 $12.99
-16.94%
Cappuccino
$3.77 MX$70.4
$5.17 $5.17
-27.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$28.26
$2.89 $2.89
-47.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$19.25
$2.27 $2.27
-54.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 MX$46.41
$7.80 $7.80
-68.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 MX$81.5
$7.83 $7.83
-44.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 MX$35.43
$1.50 $1.50
26.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 MX$53.3
$4.27 $4.27
-33.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MX$34.71
$7.38 $7.38
-74.80%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$46.12
$5.22 $5.22
-52.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 MX$221
$12.38 $12.38
-4.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 MX$168
$12.51 $12.51
-28.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$235
$17.92 $17.92
-29.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 MX$59.8
$5.45 $5.45
-41.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$28.12
$1.52 $1.52
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.74
$5.54 $5.54
-61.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 MX$43.64
$5.74 $5.74
-59.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 MX$41.58
$2.94 $2.94
-24.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 MX$48.34
$3.24 $3.24
-20.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$27.04
$2.45 $2.45
-40.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.85
$2.55 $2.55
-52.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 MX$89.7
$12.00 $12.00
-60.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.30 MX$249
$24.43 $24.43
-45.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MX$36.14
$1.70 $1.70
13.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 MX$53.4
$4.32 $4.32
-33.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 MX$14.94
$4.17 $4.17
-80.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 MX$579
$168 $168
-81.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 MX$34.28
$2.64 $2.64
-30.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.78
$1.83 $1.83
-42.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.82 MX$202
$24.38 $24.38
-55.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.54
$1.15 $1.15
27.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K MX$450.4K
$27.8K $27.8K
-13.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
-8.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 MX$2,144
$210 $210
-45.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.37 MX$493
$74.7 $74.7
-64.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.70 MX$481
$64.0 $64.0
-59.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.53 MX$571
$98.1 $98.1
-68.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.27 MX$398
$50.5 $50.5
-57.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 MX$92.8
$14.86 $14.86
-66.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 MX$12.7K
$2,441 $2,441
-72.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K MX$265.3K
$33.8K $33.8K
-58.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2 MX$1,350
$49.30 $49.30
46.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94 MX$784
$43.32 $43.32
-3.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$2,011
$81.5 $81.5
31.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,219
$148 $148
-19.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 MX$19.0K
$2,783 $2,783
-63.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 MX$13.5K
$2,622 $2,622
-72.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 MX$36.8K
$4,674 $4,674
-57.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 MX$26.5K
$2,947 $2,947
-51.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,203 MX$78.6K
$4,024 $4,024
4.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,782 MX$52.0K
$3,831 $3,831
-27.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Bergen County, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$20.5K
$5,428 $5,428
-79.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
6.82
72.87%

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

Last update for Monterrey: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$722
Bergen County, NJ
$2.6K 263% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$302
Bergen County, NJ
$470 55.7% $168
Eating Out
Monterrey
$216
Bergen County, NJ
$366 69.8% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$167
Bergen County, NJ
$349 109% $182
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$153
Bergen County, NJ
$145 5.4% $8.3
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Bergen County, NJ
$196 376% $155
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$40
Bergen County, NJ
$128 216% $87

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Monterrey and $2,783 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen County, NJ pays about 5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $48 in Monterrey vs $89 in Bergen County, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $470 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Bergen County, NJ
🕒 Local time
15:10 3:10 PM
16:10 4:10 PM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
11,668
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.9 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Bergen County, NJ 2,950 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Bergen County, NJ

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 Bergen County, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monterrey and in Bergen County, NJ?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,641 in Monterrey and $4,277 in Bergen County, NJ, so Monterrey is about 62% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Monterrey. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Monterrey and in Bergen County, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Monterrey versus $2,783 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Monterrey – a meal for two runs $48 versus $89 in Bergen County, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Monterrey or Bergen County, NJ?
All in, you’ll spend $1,641 per month in Monterrey versus $4,277 in Bergen County, NJ – Monterrey is about 62% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,641 in Monterrey versus $4,277 in Bergen County, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Bergen County, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Monterrey and Bergen County, NJ?
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.
Where should expats move: Monterrey or Bergen County, NJ?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Bergen County, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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