😐A single person spends $1,595 per month in Monterrey vs $1,096 in Coatzacoalcos, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,536 per month in Monterrey vs $1,759 in Coatzacoalcos, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,477 per month in Monterrey vs $2,423 in Coatzacoalcos, rent included.
😐Monterrey costs about 45% more than Coatzacoalcos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Monterrey sits 19% above the global median, while Coatzacoalcos is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$228
$10.37MX$181
25.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6MX$938
$39.27MX$687
36.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.17MX$178
$8.02MX$140
26.81%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$3.33MX$58.2
12.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44MX$25.24
$1.29MX$22.60
11.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.16
$0.92MX$16.07
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.58MX$45.11
$2.43MX$42.58
6.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11MX$71.9
$3.82MX$66.8
7.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MX$29.31
$1.42MX$24.79
17.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63MX$46.07
$2.52MX$44.10
4.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93MX$33.81
$1.62MX$28.36
19.14%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.51
$2.38MX$41.67
9.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.47MX$183
$7.92MX$139
32.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.07MX$159
$7.67MX$134
18.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.42MX$235
$10.39MX$182
29.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16MX$55.2
$2.60MX$45.47
21.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40MX$24.58
$1.38MX$24.22
1.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.60
$1.79MX$31.28
16.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.56
$1.64MX$28.71
27.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32MX$40.64
$1.82MX$31.91
27.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53MX$44.35
$1.94MX$33.91
30.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$27.16
$1.21MX$21.16
28.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.50
$1.01MX$17.71
9.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25MX$74.4
$4.09MX$71.6
3.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.83MX$207
$11.34MX$198
4.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80MX$31.46
$1.54MX$26.86
16.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12MX$54.5
$2.72MX$47.54
14.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75MX$13.16
$0.61MX$10.76
22.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.49MX$691
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.76MX$30.78
$2.55MX$44.58
-30.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99MX$17.35
$1.60MX$27.98
-38.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.60MX$186
$8.10MX$142
30.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.88
$1.25MX$21.91
4.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KMX$465.7K
$21.5KMX$375.8K
23.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KMX$450.3K
$22.7KMX$397.0K
13.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124MX$2,164
$57.4MX$1,004
115.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.80MX$486
$21.94MX$384
26.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.57MX$517
$28.38MX$497
4.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.39MX$672
$36.26MX$635
5.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.87MX$383
$15.93MX$279
37.29%
Cinema Ticket
$5.95MX$104
$4.61MX$80.6
29.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$337MX$5,896
$206MX$3,603
63.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,908MX$155.9K
$3,562MX$62.3K
150.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,020
$52.1MX$911
11.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.99MX$735
$39.79MX$696
5.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108MX$1,897
$88.5MX$1,548
22.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126MX$2,207
$79.2MX$1,386
59.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$911MX$15.9K
$518MX$9,068
75.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660MX$11.5K
$390MX$6,826
69.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,570MX$27.5K
$946MX$16.6K
65.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,426MX$25.0K
$774MX$13.5K
84.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,178MX$73.1K
$2,249MX$39.4K
85.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,845MX$49.8K
$1,224MX$21.4K
132.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Coatzacoalcos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,113MX$19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.55
11.48
0.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monterrey: April 27, 2026
Last update for Coatzacoalcos: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $911 in Monterrey versus $518 in Coatzacoalcos. 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 $54.0 in Monterrey versus $39.00 in Coatzacoalcos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $247 – making Coatzacoalcos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Coatzacoalcos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coatzacoalcos cheaper than Monterrey?
Yes – Monterrey is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,392 per month in Monterrey and $1,644 in Coatzacoalcos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Coatzacoalcos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Monterrey or Coatzacoalcos?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Monterrey and $39.00 in Coatzacoalcos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Monterrey and Coatzacoalcos?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Monterrey, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Monterrey or Coatzacoalcos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Coatzacoalcos, where all-in costs run around $1,096, than in Monterrey at $1,595. In Coatzacoalcos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monterrey it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Monterrey or Coatzacoalcos more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Coatzacoalcos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Coatzacoalcos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Monterrey makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.