Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Edwardsville, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,608 a month against $2,693 in Edwardsville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Edwardsville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,693
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Edwardsville, IL

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 Edwardsville, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,608 per month in Monterrey vs $2,693 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

  • Monterrey $1,608
  • Edwardsville, IL $2,693

A couple spends around $2,521 per month in Monterrey vs $3,826 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

  • Monterrey $2,521
  • Edwardsville, IL $3,826

A family of three spends $3,433 per month in Monterrey vs $4,960 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

  • Monterrey $3,433
  • Edwardsville, IL $4,960

Monterrey is about 40% cheaper than Edwardsville, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Monterrey and Edwardsville, IL sit above the global median – Monterrey by 19%, Edwardsville, IL by 99%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.85 MX$256
$21.46 $21.46
-35.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.70 MX$918
$78.0 $78.0
-36.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.05 MX$204
$11.36 $11.36
-2.73%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$75.6
$5.85 $5.85
-30.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$30.97
$2.53 $2.53
-33.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$18.98
$1.95 $1.95
-47.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 MX$44.28
$6.26 $6.26
-61.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 MX$80.3
$6.37 $6.37
-31.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 MX$35.55
$1.09 $1.09
76.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 MX$54.2
$3.71 $3.71
-20.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$34.66
$4.05 $4.05
-53.58%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$47.06
$4.21 $4.21
-39.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.84 MX$219
$13.09 $13.09
-9.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.36 MX$173
$10.22 $10.22
-8.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 MX$242
$14.58 $14.58
-10.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 MX$62.5
$5.26 $5.26
-35.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.48 $1.48
2.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.51
$4.22 $4.22
-48.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$43.63
$4.84 $4.84
-51.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$41.76
$3.08 $3.08
-26.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 MX$50.5
$2.54 $2.54
7.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.17
$1.93 $1.93
-21.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$22.90
$2.44 $2.44
-49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.75 MX$87.8
$10.67 $10.67
-55.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.66 MX$252
$15.70 $15.70
-12.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 MX$34.95
$1.69 $1.69
11.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 MX$55.2
$2.94 $2.94
1.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 MX$15.78
$1.75 $1.75
-51.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.95 MX$572
$99.0 $99.0
-68.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 MX$30.98
$2.88 $2.88
-41.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 MX$20.87
$1.65 $1.65
-31.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.15 MX$206
$32.64 $32.64
-65.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 MX$28.91
$0.96 $0.96
62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$395.8K
$38.5K $38.5K
-44.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K MX$463.2K
$28.2K $28.2K
-11.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 MX$2,206
$184 $184
-35.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.21 MX$484
$59.5 $59.5
-55.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.78 MX$495
$69.5 $69.5
-61.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.03 MX$573
$41.00 $41.00
-24.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.43 MX$396
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.29 MX$97.7
$14.50 $14.50
-63.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 MX$12.8K
$1,411 $1,411
-51.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K MX$212.1K
$25.2K $25.2K
-54.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.3 MX$1,335
$52.6 $52.6
37.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.72 MX$789
$41.21 $41.21
3.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 MX$2,024
$87.6 $87.6
25.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,158
$117 $117
0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$970 MX$17.9K
$1,744 $1,744
-44.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$664 MX$12.3K
$1,332 $1,332
-50.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,857 MX$34.3K
$2,602 $2,602
-28.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,287 MX$23.8K
$1,949 $1,949
-33.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,162 MX$76.9K
$2,555 $2,555
62.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,349 MX$43.4K
$2,439 $2,439
-3.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,146 MX$21.2K
$4,935 $4,935
-76.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
6.57
79.45%

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

Last update for Monterrey: October 10, 2026

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$664
Edwardsville, IL
$1.3K 101% $668
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$310
Edwardsville, IL
$388 25.1% $78
Eating Out
Monterrey
$225
Edwardsville, IL
$338 50.5% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$172
Edwardsville, IL
$313 81.8% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$154
Edwardsville, IL
$134 12.7% $19
Getting Around
Monterrey
$42
Edwardsville, IL
$117 181% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$42
Edwardsville, IL
$70 68.2% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $970 in Monterrey versus $1,744 in Edwardsville, IL. 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 330% higher in Edwardsville, IL, 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 $50.0 in Monterrey versus $78.0 in Edwardsville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $310 vs $388 – making Monterrey the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Edwardsville, IL
🕒 Local time
01:12 1:12 AM
02:12 2:12 AM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
26,808
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Edwardsville, IL 1,750 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Edwardsville, IL

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 Edwardsville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Edwardsville, IL cheaper than Monterrey?
Yes – Edwardsville, IL is pricier by about 67%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,412 per month in Monterrey and $4,040 in Edwardsville, IL. 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 Monterrey, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Monterrey and in Edwardsville, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,608 in Monterrey and $2,693 in Edwardsville, IL. That's a gap of about 67%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 220% less in Monterrey. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Monterrey or in Edwardsville, IL?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,608, than in Edwardsville, IL at $2,693. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edwardsville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Monterrey or Edwardsville, IL more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Monterrey – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Monterrey or Edwardsville, IL?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Monterrey. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edwardsville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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