😐A single person spends $1,581 per month in Monterrey vs $1,261 in Guadalupe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,534 per month in Monterrey vs $1,937 in Guadalupe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,488 per month in Monterrey vs $2,613 in Guadalupe, rent included.
😐Monterrey costs about 25% more than Guadalupe, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Monterrey sits 19% above the global median, while Guadalupe is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.12MX$227
$9.71MX$168
35.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0MX$899
$39.41MX$682
31.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.46MX$181
$9.60MX$166
8.96%
Cappuccino
$3.73MX$64.5
$3.55MX$61.5
5.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.23
$0.99MX$17.11
41.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.17
$0.82MX$14.21
28.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.69MX$46.49
$2.13MX$36.90
26.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33MX$74.9
$4.33MX$74.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66MX$28.77
$1.66MX$28.80
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.74
$2.60MX$45.04
1.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.94
$1.95MX$33.72
0.51%
Eggs
$2.62MX$45.41
$2.71MX$46.97
-3.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.49MX$181
$10.32MX$178
1.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.88MX$154
$8.73MX$151
1.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56MX$235
$13.53MX$234
0.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05MX$52.8
$3.15MX$54.5
-3.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MX$25.36
$1.39MX$24.13
5.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.22
$2.04MX$35.28
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.73
$2.06MX$35.73
0.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34MX$40.47
$2.35MX$40.66
-0.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.52MX$43.52
$2.57MX$44.48
-1.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$27.17
$1.55MX$26.82
1.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$1.12MX$19.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$4.35MX$75.2
-1.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.06MX$243
$10.92MX$189
28.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79MX$31.00
$1.70MX$29.37
5.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09MX$53.5
$3.19MX$55.3
-3.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82MX$14.19
$0.62MX$10.71
32.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.01MX$692
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.75MX$30.28
$1.57MX$27.18
11.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97MX$16.78
$1.01MX$17.45
-3.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.63MX$184
$10.39MX$180
2.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37MX$23.65
$1.28MX$22.08
7.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KMX$455.2K
$26.7KMX$462.8K
-1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KMX$441.3K
$26.1KMX$452.3K
-2.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123MX$2,125
$125MX$2,157
-1.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.58MX$477
$27.52MX$476
0.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.78MX$515
$29.42MX$509
1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.38MX$664
$35.88MX$621
6.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.94MX$380
$16.18MX$280
35.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86MX$101
$4.63MX$80.2
26.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347MX$6,004
$338MX$5,848
2.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,938MX$154.6K
$8,867MX$153.4K
0.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2MX$1,006
$59.8MX$1,035
-2.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.19MX$747
$41.98MX$726
2.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109MX$1,884
$109MX$1,894
-0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126MX$2,187
$127MX$2,195
-0.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$903MX$15.6K
$516MX$8,920
75.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$661MX$11.4K
$394MX$6,825
67.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$939MX$16.2K
69.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,398MX$24.2K
$755MX$13.1K
85.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,267MX$73.8K
$2,019MX$34.9K
111.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,840MX$49.1K
$1,214MX$21.0K
133.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Guadalupe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,135MX$19.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.55
11.55
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monterrey: July 27, 2026
Last update for Guadalupe: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $903 in Monterrey versus $516 in Guadalupe. 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 $52.0 in Monterrey versus $39.00 in Guadalupe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $288 – making Guadalupe 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 Guadalupe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guadalupe cheaper than Monterrey?
Yes – Monterrey is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,371 per month in Monterrey and $1,891 in Guadalupe. 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 Guadalupe, 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 in Guadalupe?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Monterrey and $39.00 in Guadalupe. 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 in Guadalupe?
Groceries cost about 3% 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 living in Monterrey or in Guadalupe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guadalupe, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Monterrey at $1,581. In Guadalupe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monterrey it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Monterrey or Guadalupe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guadalupe – 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 Guadalupe. 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.