Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Hamilton, Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,641 a month against $2,378 in Hamilton, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey, Mexico
Hamilton, Canada
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,641
/mo nomad
Hamilton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,378
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Hamilton

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Monterrey versus $2,378 in Hamilton.

  • Monterrey $1,641
  • Hamilton $2,378

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,573 in Monterrey versus $3,390 in Hamilton.

  • Monterrey $2,573
  • Hamilton $3,390

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,504 in Monterrey versus $4,402 in Hamilton.

  • Monterrey $3,504
  • Hamilton $4,402

Living in Monterrey costs roughly 31% less than in Hamilton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monterrey 21% above, Hamilton 76% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 MX$251
$18.01 CA$25.24
-25.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.95 MX$900
$67.5 CA$94.6
-28.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 MX$203
$12.27 CA$17.19
-12.06%
Cappuccino
$3.77 MX$70.7
$3.45 CA$4.83
9.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$28.37
$2.15 CA$3.02
-29.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$19.33
$1.66 CA$2.32
-37.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 MX$46.60
$5.10 CA$7.15
-51.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 MX$81.8
$6.30 CA$8.83
-30.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 MX$35.58
$2.02 CA$2.83
-6.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 MX$53.5
$2.09 CA$2.92
36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MX$34.86
$3.27 CA$4.59
-43.12%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$46.31
$3.28 CA$4.59
-24.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 MX$222
$8.15 CA$11.43
44.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 MX$168
$11.60 CA$16.27
-22.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$236
$14.74 CA$20.66
-14.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 MX$60.0
$4.06 CA$5.69
-21.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$28.23
$1.34 CA$1.88
11.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.90
$4.00 CA$5.60
-47.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 MX$43.82
$3.94 CA$5.52
-40.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 MX$41.75
$2.74 CA$3.84
-18.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 MX$48.54
$1.99 CA$2.79
29.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$27.15
$2.08 CA$2.92
-30.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.94
$1.41 CA$1.98
-13.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 MX$90.1
$12.37 CA$17.34
-61.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.30 MX$250
$14.49 CA$20.31
-8.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MX$36.28
$2.64 CA$3.69
-26.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 MX$53.6
$3.90 CA$5.47
-26.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 MX$15.00
$2.71 CA$3.80
-70.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 MX$581
$90.6 CA$127
-65.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 MX$34.42
$3.53 CA$4.95
-48.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.86
$1.30 CA$1.82
-18.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.82 MX$203
$23.78 CA$33.33
-54.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.65
$1.21 CA$1.70
21.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K MX$452.3K
$26.5K CA$37.1K
-8.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$442.0K
$21.8K CA$30.6K
7.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 MX$2,152
$155 CA$217
-25.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.37 MX$495
$42.03 CA$58.9
-37.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.70 MX$483
$51.1 CA$71.7
-49.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.53 MX$573
$34.22 CA$47.96
-10.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.27 MX$400
$17.63 CA$24.71
20.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 MX$93.1
$10.46 CA$14.66
-52.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 MX$12.7K
$394 CA$553
72.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K MX$266.4K
$22.6K CA$31.7K
-37.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2 MX$1,356
$49.03 CA$68.7
47.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94 MX$788
$31.10 CA$43.60
34.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$2,019
$88.3 CA$124
21.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,228
$116 CA$162
2.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 MX$19.1K
$1,291 CA$1,809
-21.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 MX$13.6K
$1,215 CA$1,704
-40.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 MX$36.9K
$2,003 CA$2,808
-1.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 MX$26.6K
$1,790 CA$2,509
-20.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,203 MX$78.9K
$3,132 CA$4,390
34.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,782 MX$52.2K
$2,635 CA$3,693
5.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$20.6K
$3,027 CA$4,243
-63.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
4.6
156.30%

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

Last update for Monterrey: November 2, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$722
Hamilton
$1.2K 68.4% $494
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$302
Hamilton
$345 14.3% $43
Eating Out
Monterrey
$216
Hamilton
$276 27.7% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$167
Hamilton
$248 48.6% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$153
Hamilton
$128 16.5% $25
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Hamilton
$111 170% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$40
Hamilton
$55 36.3% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Monterrey and $1,291 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays about 2.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $48 in Monterrey vs $67 in Hamilton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $345 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇨🇦 Hamilton
🕒 Local time
06:16 6:16 AM
07:16 7:16 AM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
519,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.78 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 21.09 MXN (100 MXN = 4.74 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Hamilton 2,690 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Hamilton

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 Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monterrey cheaper than Hamilton?
Monterrey is about 31% cheaper overall, especially in transport, eating out, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monterrey or Hamilton?
On paper, salaries run 64% 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.
What is the rent difference between Monterrey and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Monterrey versus $1,291 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $679 in Monterrey versus $394 in Hamilton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Monterrey and in Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 enough for either Monterrey or Hamilton?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Monterrey gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city suits remote workers better?
Both work as nomad bases, but Monterrey delivers better value at $1,641 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monterrey hard to pass up.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Monterrey vs other spots: cost of living compared

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