Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Jackson, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,607 a month against $2,181 in Jackson, TN, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,607
/mo nomad
Jackson, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,181
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Jackson, TN

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

A single person spends $1,607 per month in Monterrey vs $2,181 in Jackson, TN, rent included.

  • Monterrey $1,607
  • Jackson, TN $2,181

A couple spends around $2,512 per month in Monterrey vs $3,079 in Jackson, TN, rent included.

  • Monterrey $2,512
  • Jackson, TN $3,079

A family of three spends $3,417 per month in Monterrey vs $3,978 in Jackson, TN, rent included.

  • Monterrey $3,417
  • Jackson, TN $3,978

Monterrey is about 26% cheaper than Jackson, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Monterrey and Jackson, TN sit above the global median – Monterrey by 20%, Jackson, TN by 63%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.75 MX$253
$17.24 $17.24
-20.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 MX$923
$49.79 $49.79
0.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.13 MX$205
$10.64 $10.64
4.61%
Cappuccino
$4.04 MX$74.3
$4.96 $4.96
-18.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 MX$31.33
$2.36 $2.36
-27.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.19
$1.84 $1.84
-46.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 MX$44.27
$3.97 $3.97
-39.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 MX$82.5
$5.03 $5.03
-10.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 MX$35.36
$0.86 $0.86
123.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 MX$53.2
$3.01 $3.01
-3.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$35.72
$2.73 $2.73
-28.94%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$45.97
$4.16 $4.16
-39.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.30 MX$226
$9.74 $9.74
26.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$9.56 $9.56
-2.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 MX$240
$14.02 $14.02
-6.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 MX$62.2
$3.92 $3.92
-13.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$29.07
$1.37 $1.37
15.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$40.51
$2.79 $2.79
-21.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 MX$44.96
$2.99 $2.99
-18.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$41.54
$1.84 $1.84
22.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 MX$50.4
$2.30 $2.30
19.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 MX$28.13
$1.94 $1.94
-21.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MX$23.19
$1.92 $1.92
-34.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.84 MX$89.0
$8.69 $8.69
-44.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.59 MX$250
$13.15 $13.15
3.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 MX$35.06
$1.71 $1.71
11.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 MX$56.4
$2.05 $2.05
49.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 MX$14.62
$1.22 $1.22
-34.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.77 MX$584
$35.36 $35.36
-10.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 MX$29.82
$1.98 $1.98
-18.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MX$20.20
$1.22 $1.22
-9.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.97 MX$202
$19.70 $19.70
-44.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$27.98
$0.83 $0.83
83.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$393.0K
$34.4K $34.4K
-37.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K MX$468.3K
$25.3K $25.3K
0.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 MX$2,201
$169 $169
-29.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.08 MX$498
$66.5 $66.5
-59.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.70 MX$491
$72.7 $72.7
-63.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.15 MX$573
$50.4 $50.4
-38.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.95 MX$404
$50.9 $50.9
-56.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$94.5
$10.87 $10.87
-52.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 MX$12.6K
$1,136 $1,136
-39.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$210.1K
$8,428 $8,428
35.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 MX$1,323
$51.9 $51.9
38.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.30 MX$796
$36.61 $36.61
18.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$2,062
$64.7 $64.7
73.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,240
$101 $101
21.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 MX$17.6K
$1,212 $1,212
-21.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 MX$12.3K
$1,032 $1,032
-35.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,887 MX$34.7K
$1,662 $1,662
13.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,305 MX$24.0K
$1,608 $1,608
-18.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,159 MX$76.5K
$1,706 $1,706
143.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,437 MX$44.8K
$1,704 $1,704
43.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Jackson, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,133 MX$20.8K
$4,135 $4,135
-72.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
6.53
80.55%

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

Last update for Monterrey: October 4, 2026

Last update for Jackson, TN: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$670
Jackson, TN
$1K 53.9% $361
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$312
Jackson, TN
$319 2.1% $6.6
Eating Out
Monterrey
$224
Jackson, TN
$276 23.4% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$174
Jackson, TN
$308 77.4% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$157
Jackson, TN
$114 27.3% $43
Getting Around
Monterrey
$42
Jackson, TN
$48 14.9% $6.3
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$41
Jackson, TN
$72 74.1% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Monterrey versus $1,212 in Jackson, TN. 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 265% higher in Jackson, TN, 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 $50.0 in Jackson, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $319 – making Monterrey the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Jackson, TN
🕒 Local time
01:56 1:56 AM
02:56 2:56 AM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
153,701
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 18.39 MXN (100 MXN = 5.44 USD). 1 EUR = 20.61 MXN (100 MXN = 4.85 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Jackson, TN 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Jackson, TN

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 Jackson, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Monterrey and in Jackson, TN compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,607 in Monterrey, $2,181 in Jackson, TN – roughly 36% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.
What salary covers living expenses in Monterrey compared to Jackson, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,411 per month in Monterrey and $3,271 in Jackson, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Monterrey and Jackson, TN?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Jackson, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Monterrey and $50.0 in Jackson, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,607, than in Jackson, TN at $2,181. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jackson, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Monterrey and Jackson, TN?
It depends on your priorities. Monterrey has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,607 in Monterrey to $2,181 in Jackson, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Monterrey or Jackson, TN safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Monterrey and Jackson, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Monterrey. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jackson, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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