Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Lombard, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,599 a month against $2,625 in Lombard, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,599
/mo nomad
Lombard, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Lombard, 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 Lombard, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,599 in Monterrey versus $2,625 in Lombard, IL.

  • Monterrey $1,599
  • Lombard, IL $2,625

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,493 in Monterrey versus $3,685 in Lombard, IL.

  • Monterrey $2,493
  • Lombard, IL $3,685

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,387 in Monterrey versus $4,745 in Lombard, IL.

  • Monterrey $3,387
  • Lombard, IL $4,745

Living in Monterrey costs roughly 39% less than in Lombard, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monterrey 18% above, Lombard, IL 94% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.80 MX$255
$19.91 $19.91
-30.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.99 MX$887
$73.5 $73.5
-34.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$197
$11.30 $11.30
-5.75%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$73.7
$6.33 $6.33
-36.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$30.76
$2.68 $2.68
-38.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.21
$2.57 $2.57
-61.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 MX$43.64
$7.05 $7.05
-66.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 MX$81.8
$6.01 $6.01
-26.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 MX$33.58
$0.98 $0.98
85.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.83 MX$52.4
$3.56 $3.56
-20.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.44
$4.48 $4.48
-57.14%
Eggs
$2.48 MX$45.78
$4.28 $4.28
-42.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.74 MX$217
$12.20 $12.20
-3.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 MX$168
$11.69 $11.69
-22.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.53 MX$232
$16.87 $16.87
-25.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 MX$61.6
$5.03 $5.03
-33.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.10
$1.57 $1.57
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 MX$39.86
$4.32 $4.32
-50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 MX$45.65
$4.83 $4.83
-48.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$42.64
$2.78 $2.78
-16.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 MX$49.47
$3.00 $3.00
-10.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$26.90
$2.00 $2.00
-27.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$22.07
$1.92 $1.92
-38.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.75 MX$87.8
$10.18 $10.18
-53.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.58 MX$251
$14.98 $14.98
-9.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 MX$35.52
$1.99 $1.99
-3.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$53.2
$3.44 $3.44
-16.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 MX$14.66
$1.93 $1.93
-59.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.36 MX$579
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 MX$29.44
$2.67 $2.67
-40.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.58
$1.63 $1.63
-34.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.80 MX$200
$32.54 $32.54
-66.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$28.59
$1.20 $1.20
29.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K MX$446.4K
$25.7K $25.7K
-6.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K MX$449.4K
$25.0K $25.0K
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 MX$2,159
$225 $225
-48.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.38 MX$488
$58.7 $58.7
-55.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.04 MX$481
$69.2 $69.2
-62.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.26 MX$559
$41.48 $41.48
-27.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.25 MX$393
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 MX$96.6
$14.03 $14.03
-62.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$673 MX$12.4K
$1,562 $1,562
-56.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K MX$205.2K
$24.5K $24.5K
-54.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1 MX$1,332
$60.6 $60.6
19.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.38 MX$783
$37.12 $37.12
14.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$2,066
$84.8 $84.8
31.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,200
$129 $129
-7.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$949 MX$17.5K
$1,612 $1,612
-41.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 MX$12.3K
$1,313 $1,313
-49.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,821 MX$33.7K
$2,313 $2,313
-21.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 MX$23.5K
$1,891 $1,891
-32.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,050 MX$74.8K
$2,780 $2,780
45.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,348 MX$43.4K
$2,167 $2,167
8.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Lombard, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,155 MX$21.3K
-
-
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 18, 2026

Last update for Lombard, IL: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$666
Lombard, IL
$1.3K 97% $646
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$304
Lombard, IL
$394 29.5% $90
Eating Out
Monterrey
$221
Lombard, IL
$337 52.4% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$169
Lombard, IL
$353 108% $183
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$155
Lombard, IL
$140 9.8% $15
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Lombard, IL
$19 * 55.3% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$41
Lombard, IL
$70 70.8% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $949 in Monterrey and $1,612 in Lombard, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Monterrey vs $74.0 in Lombard, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $304 vs $394 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Lombard, IL
🕒 Local time
07:12 7:12 AM
08:12 8:12 AM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
42,792
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Lombard, IL 2,130 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Lombard, 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 Lombard, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lombard, IL cheaper than Monterrey?
Monterrey is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,399 in Monterrey and $3,938 in Lombard, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Monterrey and Lombard, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $949 in Monterrey versus $1,612 in Lombard, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Monterrey and in Lombard, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Lombard, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Monterrey and in Lombard, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,599 per month in Monterrey versus $2,625 in Lombard, IL – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Monterrey or in Lombard, IL?
At $1,599 in Monterrey versus $2,625 in Lombard, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Lombard, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Monterrey or Lombard, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Monterrey is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lombard, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Monterrey or Lombard, IL?
Safety-wise, Monterrey and Lombard, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Lombard, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Monterrey vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?