Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Medford, MA

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,641 a month against $3,043 in Medford, MA, rent and utilities included – about $16,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey, Mexico
Medford, MA, United States
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,641
/mo nomad
Medford, MA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,043
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Medford, MA

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

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Monterrey vs $3,043 in Medford, MA, rent included.

  • Monterrey $1,641
  • Medford, MA $3,043

A couple spends around $2,573 per month in Monterrey vs $4,134 in Medford, MA, rent included.

  • Monterrey $2,573
  • Medford, MA $4,134

A family of three spends $3,504 per month in Monterrey vs $5,225 in Medford, MA, rent included.

  • Monterrey $3,504
  • Medford, MA $5,225

Monterrey is about 46% cheaper than Medford, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Monterrey and Medford, MA sit above the global median – Monterrey by 21%, Medford, MA by 125%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 MX$250
$17.41 $17.41
-23.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.95 MX$897
$92.9 $92.9
-48.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 MX$202
$12.15 $12.15
-11.19%
Cappuccino
$3.77 MX$70.4
$5.35 $5.35
-29.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$28.26
$2.87 $2.87
-47.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$19.25
$2.52 $2.52
-59.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 MX$46.41
$8.04 $8.04
-69.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 MX$81.5
$7.78 $7.78
-43.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 MX$35.43
$1.08 $1.08
75.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 MX$53.3
$3.81 $3.81
-25.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MX$34.71
$5.51 $5.51
-66.24%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$46.12
$4.66 $4.66
-47.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 MX$221
$11.13 $11.13
6.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 MX$168
$13.98 $13.98
-35.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$235
$17.86 $17.86
-29.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 MX$59.8
$6.84 $6.84
-53.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$28.12
$1.81 $1.81
-17.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.74
$5.51 $5.51
-61.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 MX$43.64
$5.66 $5.66
-58.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 MX$41.58
$4.42 $4.42
-49.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 MX$48.34
$4.03 $4.03
-35.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$27.04
$2.27 $2.27
-36.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.85
$1.02 $1.02
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 MX$89.7
$13.36 $13.36
-64.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.30 MX$249
$13.78 $13.78
-3.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MX$36.14
$2.15 $2.15
-10.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 MX$53.4
$3.97 $3.97
-27.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 MX$14.94
$2.47 $2.47
-67.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 MX$579
$59.0 $59.0
-47.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 MX$34.28
$2.61 $2.61
-29.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.78
$1.73 $1.73
-38.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.82 MX$202
$27.77 $27.77
-61.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.54
$1.08 $1.08
36.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K MX$450.4K
$27.1K $27.1K
-11.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.2K
$26.7K $26.7K
-11.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 MX$2,144
$236 $236
-51.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.37 MX$493
$55.8 $55.8
-52.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.70 MX$481
$81.7 $81.7
-68.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.53 MX$571
$42.97 $42.97
-28.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.27 MX$398
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 MX$92.8
$14.12 $14.12
-64.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 MX$12.7K
$1,849 $1,849
-63.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K MX$265.3K
$44.9K $44.9K
-68.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2 MX$1,350
$56.0 $56.0
29.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94 MX$784
$37.57 $37.57
11.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$2,011
$80.8 $80.8
33.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,219
$101 $101
17.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 MX$19.0K
$1,554 $1,554
-34.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 MX$13.5K
$1,647 $1,647
-56.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 MX$36.8K
$2,594 $2,594
-24.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 MX$26.5K
$2,116 $2,116
-33.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,203 MX$78.6K
$2,788 $2,788
50.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,782 MX$52.0K
$2,298 $2,298
21.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Medford, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$20.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
6.64
77.56%

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

Last update for Monterrey: November 2, 2026

Last update for Medford, MA: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$722
Medford, MA
$1.6K 128% $925
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$302
Medford, MA
$431 42.6% $129
Eating Out
Monterrey
$216
Medford, MA
$317 47% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$167
Medford, MA
$373 124% $207
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$153
Medford, MA
$124 19.1% $29
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Medford, MA
$80 94.2% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$40
Medford, MA
$71 76% $31

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Monterrey versus $1,554 in Medford, MA. 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 $48 in Monterrey versus $93 in Medford, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $431 – making Monterrey the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇺🇸 Medford, MA
🕒 Local time
16:28 4:28 PM
17:28 5:28 PM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
56,173
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.9 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Medford, MA 3,250 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Medford, MA

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 Medford, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monterrey cheaper than Medford, MA?
Yes – Medford, MA is pricier by about 85%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,461 per month in Monterrey and $4,565 in Medford, MA. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,018 there versus $1,554 in Medford, MA.
What are total monthly expenses in Monterrey and in Medford, MA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Monterrey and $3,043 in Medford, MA. That makes Monterrey about 46% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 48% 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 Medford, MA?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Monterrey, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Medford, MA at $3,043. In Monterrey it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medford, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Monterrey or Medford, MA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Monterrey is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 46% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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