Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Oakville

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,641 a month against $2,839 in Oakville, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Monterrey, Mexico
Oakville, Canada
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,641
/mo nomad
Oakville
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Monterrey and in Oakville

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Monterrey versus $2,839 in Oakville.

  • Monterrey $1,641
  • Oakville $2,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,573 in Monterrey versus $3,938 in Oakville.

  • Monterrey $2,573
  • Oakville $3,938

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,504 in Monterrey versus $5,037 in Oakville.

  • Monterrey $3,504
  • Oakville $5,037

Living in Monterrey costs roughly 42% less than in Oakville, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monterrey 21% above, Oakville 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 MX$249
$14.19 CA$20.04
-5.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.95 MX$892
$72.5 CA$102
-33.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 MX$201
$9.35 CA$13.22
15.40%
Cappuccino
$3.77 MX$70.0
$3.83 CA$5.41
-1.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$28.09
$2.18 CA$3.08
-30.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MX$19.14
$1.76 CA$2.49
-41.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 MX$46.14
$5.85 CA$8.26
-57.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 MX$81.0
$6.35 CA$8.98
-31.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 MX$35.23
$2.68 CA$3.78
-29.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 MX$53.0
$3.30 CA$4.67
-13.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MX$34.52
$3.51 CA$4.95
-47.01%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$45.86
$4.22 CA$5.96
-41.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 MX$220
$10.67 CA$15.07
10.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 MX$167
$11.93 CA$16.86
-24.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$234
$19.68 CA$27.81
-36.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.20 MX$59.4
$3.48 CA$4.91
-8.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$27.96
$1.86 CA$2.63
-19.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.52
$3.19 CA$4.51
-33.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 MX$43.39
$3.01 CA$4.25
-22.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 MX$41.34
$2.38 CA$3.36
-6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 MX$48.07
$2.75 CA$3.89
-6.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$26.88
$2.17 CA$3.07
-33.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$22.72
$1.77 CA$2.50
-31.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 MX$89.2
$14.23 CA$20.11
-66.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.30 MX$247
$13.69 CA$19.35
-2.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 MX$35.93
$3.26 CA$4.61
-40.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 MX$53.1
$2.53 CA$3.58
13.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 MX$14.85
$2.82 CA$3.98
-71.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 MX$575
$104 CA$146
-70.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 MX$34.08
$3.32 CA$4.68
-44.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 MX$19.66
$1.35 CA$1.91
-21.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.82 MX$201
$21.42 CA$30.26
-49.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.39
$1.20 CA$1.70
22.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K MX$447.9K
$28.1K CA$39.7K
-14.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.7K
$21.3K CA$30.0K
10.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 MX$2,132
$90.4 CA$128
26.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.37 MX$490
$29.28 CA$41.37
-9.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.70 MX$478
$47.56 CA$67.2
-45.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.53 MX$568
$41.94 CA$59.3
-27.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.27 MX$396
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 MX$92.2
$10.05 CA$14.19
-50.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 MX$12.6K
$1,081 CA$1,527
-37.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K MX$263.8K
$26.0K CA$36.7K
-45.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2 MX$1,343
$67.3 CA$95.1
7.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94 MX$780
$93.0 CA$131
-54.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$1,999
$130 CA$183
-17.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 MX$2,207
$107 CA$152
10.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 MX$18.9K
$1,872 CA$2,644
-45.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 MX$13.4K
$1,672 CA$2,362
-56.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 MX$36.6K
$2,581 CA$3,647
-23.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 MX$26.3K
$2,317 CA$3,274
-38.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,203 MX$78.2K
$4,871 CA$6,882
-13.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,782 MX$51.7K
$6,011 CA$8,492
-53.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Oakville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,096 MX$20.4K
$3,160 CA$4,464
-65.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.79
5.26
124.14%

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

Last update for Monterrey: November 2, 2026

Last update for Oakville: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
$722
Oakville
$1.7K 132% $950
Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
$302
Oakville
$389 28.8% $87
Eating Out
Monterrey
$216
Oakville
$245 13.6% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
$167
Oakville
$167 0.3% $0.6
Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
$153
Oakville
$179 16.7% $26
Getting Around
Monterrey
$41
Oakville
$125 203% $84
Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
$40
Oakville
$62 53.3% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Monterrey and $1,872 in Oakville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oakville pays about 2.9 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $48 in Monterrey vs $72 in Oakville for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $389 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇨🇦 Oakville
🕒 Local time
11:43 11:43 AM
12:43 12:43 PM
1 h ahead of Monterrey
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,142,994
193,832
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 18.6 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.72 MXN (100 MXN = 4.83 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 7, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.708 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Monterrey Oakville 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Monterrey
  • Oakville

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 Oakville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monterrey and in Oakville?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,641 in Monterrey and $2,839 in Oakville, so Monterrey is about 42% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 65% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Monterrey and in Oakville?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Monterrey versus $1,872 in Oakville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Monterrey – a meal for two runs $48 versus $72 in Oakville. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Monterrey or Oakville?
All in, you’ll spend $1,641 per month in Monterrey versus $2,839 in Oakville – Monterrey is about 42% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How does quality of life compare between Monterrey and Oakville?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Monterrey or Oakville?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Oakville. 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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