😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,596 in Monterrey versus $1,092 in San Andres Tuxtla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,550 in Monterrey versus $1,740 in San Andres Tuxtla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,504 in Monterrey versus $2,388 in San Andres Tuxtla.
😐Living in Monterrey is roughly 46% more expensive than San Andres Tuxtla, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Monterrey is 19% above, San Andres Tuxtla is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.45MX$233
$10.70MX$186
25.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$915
$39.25MX$680
34.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.25MX$178
$8.17MX$142
25.46%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$64.8
$3.35MX$58.1
11.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.28
$1.29MX$22.38
8.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$17.98
$0.91MX$15.85
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66MX$46.07
$2.34MX$40.58
13.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33MX$75.1
$4.00MX$69.4
8.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59MX$27.59
$1.48MX$25.60
7.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62MX$45.41
$2.64MX$45.79
-0.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.66
$1.63MX$28.32
19.02%
Eggs
$2.68MX$46.39
$2.37MX$41.14
13.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.37MX$180
$8.23MX$143
26.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.24MX$160
$7.96MX$138
16.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47MX$234
$10.51MX$182
28.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19MX$55.3
$2.60MX$45.08
22.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MX$25.06
$1.46MX$25.27
-0.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.92
$1.76MX$30.51
17.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.88
$1.58MX$27.31
31.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.37
$1.84MX$31.86
23.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.57MX$44.60
$1.99MX$34.55
29.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50MX$26.00
$1.20MX$20.71
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.68
$1.01MX$17.54
6.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$74.3
$4.12MX$71.4
4.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.95MX$207
$12.00MX$208
-0.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.85
$1.60MX$27.68
7.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14MX$54.4
$2.75MX$47.73
14.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82MX$14.27
$0.61MX$10.64
34.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.89MX$709
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68MX$29.18
$2.64MX$45.69
-36.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01MX$17.45
$1.60MX$27.77
-36.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.41MX$180
$8.21MX$142
26.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.31
$1.30MX$22.55
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9KMX$449.3K
$21.1KMX$366.5K
22.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KMX$454.0K
$22.8KMX$395.4K
14.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121MX$2,095
$57.1MX$989
111.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$482
$21.77MX$377
27.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.04MX$521
$28.47MX$493
5.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.56MX$651
$35.30MX$612
6.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96MX$381
$15.70MX$272
39.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.75MX$99.7
$4.69MX$81.2
22.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336MX$5,820
$210MX$3,639
59.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,005MX$156.0K
$3,663MX$63.5K
145.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7MX$1,034
$53.9MX$935
10.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75MX$741
$39.16MX$679
9.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108MX$1,875
$90.2MX$1,564
19.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127MX$2,199
$80.0MX$1,387
58.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908MX$15.7K
$511MX$8,860
77.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663MX$11.5K
$396MX$6,854
67.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,572MX$27.2K
$924MX$16.0K
70.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,424MX$24.7K
$766MX$13.3K
85.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,254MX$73.7K
$2,043MX$35.4K
108.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,862MX$49.6K
$1,426MX$24.7K
100.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
San Andres Tuxtla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,129MX$19.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.55
11.48
0.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monterrey: April 21, 2026
Last update for San Andres Tuxtla: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $908 in Monterrey and $511 in San Andres Tuxtla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53 in Monterrey vs $39 in San Andres Tuxtla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $254 per month, with San Andres Tuxtla cheaper across the board.
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 San Andres Tuxtla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monterrey and San Andres Tuxtla?
Monterrey and San Andres Tuxtla differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($1,596 vs $1,092 including rent). San Andres Tuxtla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Monterrey compared to San Andres Tuxtla?
You'd need roughly $2,393 in Monterrey and $1,638 in San Andres Tuxtla 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Monterrey and San Andres Tuxtla?
Rent for a central apartment: $908 in Monterrey versus $511 in San Andres Tuxtla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Monterrey and San Andres Tuxtla?
Childcare runs $336 in Monterrey versus $210 in San Andres Tuxtla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in San Andres Tuxtla – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $53.0 in Monterrey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,092 in San Andres Tuxtla versus $1,596 in Monterrey, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Andres Tuxtla but tight or insufficient in Monterrey. The gap between the two cities makes San Andres Tuxtla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Monterrey and San Andres Tuxtla?
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.
Is Monterrey or San Andres Tuxtla safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Monterrey and San Andres Tuxtla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Monterrey or San Andres Tuxtla?
Expats usually find San Andres Tuxtla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Monterrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.