😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,728 in Monterrey versus $1,189 in Uruapan del Progreso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,711 in Monterrey versus $1,964 in Uruapan del Progreso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Monterrey versus $2,739 in Uruapan del Progreso.
🌍Living in Monterrey is roughly 45% more expensive than in Uruapan del Progreso, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Monterrey is 25% above, Uruapan del Progreso is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.63MX$248
$11.59MX$197
26.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$901
$64.2MX$1,088
-17.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.02MX$204
$9.76MX$166
23.16%
Cappuccino
$4.18MX$71.0
$2.71MX$45.91
54.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70MX$28.82
$0.80MX$13.65
112.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$18.95
$0.61MX$10.39
83.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$49.53
$2.92MX$49.49
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$79.9
$2.00MX$33.92
135.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97MX$33.50
$1.38MX$23.38
42.75%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16MX$53.6
$2.85MX$48.41
10.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.00
$1.50MX$25.39
33.33%
Eggs
$2.68MX$45.44
$2.93MX$49.69
-8.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14MX$223
$8.60MX$146
52.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.98MX$169
$9.77MX$166
2.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.79MX$234
$13.59MX$231
1.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.60MX$61.1
$3.30MX$56.0
9.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65MX$28.07
$1.78MX$30.26
-7.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31MX$39.26
$1.05MX$17.81
120.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58MX$43.71
$1.19MX$20.22
116.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.39
$1.54MX$26.17
62.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.0
$1.28MX$21.65
130.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.53
$1.51MX$25.67
7.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.95MX$16.20
41.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34MX$90.7
$4.85MX$82.3
10.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.83MX$252
$12.29MX$208
20.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.28
$2.49MX$42.25
-18.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23MX$54.8
$4.42MX$75.1
-26.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87MX$14.78
$0.72MX$12.29
20.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.53MX$569
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88MX$31.82
$3.45MX$58.5
-45.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15MX$19.52
$2.71MX$45.96
-57.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.99MX$203
$8.71MX$148
37.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.58
$1.31MX$22.16
28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KMX$385.0K
$22.7KMX$385.8K
-0.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KMX$462.8K
$26.0KMX$441.7K
4.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124MX$2,109
$65.2MX$1,106
90.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.42MX$482
$28.61MX$485
-0.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.37MX$481
$27.23MX$462
4.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.01MX$560
$36.86MX$625
-10.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10MX$392
$21.82MX$370
5.87%
Cinema Ticket
$5.51MX$93.5
$4.87MX$82.7
13.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$738MX$12.5K
$287MX$4,872
156.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4KMX$211.1K
$5,478MX$92.9K
127.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9MX$1,373
$57.1MX$969
41.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.74MX$776
$47.37MX$804
-3.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121MX$2,046
$107MX$1,808
13.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135MX$2,295
$103MX$1,754
30.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,045MX$17.7K
$662MX$11.2K
57.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$728MX$12.3K
$408MX$6,929
78.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,014MX$34.2K
$1,128MX$19.1K
78.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,403MX$23.8K
$818MX$13.9K
71.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,411MX$74.8K
$1,951MX$33.1K
126.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,630MX$44.6K
$1,247MX$21.2K
110.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,170MX$19.8K
$478MX$8,104
144.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.56
11.99
-3.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monterrey: September 7, 2026
Last update for Uruapan del Progreso: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,045 in Monterrey and $662 in Uruapan del Progreso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monterrey pays 145% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Monterrey vs $64.0 in Uruapan del Progreso. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $283, with Uruapan del Progreso cheaper for home cooking.
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 Uruapan del Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monterrey and in Uruapan del Progreso?
Monterrey and Uruapan del Progreso differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,728 vs $1,189 including rent). Uruapan del Progreso is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Monterrey or Uruapan del Progreso?
Average pay runs 145% higher in Monterrey, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Monterrey and in Uruapan del Progreso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,045 in Monterrey versus $662 in Uruapan del Progreso. 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 Uruapan del Progreso?
Childcare runs $738 in Monterrey versus $287 in Uruapan del Progreso. 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 Uruapan del Progreso – a meal for two runs $64.0 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 $1,000 per month?
At $1,189 in Uruapan del Progreso versus $1,728 in Monterrey, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Uruapan del Progreso but tight or insufficient in Monterrey. The gap between the two cities makes Uruapan del Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Monterrey and Uruapan del Progreso?
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 Uruapan del Progreso?
Expats usually find Uruapan del Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Monterrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.