Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Matamoros

For one person, living is cheaper in Matamoros: $1,090 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $46,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Matamoros
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,090
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Matamoros

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Matamoros actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,950 in New York, NY versus $1,090 in Matamoros.

  • New York, NY $4,950
  • Matamoros $1,090

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,265 in New York, NY versus $1,832 in Matamoros.

  • New York, NY $7,265
  • Matamoros $1,832

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,581 in New York, NY versus $2,573 in Matamoros.

  • New York, NY $9,581
  • Matamoros $2,573

Living in New York, NY is roughly 354% more expensive than in Matamoros, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: New York, NY is 267% above, Matamoros is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.65 $24.65
$12.38 MX$229
99.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$37.67 MX$696
222.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 $13.91
$9.06 MX$167
53.53%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
$3.29 MX$60.8
100.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.47 MX$27.18
161.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.05 MX$19.40
173.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$2.26 MX$41.81
244.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$4.48 MX$82.8
119.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.63 MX$30.12
-15.34%
White Bread (500g)
$4.68 $4.68
$2.40 MX$44.43
95.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.54 $7.54
$1.70 MX$31.43
343.53%
Eggs
$5.93 $5.93
$2.57 MX$47.54
130.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$9.01 MX$167
108.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.36 $17.36
$7.82 MX$144
121.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
$11.74 MX$217
57.67%
Apples (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$2.70 MX$49.81
149.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.73 MX$31.92
20.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$1.67 MX$30.82
263.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$2.05 MX$37.92
228.78%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.17 MX$40.01
86.64%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.09 MX$38.70
109.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.61 MX$29.73
79.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.22 MX$22.48
113.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 $18.72
$4.72 MX$87.2
296.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.06 $20.06
$10.79 MX$199
85.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.02 MX$37.32
60.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$3.18 MX$58.8
17.30%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 $3.06
$0.65 MX$12.03
370.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.71 MX$50.0
12.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.25 MX$41.49
-4.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.82 $41.82
$11.47 MX$212
264.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.34 MX$24.72
-16.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$23.5K MX$435.0K
50.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$23.9K MX$441.3K
9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$56.2 MX$1,038
290.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$25.44 MX$470
187.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$26.61 MX$492
170.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$123 $123
$32.88 MX$608
273.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.7 $67.7
$22.40 MX$414
202.10%
Cinema Ticket
$22.85 $22.85
$4.48 MX$82.7
410.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
$223 MX$4,114
1396.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.0K $60.0K
$4,650 MX$85.9K
1189.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 $75.2
$53.3 MX$986
40.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.50 MX$711
36.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
$99.1 MX$1,832
22.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
$79.4 MX$1,467
67.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
$646 MX$11.9K
579.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,130 $3,130
$337 MX$6,220
829.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,918 $8,918
$901 MX$16.7K
889.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,354 $5,354
$826 MX$15.3K
548.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$2,039 MX$37.7K
851.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,806 $6,806
$1,054 MX$19.5K
545.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Matamoros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,343 $5,343
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
11.3
-39.65%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Last update for Matamoros: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Matamoros
$337 89.2% $2.8K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$545
Matamoros
$269 50.6% $276
Eating Out
New York, NY
$404
Matamoros
$196 51.4% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Matamoros
$108 70.3% $256
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Matamoros
$122 29.3% $50
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$168
Matamoros
$42 75.2% $127
Getting Around
New York, NY
$167
Matamoros
$17 * 90.1% $150

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 $4,389 in New York, NY and $646 in Matamoros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in New York, NY vs $38.00 in Matamoros for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $545 vs $269 per month, with Matamoros cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇲🇽 Matamoros
🕒 Local time
00:59 12:59 AM
23:59 11:59 PM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
510,739
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Matamoros 2,700 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Matamoros

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
New York, NY vs Matamoros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Matamoros?
Matamoros wins on cost – living expenses run 354% lower than in New York, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Matamoros the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in New York, NY and in Matamoros?
You'd need roughly $7,424 in New York, NY and $1,635 in Matamoros 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in New York, NY compared to Matamoros?
Rent for a central apartment: $4,389 in New York, NY versus $646 in Matamoros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Matamoros?
Childcare runs $3,333 in New York, NY versus $223 in Matamoros. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in New York, NY and in Matamoros?
Dining out is cheaper in Matamoros – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $122 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in New York, NY or in Matamoros?
At $1,090 in Matamoros versus $4,950 in New York, NY, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Matamoros but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Matamoros the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Matamoros?
Both work as nomad bases, but Matamoros delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,090 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Matamoros hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Matamoros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 354% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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