Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oak Lawn, IL and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,599 a month against $2,586 in Oak Lawn, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oak Lawn, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,586
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,599
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oak Lawn, IL and in Monterrey

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,586 in Oak Lawn, IL versus $1,599 in Monterrey.

  • Oak Lawn, IL $2,586
  • Monterrey $1,599

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,492 in Oak Lawn, IL versus $2,493 in Monterrey.

  • Oak Lawn, IL $3,492
  • Monterrey $2,493

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,398 in Oak Lawn, IL versus $3,387 in Monterrey.

  • Oak Lawn, IL $4,398
  • Monterrey $3,387

Living in Oak Lawn, IL is roughly 62% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oak Lawn, IL 91% above, Monterrey 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.26 $15.26
$13.80 MX$255
10.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8 $62.8
$47.99 MX$887
30.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.77 $7.77
$10.65 MX$197
-27.04%
Cappuccino
$5.43 $5.43
$3.99 MX$73.7
36.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.66 MX$30.76
30.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 $1.13
$0.99 MX$18.21
14.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.14 $5.14
$2.36 MX$43.64
117.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15 $5.15
$4.43 MX$81.8
16.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.82 MX$33.58
-48.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.83 MX$52.4
-16.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.92 MX$35.44
77.60%
Eggs
$3.76 $3.76
$2.48 MX$45.78
51.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 $11.16
$11.74 MX$217
-4.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.61 $8.61
$9.10 MX$168
-5.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 $13.18
$12.53 MX$232
5.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.34 MX$61.6
-2.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.57 MX$29.10
24.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.16 MX$39.86
50.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.47 MX$45.65
33.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.31 MX$42.64
-6.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$2.68 MX$49.47
-58.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.46 MX$26.90
41.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.19 MX$22.07
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87 $9.87
$4.75 MX$87.8
107.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.96 $9.96
$13.58 MX$251
-26.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.92 MX$35.52
7.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.88 MX$53.2
15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.79 MX$14.66
159.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.95 $49.95
$31.36 MX$579
59.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 $5.38
$1.59 MX$29.44
238.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.06 MX$19.58
166.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.46 $17.46
$10.80 MX$200
61.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.55 MX$28.59
-27.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9K $15.9K
$24.2K MX$446.4K
-34.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$24.3K MX$449.4K
11.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 $220
$117 MX$2,159
88.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0 $53.0
$26.38 MX$488
100.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1 $66.1
$26.04 MX$481
153.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.21 $42.21
$30.26 MX$559
39.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.25 MX$393
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.35 $20.35
$5.23 MX$96.6
289.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,336 $1,336
$673 MX$12.4K
98.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K $12.6K
$11.1K MX$205.2K
13.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.58 $47.58
$72.1 MX$1,332
-33.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.39 $25.39
$42.38 MX$783
-40.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.0 $58.0
$112 MX$2,066
-48.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8 $50.8
$119 MX$2,200
-57.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,601 $1,601
$949 MX$17.5K
68.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$666 MX$12.3K
114.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 $2,851
$1,821 MX$33.7K
56.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,945 $1,945
$1,271 MX$23.5K
52.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,575 $2,575
$4,050 MX$74.8K
-36.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,733 $2,733
$2,348 MX$43.4K
16.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oak Lawn, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,155 MX$21.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
11.79
-42.15%

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

Last update for Oak Lawn, IL: October 20, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oak Lawn, IL
$1.4K
Monterrey
$666 53.5% $765
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oak Lawn, IL
$339
Monterrey
$169 50.1% $170
Groceries & Markets
Oak Lawn, IL
$313
Monterrey
$304 2.9% $9
Eating Out
Oak Lawn, IL
$260
Monterrey
$221 14.7% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Oak Lawn, IL
$83
Monterrey
$41 50.9% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Oak Lawn, IL
$82
Monterrey
$155 90% $74
Getting Around
Oak Lawn, IL
$78
Monterrey
$41 46.6% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,601 in Oak Lawn, IL and $949 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Oak Lawn, IL vs $48.00 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $304 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Oak Lawn, IL
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
17:56 5:56 PM
16:56 4:56 PM
1 h behind Oak Lawn, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,362
1,142,994
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Oak Lawn, IL Monterrey 2,120 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Oak Lawn, IL
  • Monterrey

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
Oak Lawn, IL vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oak Lawn, IL and in Monterrey?
Oak Lawn, IL and Monterrey differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($2,586 vs $1,599 including rent). Monterrey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Oak Lawn, IL compared to Monterrey?
You'd need roughly $3,879 in Oak Lawn, IL and $2,399 in Monterrey 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 Oak Lawn, IL and in Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,601 in Oak Lawn, IL versus $949 in Monterrey. 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 $48.00 versus $63.0 in Oak Lawn, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Oak Lawn, IL or Monterrey?
All in, you'll spend $2,586 per month in Oak Lawn, IL versus $1,599 in Monterrey – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,599 in Monterrey versus $2,586 in Oak Lawn, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Oak Lawn, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oak Lawn, IL and Monterrey?
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: Oak Lawn, IL or Monterrey?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Oak Lawn, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Oak Lawn, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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