Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Odessa, TX and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,599 a month against $2,550 in Odessa, TX, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Odessa, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,550
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,599
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Odessa, TX 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 Odessa, TX and in Monterrey actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,550 in Odessa, TX versus $1,599 in Monterrey.

  • Odessa, TX $2,550
  • Monterrey $1,599

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,917 in Odessa, TX versus $2,493 in Monterrey.

  • Odessa, TX $3,917
  • Monterrey $2,493

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,284 in Odessa, TX versus $3,387 in Monterrey.

  • Odessa, TX $5,284
  • Monterrey $3,387

Living in Odessa, TX is roughly 59% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Odessa, TX 88% above, Monterrey 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$39.54 $39.54
$13.80 MX$255
186.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 $73.0
$47.99 MX$887
52.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 $11.72
$10.65 MX$197
10.05%
Cappuccino
$5.99 $5.99
$3.99 MX$73.7
50.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.66 MX$30.76
64.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$0.99 MX$18.21
183.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$2.36 MX$43.64
110.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 $5.91
$4.43 MX$81.8
33.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.82 MX$33.58
-47.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.83 MX$52.4
22.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$1.92 MX$35.44
136.98%
Eggs
$3.08 $3.08
$2.48 MX$45.78
24.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.67 $7.67
$11.74 MX$217
-34.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.90 $16.90
$9.10 MX$168
85.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.19 $17.19
$12.53 MX$232
37.19%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.34 MX$61.6
51.20%
Banana (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.57 MX$29.10
110.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$2.16 MX$39.86
151.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.47 MX$45.65
104.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.31 MX$42.64
56.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.68 MX$49.47
19.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.46 MX$26.90
77.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$4.60 $4.60
$1.19 MX$22.07
286.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.86 $9.86
$4.75 MX$87.8
107.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.85 $17.85
$13.58 MX$251
31.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.92 MX$35.52
45.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.88 MX$53.2
3.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.79 MX$14.66
146.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.6 $80.6
$31.36 MX$579
156.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.59 MX$29.44
72.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.06 MX$19.58
65.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.77 $27.77
$10.80 MX$200
157.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.55 MX$28.59
-42.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$24.2K MX$446.4K
17.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K $22.2K
$24.3K MX$449.4K
-8.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$117 MX$2,159
68.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$26.38 MX$488
122.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.7 $70.7
$26.04 MX$481
171.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.29 $42.29
$30.26 MX$559
39.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.25 MX$393
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.07 $14.07
$5.23 MX$96.6
169.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,510 $1,510
$673 MX$12.4K
124.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$11.1K MX$205.2K
88.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$72.1 MX$1,332
-11.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.00 $42.00
$42.38 MX$783
-0.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 $89.2
$112 MX$2,066
-20.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$119 MX$2,200
-2.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,491 $1,491
$949 MX$17.5K
57.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$967 $967
$666 MX$12.3K
45.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,219 $2,219
$1,821 MX$33.7K
21.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,822 $1,822
$1,271 MX$23.5K
43.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,699 $1,699
$4,050 MX$74.8K
-58.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,707 $1,707
$2,348 MX$43.4K
-27.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Odessa, TX
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,325 $4,325
$1,155 MX$21.3K
274.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.05
11.79
-40.20%

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

Last update for Odessa, TX: October 18, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Odessa, TX
$967
Monterrey
$666 31.1% $300
Eating Out
Odessa, TX
$482
Monterrey
$221 54.1% $261
Groceries & Markets
Odessa, TX
$464
Monterrey
$304 34.4% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Odessa, TX
$327
Monterrey
$169 48.2% $157
Clothing & Footwear
Odessa, TX
$140
Monterrey
$155 10.9% $15
Getting Around
Odessa, TX
$100
Monterrey
$41 58.5% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Odessa, TX
$70
Monterrey
$41 42.2% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,491 in Odessa, TX and $949 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Odessa, TX pays 274% 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: $73.0 in Odessa, TX vs $48.00 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $304 per month, with Monterrey cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Odessa, TX
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
16:47 4:47 PM
15:47 3:47 PM
1 h behind Odessa, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
114,428
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
  • Odessa, TX Monterrey 710 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Odessa, TX
  • 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
Odessa, TX vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Odessa, TX and in Monterrey?
Odessa, TX and Monterrey differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,550 vs $1,599 including rent). Monterrey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Odessa, TX or Monterrey?
Average pay runs 274% higher in Odessa, TX, 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 Odessa, TX and in Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,491 in Odessa, TX 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 $73.0 in Odessa, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Odessa, TX or Monterrey?
All in, you'll spend $2,550 per month in Odessa, TX versus $1,599 in Monterrey – a 59% 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 $2,550 in Odessa, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Odessa, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Odessa, TX 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: Odessa, TX or Monterrey?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Odessa, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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