😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,541 in Queretaro versus $1,282 in Herceg Novi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,316 in Queretaro versus $2,079 in Herceg Novi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,091 in Queretaro versus $2,876 in Herceg Novi.
🌍Living in Queretaro is roughly 20% more expensive than in Herceg Novi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Queretaro is 12% above, Herceg Novi is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.81MX$200
$11.40€9.80
3.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.5MX$1,124
$38.04€32.71
74.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.71MX$164
$9.14€7.86
6.24%
Cappuccino
$3.91MX$66.1
$2.61€2.24
49.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85MX$31.22
$2.56€2.20
-27.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.54
$1.64€1.41
-29.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.90MX$65.9
$2.92€2.51
33.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93MX$100
$3.53€3.03
67.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99MX$33.60
$1.20€1.03
65.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87MX$48.53
$1.00€0.86
187.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$36.43
$2.94€2.53
-26.53%
Eggs
$2.89MX$48.78
$3.10€2.66
-6.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.27MX$157
$9.19€7.90
0.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49MX$160
$7.43€6.39
27.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.75MX$249
$13.00€11.18
13.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70MX$62.6
$1.34€1.15
176.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$28.86
$1.57€1.35
8.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34MX$39.61
$1.67€1.44
40.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.11MX$35.62
$2.99€2.57
-29.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.10
$0.91€0.78
128.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95MX$32.98
$1.36€1.17
43.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58MX$26.74
$1.50€1.29
5.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27MX$21.46
$0.99€0.85
28.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.79MX$80.9
$4.00€3.44
19.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.20MX$325
$4.53€3.90
323.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39MX$40.47
$1.32€1.14
81.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$75.3
$1.84€1.59
141.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64MX$10.81
$1.79€1.54
-64.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.02MX$457
$47.38€40.73
-42.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44MX$58.2
$3.10€2.66
10.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.84MX$48.04
$1.18€1.02
140.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.74MX$198
$17.63€15.15
-33.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.17
$1.80€1.55
-10.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KMX$392.2K
$33.8K€29.0K
-31.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
$21.8K€18.8K
18.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.6MX$1,092
$137€118
-52.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.23MX$494
$13.28€11.42
120.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.98MX$456
$35.68€30.67
-24.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.9MX$1,046
$57.8€49.67
7.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.33MX$445
$11.71€10.07
124.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.96MX$134
$8.31€7.14
-4.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282MX$4,774
$466€400
-39.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,412MX$91.5K
$7,235€6,220
-25.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9MX$961
$85.9€73.9
-33.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.42MX$802
$35.37€30.41
34.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MX$1,803
$74.6€64.2
42.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105MX$1,779
$97.7€84.0
7.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927MX$15.7K
$682€587
35.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606MX$10.2K
$415€357
45.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603MX$27.1K
$1,303€1,120
23.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$887MX$15.0K
$927€797
-4.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,404MX$40.6K
$3,887€3,342
-38.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,352MX$22.9K
$2,457€2,112
-44.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queretaro
Herceg Novi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$946MX$16.0K
$1,069€919
-11.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.99
5
139.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Queretaro: August 30, 2026
Last update for Herceg Novi: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 in Queretaro and $682 in Herceg Novi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Herceg Novi pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Queretaro vs $38.00 in Herceg Novi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $230 per month, with Herceg Novi 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
Queretaro vs Herceg Novi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Queretaro and in Herceg Novi?
Queretaro and Herceg Novi differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,541 vs $1,282 including rent). Herceg Novi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Herceg Novi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Queretaro and in Herceg Novi?
Rent for a central apartment: $927 in Queretaro versus $682 in Herceg Novi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Queretaro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Herceg Novi – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $67.0 in Queretaro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,282 in Herceg Novi versus $1,541 in Queretaro, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Herceg Novi but tight or insufficient in Queretaro. The gap between the two cities makes Herceg Novi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Queretaro and Herceg Novi?
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 Queretaro or Herceg Novi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Queretaro and Herceg Novi 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: Queretaro or Herceg Novi?
Expats usually find Herceg Novi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Queretaro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.