Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Springfield, IL and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Monterrey: $1,607 a month against $2,675 in Springfield, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Springfield, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,675
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,675 in Springfield, IL versus $1,607 in Monterrey.

  • Springfield, IL $2,675
  • Monterrey $1,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,965 in Springfield, IL versus $2,512 in Monterrey.

  • Springfield, IL $3,965
  • Monterrey $2,512

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,255 in Springfield, IL versus $3,417 in Monterrey.

  • Springfield, IL $5,255
  • Monterrey $3,417

Living in Springfield, IL is roughly 66% more expensive than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Springfield, IL 100% above, Monterrey 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.54 $14.54
$13.75 MX$253
5.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.11 $42.11
$50.2 MX$924
-16.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.19 $10.19
$11.13 MX$205
-8.45%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$4.04 MX$74.5
35.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.70 MX$31.39
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.99 MX$18.22
54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.41 MX$44.35
27.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.48 MX$82.6
-9.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.92 MX$35.42
-60.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.89 MX$53.2
16.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.88 $8.88
$1.94 MX$35.78
357.73%
Eggs
$3.17 $3.17
$2.50 MX$46.05
26.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.33 $19.33
$12.30 MX$227
57.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.04 $17.04
$9.33 MX$172
82.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$32.92 $32.92
$13.07 MX$241
151.87%
Apples (1kg)
$8.51 $8.51
$3.38 MX$62.3
151.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.58 MX$29.12
-18.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.94 $8.94
$2.20 MX$40.58
306.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.70 $5.70
$2.45 MX$45.04
132.65%
Potato (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.26 MX$41.61
43.36%
Onion (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.74 MX$50.5
61.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.53 MX$28.18
27.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.26 MX$23.23
34.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.98 $9.98
$4.84 MX$89.2
106.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 $11.21
$13.59 MX$250
-17.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.91 MX$35.12
-35.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$3.06 MX$56.5
-47.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.80 MX$14.65
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.33 $40.33
$31.77 MX$585
26.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.74 $5.74
$1.62 MX$29.88
254.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.10 MX$20.24
-6.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.25 $18.25
$10.97 MX$202
66.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.52 MX$28.03
-40.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K $36.2K
$21.4K MX$393.7K
69.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$25.5K MX$469.1K
3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$120 MX$2,205
93.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$95.0 $95.0
$27.08 MX$499
250.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2 $64.2
$26.70 MX$492
140.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.5 $50.5
$31.15 MX$574
62.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.14 $20.14
$21.95 MX$404
-8.25%
Cinema Ticket
$12.45 $12.45
$5.14 MX$94.7
142.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$941 $941
$688 MX$12.7K
36.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.4K MX$210.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 $106
$71.9 MX$1,325
47.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 $55.3
$43.30 MX$798
27.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 $125
$112 MX$2,065
11.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$122 MX$2,244
14.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 $910
$957 MX$17.6K
-4.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 $1,137
$670 MX$12.3K
69.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,863 $1,863
$1,887 MX$34.8K
-1.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,192 $2,192
$1,305 MX$24.0K
68.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,175 $3,175
$4,159 MX$76.6K
-23.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,176 $1,176
$2,437 MX$44.9K
-51.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springfield, IL
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,963 $3,963
$1,133 MX$20.9K
249.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
11.79
-44.44%

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

Last update for Springfield, IL: October 5, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Springfield, IL
$1.1K
Monterrey
$670 41.1% $467
Groceries & Markets
Springfield, IL
$524
Monterrey
$312 40.4% $212
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, IL
$391
Monterrey
$174 55.6% $217
Eating Out
Springfield, IL
$250
Monterrey
$224 10.6% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, IL
$192
Monterrey
$157 18% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, IL
$75
Monterrey
$41 45% $34
Getting Around
Springfield, IL
$56
Monterrey
$42 25.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $910 in Springfield, IL and $957 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Springfield, IL pays 250% 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: $42.00 in Springfield, IL vs $50.0 in Monterrey. Groceries flip the comparison at $524 vs $312, with Monterrey cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Springfield, IL
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
03:35 3:35 AM
02:35 2:35 AM
1 h behind Springfield, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,482
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 12, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 USD = 18.42 MXN (100 MXN = 5.43 USD). 1 EUR = 20.64 MXN (100 MXN = 4.84 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Springfield, IL Monterrey 1,860 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Springfield, 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
Springfield, IL vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Springfield, IL and in Monterrey?
Springfield, IL and Monterrey differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,675 vs $1,607 including rent). Monterrey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Springfield, IL or Monterrey?
Average pay runs 250% higher in Springfield, IL, 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 Springfield, IL and in Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $910 in Springfield, IL versus $957 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 $50.0 versus $42.00 in Springfield, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Springfield, IL or Monterrey?
All in, you'll spend $2,675 per month in Springfield, IL versus $1,607 in Monterrey – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,607 in Monterrey versus $2,675 in Springfield, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Monterrey but tight or insufficient in Springfield, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Monterrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Springfield, 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: Springfield, IL or Monterrey?
Expats usually find Monterrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Springfield, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Springfield, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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