🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $832 in Torreon versus $1,601 in Monterrey.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,376 in Torreon versus $2,585 in Monterrey.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,920 in Torreon versus $3,568 in Monterrey.
🙂Living in Torreon costs roughly 48% less than in Monterrey, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Torreon is 38% below, Monterrey is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.99MX$157
$13.01MX$227
-30.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.55MX$743
$53.8MX$939
-20.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.73MX$135
$10.21MX$178
-24.29%
Cappuccino
$2.36MX$41.23
$3.68MX$64.3
-35.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$20.16
$1.46MX$25.54
-21.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$14.21
$1.00MX$17.45
-19.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.62MX$28.36
$2.70MX$47.07
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MX$56.5
$4.27MX$74.6
-24.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.28
$1.67MX$29.09
-13.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99MX$52.2
$2.68MX$46.80
11.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$30.05
$1.93MX$33.67
-10.88%
Eggs
$2.22MX$38.69
$2.63MX$45.93
-15.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.97MX$157
$10.34MX$181
-13.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.40MX$112
$9.22MX$161
-30.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.32MX$215
$13.84MX$242
-10.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49MX$43.42
$3.15MX$55.0
-20.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20MX$20.97
$1.39MX$24.24
-13.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.41
$2.00MX$34.92
-13.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.22MX$21.34
$2.14MX$37.39
-42.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.60
$2.27MX$39.57
-27.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55MX$27.00
$2.54MX$44.43
-38.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11MX$19.44
$1.57MX$27.35
-29.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06MX$18.56
$1.07MX$18.67
-0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94MX$68.7
$4.25MX$74.2
-7.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$180
$14.36MX$251
-28.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23MX$21.46
$1.78MX$31.11
-30.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.15
$3.14MX$54.9
-35.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MX$11.84
$0.80MX$14.00
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.84MX$207
$40.54MX$708
-70.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.82MX$31.77
$1.68MX$29.34
8.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75MX$13.14
$0.94MX$16.44
-20.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.06MX$158
$10.76MX$188
-15.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.94
$1.37MX$23.91
-8.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KMX$340.0K
$26.7KMX$467.1K
-27.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0KMX$349.4K
$25.6KMX$446.8K
-21.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.0MX$995
$122MX$2,125
-53.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.50MX$393
$27.19MX$475
-17.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.10MX$403
$29.82MX$521
-22.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.29MX$686
$38.49MX$672
2.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.44MX$165
$21.46MX$375
-56.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.88MX$67.7
$5.92MX$103
-34.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$203MX$3,550
$346MX$6,037
-41.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,406MX$77.0K
$8,997MX$157.1K
-51.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.40MX$845
$58.4MX$1,020
-17.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.05MX$612
$42.55MX$743
-17.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5MX$1,528
$109MX$1,910
-20.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6MX$1,356
$129MX$2,253
-39.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$265MX$4,623
$913MX$15.9K
-71.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$169MX$2,947
$647MX$11.3K
-73.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483MX$8,432
$1,565MX$27.3K
-69.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355MX$6,208
$1,401MX$24.5K
-74.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,713MX$29.9K
$4,371MX$76.3K
-60.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,368MX$23.9K
$2,839MX$49.6K
-51.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Torreon
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$810MX$14.2K
$1,104MX$19.3K
-26.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
11.55
-0.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Torreon: June 2, 2026
Last update for Monterrey: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Torreon and $913 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monterrey pays 36% 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: $43.00 in Torreon vs $54.0 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $298 per month, with Torreon 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
Torreon vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Torreon and Monterrey?
Torreon and Monterrey differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($832 vs $1,601 including rent). Torreon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Monterrey earns 36% less. 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 Torreon and Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Torreon versus $913 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 Torreon – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $54.0 in Monterrey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Torreon or Monterrey?
All in, you'll spend $832 per month in Torreon versus $1,601 in Monterrey – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $832 in Torreon versus $1,601 in Monterrey, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Torreon but tight or insufficient in Monterrey. The gap between the two cities makes Torreon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Torreon 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: Torreon or Monterrey?
Expats usually find Torreon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Monterrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.