Cost of Living Comparison Between Villahermosa and Monterrey Cost of Living Comparison Between Villahermosa and Monterrey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,102 in Villahermosa versus $1,581 in Monterrey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Villahermosa versus $2,534 in Monterrey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,555 in Villahermosa versus $3,488 in Monterrey.

Living in Villahermosa costs roughly 30% less than in Monterrey, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Villahermosa is 17% below, Monterrey is 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.61 MX$184
$13.12 MX$227
-19.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.20 MX$592
$52.0 MX$899
-34.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$180
$10.46 MX$181
-0.48%
Cappuccino
$3.18 MX$55.1
$3.73 MX$64.5
-14.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 MX$20.25
$1.40 MX$24.23
-16.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 MX$17.49
$1.05 MX$18.17
-3.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 MX$46.97
$2.69 MX$46.49
0.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 MX$92.5
$4.33 MX$74.9
23.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 MX$24.09
$1.66 MX$28.77
-16.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 MX$27.08
$2.64 MX$45.74
-40.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 MX$22.20
$1.96 MX$33.94
-34.69%
Eggs
$2.41 MX$41.73
$2.62 MX$45.41
-8.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$142
$10.49 MX$181
-21.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.23 MX$177
$8.88 MX$154
15.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.00 MX$225
$13.56 MX$235
-4.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 MX$56.3
$3.05 MX$52.8
6.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 MX$22.30
$1.47 MX$25.36
-12.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.20
$2.04 MX$35.22
-23.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 MX$20.87
$2.07 MX$35.73
-41.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.89
$2.34 MX$40.47
-31.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 MX$23.03
$2.52 MX$43.52
-47.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 MX$23.42
$1.57 MX$27.17
-14.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 MX$19.08
$1.12 MX$19.31
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03 MX$87.0
$4.27 MX$73.9
17.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.87 MX$171
$14.06 MX$243
-29.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 MX$45.90
$1.79 MX$31.00
48.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.41 MX$111
$3.09 MX$53.5
107.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 MX$10.53
$0.82 MX$14.19
-25.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.01 MX$692
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 MX$36.89
$1.75 MX$30.28
21.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 MX$26.67
$0.97 MX$16.78
58.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.38 MX$145
$10.63 MX$184
-21.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.98
$1.37 MX$23.65
-7.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K MX$384.3K
$26.3K MX$455.2K
-15.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$464.5K
$25.5K MX$441.3K
5.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.8 MX$1,051
$123 MX$2,125
-50.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.44 MX$492
$27.58 MX$477
3.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.93 MX$501
$29.78 MX$515
-2.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.45 MX$769
$38.38 MX$664
15.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05 MX$278
$21.94 MX$380
-26.85%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67 MX$63.6
$5.86 MX$101
-37.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$291 MX$5,042
$347 MX$6,004
-16.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,359 MX$75.4K
$8,938 MX$154.6K
-51.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7 MX$998
$58.2 MX$1,006
-0.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.22 MX$696
$43.19 MX$747
-6.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 MX$1,326
$109 MX$1,884
-29.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.4 MX$992
$126 MX$2,187
-54.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$341 MX$5,906
$903 MX$15.6K
-62.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 MX$6,314
$661 MX$11.4K
-44.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 MX$14.1K
$1,595 MX$27.6K
-48.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$813 MX$14.1K
$1,398 MX$24.2K
-41.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,267 MX$73.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,250 MX$21.6K
$2,840 MX$49.1K
-55.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,135 MX$19.6K
-
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 Villahermosa: July 27, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Villahermosa and $903 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Villahermosa vs $52.0 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $296 per month, with Villahermosa 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
Villahermosa vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Villahermosa and in Monterrey?
Villahermosa and Monterrey differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,102 vs $1,581 including rent). Villahermosa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Villahermosa compared to Monterrey?
You'd need roughly $1,652 in Villahermosa and $2,371 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 Villahermosa and in Monterrey?
Rent for a central apartment: $341 in Villahermosa versus $903 in Monterrey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Villahermosa and Monterrey?
Childcare runs $291 in Villahermosa versus $347 in Monterrey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Villahermosa – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $52.0 in Monterrey. 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 $1,102 in Villahermosa versus $1,581 in Monterrey, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Villahermosa but tight or insufficient in Monterrey. The gap between the two cities makes Villahermosa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Villahermosa 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: Villahermosa or Monterrey?
Expats usually find Villahermosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Monterrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Villahermosa vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities