Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Villahermosa and Monterrey

For one person, living is cheaper in Villahermosa: $1,219 a month against $1,647 in Monterrey, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Villahermosa, Mexico
Monterrey, Mexico
Villahermosa
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,219
/mo nomad
Monterrey
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,647
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,219 in Villahermosa versus $1,647 in Monterrey.

  • Villahermosa $1,219
  • Monterrey $1,647

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,057 in Villahermosa versus $2,591 in Monterrey.

  • Villahermosa $2,057
  • Monterrey $2,591

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,895 in Villahermosa versus $3,536 in Monterrey.

  • Villahermosa $2,895
  • Monterrey $3,536

Living in Villahermosa costs roughly 26% less than in Monterrey, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Villahermosa is 10% below, Monterrey is 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.57 MX$199
$13.45 MX$253
-21.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.43 MX$666
$48.43 MX$910
-26.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 MX$199
$10.90 MX$205
-3.03%
Cappuccino
$3.38 MX$63.5
$3.82 MX$71.8
-11.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MX$23.03
$1.67 MX$31.31
-26.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 MX$22.00
$0.98 MX$18.47
19.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 MX$53.4
$2.35 MX$44.17
20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 MX$101
$4.41 MX$82.9
21.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$32.52
$1.80 MX$33.86
-3.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 MX$32.82
$2.79 MX$52.5
-37.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 MX$24.67
$1.82 MX$34.30
-28.02%
Eggs
$1.92 MX$36.03
$2.51 MX$47.22
-23.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.45 MX$159
$12.09 MX$227
-30.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.51 MX$198
$9.41 MX$177
11.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.38 MX$251
$12.71 MX$239
5.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$63.8
$3.21 MX$60.3
5.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.96
$1.50 MX$28.15
-8.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 MX$30.90
$2.14 MX$40.30
-23.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 MX$22.14
$2.32 MX$43.63
-49.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 MX$30.93
$2.20 MX$41.38
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 MX$25.10
$2.60 MX$48.83
-48.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 MX$24.71
$1.44 MX$27.07
-9.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.33
$1.17 MX$22.05
5.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.42 MX$121
$4.79 MX$90.0
34.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.62 MX$181
$13.22 MX$249
-27.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MX$50.8
$1.94 MX$36.51
39.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42 MX$121
$2.89 MX$54.2
122.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.39
$0.87 MX$16.39
-36.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.50 MX$442
$31.14 MX$585
-24.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 MX$40.19
$1.66 MX$31.13
28.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 MX$40.82
$1.09 MX$20.55
99.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.82 MX$203
$10.67 MX$201
1.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$25.38
$1.47 MX$27.69
-8.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$429.6K
$24.2K MX$455.6K
-5.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K MX$499.6K
$23.6K MX$442.7K
12.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.4 MX$1,173
$118 MX$2,215
-47.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.41 MX$534
$25.55 MX$480
11.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.67 MX$614
$26.43 MX$497
23.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.0 MX$940
$30.77 MX$578
62.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$21.07 MX$396
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.32 MX$81.2
$5.09 MX$95.7
-15.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 MX$5,690
$694 MX$13.0K
-56.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,331 MX$81.4K
$11.3K MX$212.7K
-61.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 MX$1,198
$72.5 MX$1,362
-12.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.51 MX$780
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.6 MX$1,421
$110 MX$2,062
-31.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.1 MX$1,092
$115 MX$2,160
-49.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 MX$8,941
$1,056 MX$19.8K
-54.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$441 MX$8,290
$721 MX$13.6K
-38.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 MX$29.9K
$1,999 MX$37.6K
-20.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 MX$21.8K
$1,435 MX$27.0K
-19.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,219 MX$79.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,205 MX$22.6K
$2,731 MX$51.3K
-55.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villahermosa
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,149 MX$21.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.79
-

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

Last update for Villahermosa: October 24, 2026

Last update for Monterrey: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Villahermosa
$441
Monterrey
$721 63.5% $280
Groceries & Markets
Villahermosa
$277
Monterrey
$303 9.6% $27
Eating Out
Villahermosa
$191
Monterrey
$217 13.6% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villahermosa
$124
Monterrey
$170 37.5% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Villahermosa
$89 *
Monterrey
$152 71.5% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Villahermosa
$59
Monterrey
$41 30.2% $18
Getting Around
Villahermosa
$39
Monterrey
$42 7.9% $3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Villahermosa and $1,056 in Monterrey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35 in Villahermosa vs $48 in Monterrey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $303 per month, with Villahermosa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Villahermosa
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🕒 Local time
08:48 8:48 AM
08:48 8:48 AM
Same time as Villahermosa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,060
1,142,994
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Villahermosa Monterrey 1,140 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Villahermosa
  • 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
Villahermosa vs Monterrey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Villahermosa and in Monterrey?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,219 in Villahermosa and $1,647 in Monterrey, so Villahermosa is about 26% cheaper – 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 $1,828 in Villahermosa and $2,470 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: $476 in Villahermosa versus $1,056 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 Villahermosa – a meal for two runs $35 versus $48 in Monterrey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Villahermosa or Monterrey?
All in, you’ll spend $1,219 per month in Villahermosa versus $1,647 in Monterrey – Villahermosa is about 26% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $2,000 go in Villahermosa compared to Monterrey?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Villahermosa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 26% less than in Monterrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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