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Monterrey vs Oaxaca cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฒ๐ฝ Monterrey
๐ฒ๐ฝ Oaxaca
At a glance
- Where Oaxaca is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (56%โ), SIM card (50%โ), Studio rent (month) (46%โ)
- Where Monterrey is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (29%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Monterrey is easier to travel (2.4 vs 2.8). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Monterrey 2 vs Oaxaca 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Monterrey | Oaxaca | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 150$8.06 | MX$ 120$6.45 | Oaxaca โ20% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 70$3.76 | MX$ 60$3.23 | Oaxaca โ14% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 400$21.5 | MX$ 300$16.1 | Oaxaca โ25% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 80$4.3 | MX$ 60$3.23 | Oaxaca โ25% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 60$3.23 | MX$ 50$2.69 | Oaxaca โ17% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 150$8.06 | MX$ 130$6.99 | Oaxaca โ13% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 14$0.75 | MX$ 15$0.81 | Monterrey โ7% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 22$1.18 | MX$ 22$1.18 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 90$4.84 | MX$ 70$3.76 | Oaxaca โ22% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 60$3.23 | MX$ 45$2.42 | Oaxaca โ25% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 10$0.54 | MX$ 10$0.54 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 300$16.1 | MX$ 200$10.8 | Oaxaca โ33% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 1,200$64.5 | MX$ 1,700$91.4 | Monterrey โ29% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 14,000$753 | MX$ 7,500$403 | Oaxaca โ46% |
| Laundry | MX$ 35$1.88 | MX$ 25$1.34 | Oaxaca โ29% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 300$16.1 | MX$ 150$8.06 | Oaxaca โ50% |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 180$9.68 | MX$ 120$6.45 | Oaxaca โ33% |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 600$32.3 | MX$ 600$32.3 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 900$48.4 | MX$ 400$21.5 | Oaxaca โ56% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 120$6.45 | MX$ 95$5.11 | Oaxaca โ21% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Monterrey or Oaxaca?
Oaxaca is 14% cheaper than Monterrey. Daily budget $133 vs $145; a month $2,810 vs $1,751.
Which is easier to travel, Monterrey or Oaxaca?
Monterrey is easier: Monterrey 2.4/5 vs Oaxaca 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Monterrey and Oaxaca?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Monterrey is about $2,810 and Oaxaca about $1,751 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.