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They aren't really comparable. MTY is where you go if you want to live the high life US style. Money is good there but it's character won't remind you much of the rest of Mexico. Small colonial style area but it's so small that it's overrun on weekends with revelers.
General idea is MTY is a good place for career and working, not the greatest city to live in otherwise.
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
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Summer time heat and humidity in Monterrey are akin to the Midwest and Southern US which is a major TURN OFF for me. Otherwise, it's a beautiful modern city with a great economy surrounded by natural beauty.
Monterrey got a huge economic shot in the arm with the big new Tesla factory that will be built on the north side of the city. That factory will mean thousands of good-paying jobs at Tesla and at other suppliers that will likely locate near the Tesla factory.
I read that the Monterrey metropolitan area recently surpassed the Guadalajara metropolitan area in population, and it's now the 2nd largest urban area in Mexico outside of the Valley of Mexico region.
Do you think that, long term, Monterrey will only continue to pull ahead of Guadalajara in both population growth and economic growth?
Yes, almost certain to happen. The entire border area will see much higher growth for years to come as production gets restored to North America. Monterrey is a great area for economic development with education and infrastructure. It's just not as attractive a place to live from a climate or culture perspective for most people. But priority one for most is jobs and career so it will win over time in attracting people and money.
As a Monterrey resident, it is important that this is a car-centric city, you must have a car to get around. Public transportation may improve in few years, now it sucks.
Regarding neighborhoods, you can live in Downtown Monterrey, Zona Tec or Del Valle in San Pedro.
Compare Mexico's 2nd and 3rd largest metropolitan areas regarding the following:
• Public transportation (easy to get by without a car)
In Monterrey it is not that easy but it is possible to move from one place to another without problem.
From my experience I think that Guadalajara has better public transportation, more train lines, buses, etc.
• Architecture (colonial center, modern architecture, skyline)
Both Monterrey and Guadalajara have destroyed their colonial past, but in terms of old buildings Guadalajara has more quantity and quality than Monterrey, in modern architecture I think Monterrey has more skyscrapers and districts than Guadalajara.
•Museums & festivals
I think they are in a similar situation, although Monterrey has more museums, Guadalajara has more festivals.
•LGBTQ friendly/progressive culture
Guadalajara.
•Climate
Guadalajara weather is better.
•Natural setting/geography
I think nothing beat the scenery of the mountains of Monterrey, there are literal hundreds of hiking routes just in the city. Is truly a hiking paradise.
•Easier access to cultural or scenic sites in the surrounding
environs / weekend trips to beaches, mountains, colonial
towns, etc.
Guadalajara is better located.
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