Turner & Townsend’s 2026–27 index puts the indicative construction cost of a 60-megawatt data center at $744.6 million in Monterrey, versus $630.6 million in Dallas. That is a $114 million, or 18%, difference. El Economista reports the underlying benchmark at $12.41 per watt for Monterrey and $10.51 for Dallas; the index ranks Monterrey 23rd of 62 markets and Dallas 47th.
The estimate covers the building and its electrical and mechanical equipment, but excludes land, servers and work to connect the site to utilities. El Economista notes that developers in Mexico finance some electrical infrastructure themselves, so the index does not provide an all-in project cost.
Expansión Obras also identified Monterrey and Querétaro as cost-competitive locations in the index and reported electricity availability as a risk to new investment. In the survey behind the index, 32% of respondents said grid connection takes more than 24 months, while 56% called electricity access a significant obstacle; these are global survey results, not Monterrey-specific estimates.
For companies comparing sites, the benchmark isolates construction costs rather than total site economics. The reporting does not break out a Monterrey-specific cost or timetable for utility connections.
- Monterrey: $12.41 per watt; 23rd of 62 markets.
- Dallas: $10.51 per watt; 47th of 62 markets.
- 60-MW benchmark: $744.6 million in Monterrey versus $630.6 million in Dallas.
- Index scope: building plus mechanical and electrical equipment.
- Excluded: land, servers and utility-access work.
- Survey-wide signal: 32% of respondents reported grid-connection waits over 24 months; 56% cited electricity access as a significant obstacle.