Cost of Living Comparison Between Ann Arbor, MI and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Ann Arbor, MI and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,597 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $2,063 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,934 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $3,159 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,271 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $4,255 in Montreal.

Living in Ann Arbor, MI is roughly 26% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ann Arbor, MI 94% above, Montreal 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.24 $15.24

$15.92 CA$22.14

-4.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 $74.2

$73.1 CA$102

1.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$11.15 CA$15.50

6.10%

Cappuccino

$4.63 $4.63

$3.80 CA$5.29

21.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.18 CA$3.03

24.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.46 CA$2.03

43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$6.12 CA$8.51

-2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$6.78 CA$9.42

-9.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$2.33 CA$3.24

-65.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.39 CA$4.72

8.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.73 CA$5.19

63.27%

Eggs

$2.63 $2.63

$3.38 CA$4.70

-22.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.82 $17.82

$16.25 CA$22.60

9.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 $9.91

$11.54 CA$16.05

-14.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$15.24 CA$21.19

-6.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.74 CA$5.20

43.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.70 CA$2.37

-4.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.11 CA$5.71

11.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$4.35 CA$6.05

15.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.71 CA$3.76

-18.82%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.62 CA$3.64

41.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.25 CA$3.13

-24.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.73 CA$2.40

40.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.93 $9.93

$13.31 CA$18.51

-25.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$10.78 CA$15.00

40.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.01 CA$4.19

-31.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.46 CA$4.82

0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.74 CA$3.81

-36.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.16 $44.16

$72.7 CA$101

-39.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.63 CA$5.05

-19.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.46 CA$2.03

7.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.29 $26.29

$33.44 CA$46.50

-21.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.21 CA$1.69

-21.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

7.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K $24.5K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

13.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$156 $156

$76.0 CA$106

105.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.07 $48.07

$35.72 CA$49.68

34.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$42.86 CA$59.6

58.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.20 $43.20

$42.92 CA$59.7

0.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.33 $17.33

$17.23 CA$23.97

0.58%

Cinema Ticket

$12.68 $12.68

$11.09 CA$15.42

14.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,966 $1,966

$620 CA$862

217.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K $19.9K

$5,834 CA$8,114

240.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$62.7 CA$87.1

-15.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.49 $37.49

$44.41 CA$61.8

-15.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$101 CA$140

-15.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$119 CA$166

-15.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,848 $1,848

$1,211 CA$1,684

52.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,376 $1,376

$960 CA$1,334

43.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,902 $3,902

$2,035 CA$2,831

91.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,600 $2,600

$1,589 CA$2,210

63.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,473 $5,473

$5,181 CA$7,205

5.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,615 $2,615

$3,934 CA$5,470

-33.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,083 $5,083

$2,960 CA$4,116

71.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

5.01

32.14%

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

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,848 in Ann Arbor, MI and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Ann Arbor, MI vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $392 per month, with Montreal 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

Ann Arbor, MI vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ann Arbor, MI and Montreal differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($2,597 vs $2,063 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 72% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,848 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $74.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,597 per month in Ann Arbor, MI versus $2,063 in Montreal – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,597 in Ann Arbor, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Ann Arbor, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ann Arbor, MI and Montreal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Ann Arbor, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.