Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Baraboo, WI and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $2,376 in Baraboo, WI, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Baraboo, WI outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Baraboo, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,376
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Baraboo, WI and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Baraboo, WI and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,376 in Baraboo, WI versus $2,059 in Montreal.

  • Baraboo, WI $2,376
  • Montreal $2,059

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,386 in Baraboo, WI versus $3,123 in Montreal.

  • Baraboo, WI $3,386
  • Montreal $3,123

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,395 in Baraboo, WI versus $4,187 in Montreal.

  • Baraboo, WI $4,395
  • Montreal $4,187

Living in Baraboo, WI is roughly 15% more expensive than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Baraboo, WI 75% above, Montreal 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.14 $14.14
$18.84 CA$26.63
-24.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.27 $40.27
$73.2 CA$104
-45.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.10 $12.10
$10.54 CA$14.90
14.80%
Cappuccino
$4.88 $4.88
$3.97 CA$5.61
22.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.94 CA$2.74
-24.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.57 CA$2.22
-3.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 $5.03
$6.42 CA$9.08
-21.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$7.20 CA$10.19
-52.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$2.32 CA$3.28
-66.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.19 CA$4.51
-10.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.19 CA$4.50
-8.15%
Eggs
$2.96 $2.96
$3.68 CA$5.20
-19.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 $7.95
$13.24 CA$18.72
-39.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.50 $11.50
$11.69 CA$16.53
-1.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.56 $10.56
$13.98 CA$19.76
-24.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$3.14 CA$4.44
27.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.45 CA$2.05
-13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.38 CA$4.78
5.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.45 $5.45
$3.11 CA$4.40
75.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.93 CA$2.72
-10.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$1.83 CA$2.58
75.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.36 CA$3.34
-28.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.50 CA$2.12
34.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.13 $12.13
$11.12 CA$15.73
9.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$10.60 CA$14.98
-24.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.22 CA$3.14
-23.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.84 CA$4.01
19.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.62 CA$3.71
-33.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.1 CA$112
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.23 CA$4.56
-7.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.48 CA$2.10
8.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.75 $26.75
$32.22 CA$45.55
-16.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.36 CA$1.92
-23.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
-12.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$21.2K CA$30.0K
20.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$77.0 CA$109
122.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$34.14 CA$48.26
54.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 $51.4
$42.19 CA$59.7
21.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 $41.57
$30.81 CA$43.56
34.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.57 $11.57
$11.47 CA$16.22
0.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$506 CA$716
197.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$16.2K CA$23.0K
28.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 $56.2
$57.3 CA$81.0
-1.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.90 $42.90
$38.10 CA$53.9
12.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 $89.5
$91.9 CA$130
-2.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$110 CA$155
16.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 $1,613
$1,237 CA$1,748
30.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$977 CA$1,381
33.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,474 $2,474
$2,180 CA$3,082
13.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,148 $2,148
$1,608 CA$2,273
33.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,173 $2,173
$5,113 CA$7,228
-57.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,193 $2,193
$3,744 CA$5,293
-41.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baraboo, WI
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,957 CA$4,180
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
4.48
43.53%

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

Last update for Baraboo, WI: October 18, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Baraboo, WI
$1.3K
Montreal
$977 25.3% $330
Groceries & Markets
Baraboo, WI
$316
Montreal
$351 11.1% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baraboo, WI
$276
Montreal
$153 44.4% $123
Eating Out
Baraboo, WI
$252
Montreal
$290 15.3% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Baraboo, WI
$142
Montreal
$134 6.2% $8.8
Sport & Entertainment
Baraboo, WI
$65
Montreal
$54 16.9% $11
Getting Around
Baraboo, WI
$18 *
Montreal
$100 458% $82

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 $1,613 in Baraboo, WI and $1,237 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Baraboo, WI vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $351 per month, with Baraboo, WI cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Baraboo, WI
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
17:07 5:07 PM
18:07 6:07 PM
1 h ahead of Baraboo, WI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,556
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Baraboo, WI Montreal 1,300 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Baraboo, WI
  • Montreal

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
Baraboo, WI vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baraboo, WI or Montreal?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Baraboo, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Baraboo, WI and in Montreal?
You'd need roughly $3,564 in Baraboo, WI and $3,089 in Montreal 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baraboo, WI compared to Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,613 in Baraboo, WI versus $1,237 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Baraboo, WI or in Montreal?
Shoppers in Baraboo, WI pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Baraboo, WI compared to Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $2,376 per month in Baraboo, WI versus $2,059 in Montreal – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Baraboo, WI or in Montreal?
At $2,059 in Montreal versus $2,376 in Baraboo, WI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Baraboo, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baraboo, WI or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,059 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Baraboo, WI compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Baraboo, WI 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Baraboo, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Baraboo, WI vs other spots: cost of living compared

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