Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belleville, IL and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $2,265 in Belleville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belleville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,265
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belleville, IL 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 Belleville, IL and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,265 per month in Belleville, IL vs $2,018 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Belleville, IL $2,265
  • Montreal $2,018

A couple spends around $3,396 per month in Belleville, IL vs $3,085 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Belleville, IL $3,396
  • Montreal $3,085

A family of three spends $4,526 per month in Belleville, IL vs $4,152 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Belleville, IL $4,526
  • Montreal $4,152

Belleville, IL costs about 12% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Belleville, IL and Montreal sit above the global median – Belleville, IL by 68%, Montreal by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.89 $17.89
$18.82 CA$26.61
-4.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4 $65.4
$70.3 CA$99.4
-6.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 $9.26
$10.66 CA$15.06
-13.13%
Cappuccino
$4.16 $4.16
$3.84 CA$5.43
8.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.92 CA$2.71
14.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.54 CA$2.18
9.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 $4.62
$6.23 CA$8.81
-25.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.04 $5.04
$7.10 CA$10.03
-29.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.31 CA$3.27
-57.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 $2.31
$3.14 CA$4.44
-26.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.21 CA$4.54
9.97%
Eggs
$3.92 $3.92
$3.52 CA$4.97
11.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.89 $11.89
$12.81 CA$18.11
-7.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$11.46 CA$16.20
33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.11 $13.11
$13.39 CA$18.92
-2.09%
Apples (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$3.14 CA$4.43
121.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.44 CA$2.03
57.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.47 CA$4.91
24.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.07 CA$4.34
22.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.90 CA$2.69
-11.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.77 CA$2.50
21.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.34 CA$3.31
-24.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.55 CA$2.19
48.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87 $7.87
$11.38 CA$16.09
-30.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.86 $14.86
$10.63 CA$15.03
39.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.27 CA$3.21
-5.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.82 CA$3.99
4.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.66 CA$3.76
-61.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.2 $77.2
$77.3 CA$109
-0.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.20 CA$4.53
10.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.48 CA$2.09
69.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.79 $17.79
$32.88 CA$46.48
-45.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.34 CA$1.90
-29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K $37.1K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
31.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K $24.4K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
24.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 $242
$76.0 CA$107
218.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$33.95 CA$48.00
103.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 $66.3
$42.31 CA$59.8
56.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.69 $35.69
$29.76 CA$42.07
19.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.50 $30.50
$20.28 CA$28.67
50.39%
Cinema Ticket
$14.19 $14.19
$11.15 CA$15.77
27.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,053 $1,053
$507 CA$717
107.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-21.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$57.6 CA$81.4
0.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.73 $24.73
$37.58 CA$53.1
-34.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 $88.5
$91.9 CA$130
-3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$110 CA$155
-4.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 $1,284
$1,260 CA$1,782
1.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$944 $944
$948 CA$1,340
-0.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,091 $2,091
$2,137 CA$3,021
-2.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 $1,681
$1,614 CA$2,281
4.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 $2,430
$4,960 CA$7,011
-51.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,882 $1,882
$3,838 CA$5,425
-50.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belleville, IL
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,389 $6,389
$2,827 CA$3,997
125.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
4.48
50.00%

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

Last update for Belleville, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belleville, IL
$944
Montreal
$948 0.4% $3.4
Groceries & Markets
Belleville, IL
$389
Montreal
$346 10.9% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belleville, IL
$377
Montreal
$152 59.6% $225
Eating Out
Belleville, IL
$270
Montreal
$288 6.8% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Belleville, IL
$124
Montreal
$133 7.5% $9.3
Getting Around
Belleville, IL
$97
Montreal
$99 1.1% $1.1
Sport & Entertainment
Belleville, IL
$64
Montreal
$52 18.7% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Belleville, IL versus $1,260 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 126% higher in Belleville, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Belleville, IL versus $70.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $389 in Belleville, IL vs $346 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Belleville, IL
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
23:12 11:12 PM
00:12 12:12 AM
1 h ahead of Belleville, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,404
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Belleville, IL Montreal 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Belleville, IL
  • 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
Belleville, IL vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Belleville, IL or Montreal?
Belleville, IL costs about 12% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Belleville, IL and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,398 per month in Belleville, IL and $3,027 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Belleville, IL or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Belleville, IL and in Montreal?
Kindergarten costs $1,053 per month in Belleville, IL and $507 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Belleville, IL or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Belleville, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Belleville, IL or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,018, than in Belleville, IL at $2,265. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belleville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Belleville, IL or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,018 versus $2,265 in Belleville, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Belleville, IL compared to Montreal?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Belleville, IL or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belleville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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