Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Girardeau, MO and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $2,129 in Cape Girardeau, MO, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cape Girardeau, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,129
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,129 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,018 in Montreal.

  • Cape Girardeau, MO $2,129
  • Montreal $2,018

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,277 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $3,085 in Montreal.

  • Cape Girardeau, MO $3,277
  • Montreal $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,424 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $4,152 in Montreal.

  • Cape Girardeau, MO $4,424
  • Montreal $4,152

Living in Cape Girardeau, MO is roughly 6% more expensive than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cape Girardeau, MO 58% above, Montreal 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.76 $17.76
$18.82 CA$26.61
-5.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 $58.6
$70.3 CA$99.4
-16.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 $7.12
$10.66 CA$15.06
-33.21%
Cappuccino
$6.02 $6.02
$3.84 CA$5.43
56.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.92 CA$2.71
39.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.54 CA$2.18
21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 $2.99
$6.23 CA$8.81
-52.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.71 $7.71
$7.10 CA$10.03
8.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.31 CA$3.27
-55.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.14 CA$4.44
-28.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.44 $7.44
$3.21 CA$4.54
131.78%
Eggs
$3.06 $3.06
$3.52 CA$4.97
-13.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.14 $15.14
$12.81 CA$18.11
18.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.63 $18.63
$11.46 CA$16.20
62.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.29 $25.29
$13.39 CA$18.92
88.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$3.14 CA$4.43
7.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.44 CA$2.03
34.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$11.43 $11.43
$3.47 CA$4.91
229.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.88 $8.88
$3.07 CA$4.34
189.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.90 CA$2.69
12.63%
Onion (1kg)
$6.00 $6.00
$1.77 CA$2.50
238.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$2.34 CA$3.31
23.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.55 CA$2.19
59.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34 $7.34
$11.38 CA$16.09
-35.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.06 $12.06
$10.63 CA$15.03
13.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.27 CA$3.21
-22.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 $8.09
$2.82 CA$3.99
186.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.66 CA$3.76
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.3 CA$109
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.20 CA$4.53
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.48 CA$2.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$32.88 CA$46.48
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.34 CA$1.90
-40.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K $30.6K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
8.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
26.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 $201
$76.0 CA$107
164.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.29 $42.29
$33.95 CA$48.00
24.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.7 $80.7
$42.31 CA$59.8
90.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.39 $20.39
$29.76 CA$42.07
-31.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.28 CA$28.67
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$11.15 CA$15.77
34.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$818 $818
$507 CA$717
61.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.40 $45.40
$57.6 CA$81.4
-21.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35 $39.35
$37.58 CA$53.1
4.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 $84.4
$91.9 CA$130
-8.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.98 $39.98
$110 CA$155
-63.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$777 $777
$1,260 CA$1,782
-38.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$861 $861
$948 CA$1,340
-9.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,572 $1,572
$2,137 CA$3,021
-26.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,672 $1,672
$1,614 CA$2,281
3.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,444 $1,444
$4,960 CA$7,011
-70.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,438 $1,438
$3,838 CA$5,425
-62.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cape Girardeau, MO
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,408 $2,408
$2,827 CA$3,997
-14.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
4.48
43.97%

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

Last update for Cape Girardeau, MO: 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
Cape Girardeau, MO
$861
Montreal
$948 10.1% $87
Groceries & Markets
Cape Girardeau, MO
$516
Montreal
$346 32.9% $170
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cape Girardeau, MO
$324
Montreal
$152 53% $171
Eating Out
Cape Girardeau, MO
$284
Montreal
$288 1.3% $3.6
Clothing & Footwear
Cape Girardeau, MO
$94
Montreal
$133 41.8% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Cape Girardeau, MO
$50
Montreal
$52 3.4% $1.7
Getting Around
Cape Girardeau, MO
- *
Montreal
$99

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 $777 in Cape Girardeau, MO and $1,260 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Cape Girardeau, MO vs $70.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $516 vs $346, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cape Girardeau, MO
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
22:21 10:21 PM
23:21 11:21 PM
1 h ahead of Cape Girardeau, MO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,941
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
  • Cape Girardeau, MO Montreal 1,610 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 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
Cape Girardeau, MO vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Cape Girardeau, MO?
Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in groceries and utilities. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cape Girardeau, MO or Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Montreal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cape Girardeau, MO and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $777 in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $1,260 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cape Girardeau, MO and in Montreal?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Cape Girardeau, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Cape Girardeau, MO and in Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $2,129 per month in Cape Girardeau, MO versus $2,018 in Montreal – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Cape Girardeau, MO or in Montreal?
At $2,018 in Montreal versus $2,129 in Cape Girardeau, MO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Cape Girardeau, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cape Girardeau, MO or Montreal more family-friendly?
For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cape Girardeau, MO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cape Girardeau, MO or Montreal?
Safety-wise, Cape Girardeau, MO 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Cape Girardeau, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cape Girardeau, MO vs other spots: cost of living compared

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