๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,867 in Castlebar versus $2,065 in Montreal.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,805 in Castlebar versus $3,180 in Montreal.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,743 in Castlebar versus $4,296 in Montreal.
๐Living in Castlebar is roughly 39% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Castlebar113% above, Montreal53% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.43โฌ13.98
$16.08CA$22.03
2.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100โฌ85.1
$73.8CA$101
35.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.84โฌ9.23
$10.91CA$14.95
-0.64%
Cappuccino
$4.04โฌ3.44
$3.67CA$5.03
10.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37โฌ2.02
$2.06CA$2.83
15.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00โฌ1.70
$1.44CA$1.97
38.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.67โฌ5.68
$6.21CA$8.50
7.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34โฌ4.54
$6.44CA$8.82
-17.08%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$2.34CA$3.21
-28.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$3.23CA$4.42
-54.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00โฌ1.70
$3.84CA$5.26
-47.92%
Eggs
$4.23โฌ3.60
$3.32CA$4.54
27.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.94โฌ2.50
$16.35CA$22.40
-82.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73โฌ4.02
$11.92CA$16.33
-60.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.03โฌ5.99
$15.10CA$20.69
-53.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31โฌ2.82
$3.68CA$5.04
-10.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95โฌ1.66
$1.69CA$2.32
15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89โฌ2.46
$4.12CA$5.64
-29.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95โฌ2.51
$4.29CA$5.88
-31.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24โฌ1.91
$2.79CA$3.82
-19.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70โฌ0.60
$2.70CA$3.70
-74.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31โฌ1.12
$2.17CA$2.97
-39.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11โฌ1.79
$1.78CA$2.44
18.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.39โฌ14.80
$13.22CA$18.12
31.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.81โฌ10.90
$11.04CA$15.12
16.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.52โฌ3.00
$2.97CA$4.07
18.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84โฌ3.27
$3.44CA$4.71
11.63%
๐ Getting Around
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.27โฌ2.78
$2.80CA$3.84
16.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$148โฌ126
$72.2CA$98.9
105.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28โฌ3.64
$3.67CA$5.03
16.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69โฌ2.29
$1.40CA$1.92
92.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.84โฌ33.05
$34.07CA$46.68
14.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01โฌ1.71
$1.21CA$1.66
66.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1Kโฌ36.6K
$25.3KCA$34.7K
70.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8Kโฌ33.8K
$21.9KCA$30.0K
81.89%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$283โฌ240
$74.4CA$102
279.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.94โฌ20.37
$36.64CA$50.2
-34.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.8โฌ48.36
$43.41CA$59.5
30.89%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.5โฌ66.8
$43.20CA$59.2
81.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.87โฌ29.68
$17.18CA$23.54
102.97%
Cinema Ticket
$11.62โฌ9.89
$10.99CA$15.06
5.73%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,341โฌ1,141
$614CA$842
118.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,696โฌ8,251
$5,855CA$8,022
65.60%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107โฌ91.4
$62.6CA$85.8
71.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.70โฌ29.53
$44.25CA$60.6
-21.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106โฌ90.3
$103CA$142
2.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128โฌ109
$122CA$167
5.07%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,681โฌ1,431
$1,190CA$1,631
41.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,480โฌ1,259
$946CA$1,296
56.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007โฌ1,708
$2,037CA$2,791
-1.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,770โฌ1,506
$1,548CA$2,120
14.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,398CA$7,395
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,014CA$5,499
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Castlebar
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,948โฌ3,360
$3,013CA$4,128
31.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.04
5.01
-19.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castlebar: April 13, 2026
Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,681 in Castlebar and $1,190 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐCastlebar pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $100 in Castlebar vs $74 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $392, with Castlebar cheaper for home cooking.
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
Castlebar vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Castlebar and Montreal?
Castlebar and Montreal differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($2,867 vs $2,065 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Castlebar or Montreal?
Castlebar pays 31% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Castlebar and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,681 in Castlebar versus $1,190 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Castlebar or Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $2,867 per month in Castlebar versus $2,065 in Montreal โ a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Castlebar and Montreal?
A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 106% less than in Castlebar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,065 in Montreal versus $2,867 in Castlebar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Castlebar. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Castlebar and Montreal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Castlebar or Montreal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Castlebar 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.
Where should expats move: Castlebar or Montreal?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 39% less than in Castlebar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.