Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chihuahua and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Chihuahua: $1,235 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chihuahua
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,235
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,235 per month in Chihuahua vs $2,003 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Chihuahua $1,235
  • Montreal $2,003

A couple spends around $1,838 per month in Chihuahua vs $3,048 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Chihuahua $1,838
  • Montreal $3,048

A family of three spends $2,441 per month in Chihuahua vs $4,092 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Chihuahua $2,441
  • Montreal $4,092

Chihuahua is about 38% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chihuahua sits 8% below the global median, while Montreal is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.89 MX$200
$19.31 CA$27.52
-43.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.13 MX$608
$75.5 CA$108
-56.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 MX$202
$10.63 CA$15.15
3.76%
Cappuccino
$2.43 MX$44.60
$3.93 CA$5.60
-38.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MX$22.55
$1.92 CA$2.73
-35.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MX$13.90
$1.48 CA$2.11
-48.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 MX$44.37
$6.30 CA$8.98
-61.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 MX$75.6
$7.19 CA$10.24
-42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$30.23
$2.22 CA$3.17
-25.68%
White Bread (500g)
$3.27 MX$60.0
$3.06 CA$4.36
6.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 MX$39.08
$2.94 CA$4.19
-27.55%
Eggs
$2.58 MX$47.33
$3.53 CA$5.03
-26.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 MX$171
$13.19 CA$18.79
-29.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.99 MX$128
$11.24 CA$16.02
-37.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.49 MX$229
$13.81 CA$19.69
-9.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 MX$46.42
$3.40 CA$4.85
-25.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 MX$29.85
$1.44 CA$2.06
13.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$37.63
$3.26 CA$4.65
-37.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.3
$2.88 CA$4.10
0.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 MX$44.47
$1.86 CA$2.65
30.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 MX$48.64
$1.82 CA$2.60
45.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 MX$24.85
$2.43 CA$3.46
-44.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$21.33
$1.52 CA$2.17
-23.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 MX$82.8
$11.45 CA$16.32
-60.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.53 MX$193
$10.36 CA$14.76
1.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 MX$27.09
$2.22 CA$3.16
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 MX$53.3
$2.82 CA$4.02
2.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.48
$2.58 CA$3.67
-77.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.79 MX$620
$76.9 CA$110
-56.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 MX$50.0
$3.25 CA$4.64
-16.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 MX$14.42
$1.48 CA$2.11
-46.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.03 MX$184
$33.04 CA$47.09
-69.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$27.69
$1.36 CA$1.94
11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K MX$391.7K
$27.4K CA$39.1K
-22.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K MX$444.2K
$20.0K CA$28.5K
21.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.2 MX$1,527
$76.1 CA$109
9.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.01 MX$386
$34.68 CA$49.43
-39.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.02 MX$441
$42.69 CA$60.9
-43.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.14 MX$517
$28.94 CA$41.26
-2.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.33 CA$28.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$89.7
$11.21 CA$15.98
-56.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 MX$4,939
$505 CA$720
-46.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,353 MX$61.6K
$16.0K CA$22.8K
-79.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.73 MX$895
$58.5 CA$83.4
-16.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.25 MX$464
$38.00 CA$54.2
-33.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,893
$92.7 CA$132
11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 MX$1,657
$106 CA$151
-14.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$605 MX$11.1K
$1,240 CA$1,768
-51.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 MX$8,506
$986 CA$1,405
-53.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 MX$20.6K
$2,102 CA$2,996
-46.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$718 MX$13.2K
$1,615 CA$2,302
-55.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,385 MX$62.1K
$5,043 CA$7,188
-32.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,112 MX$20.4K
$3,830 CA$5,459
-70.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chihuahua
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$863 MX$15.8K
$2,920 CA$4,163
-70.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.84
4.46
143.05%

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

Last update for Chihuahua: October 6, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chihuahua
$463
Montreal
$986 113% $523
Groceries & Markets
Chihuahua
$280
Montreal
$344 22.9% $64
Eating Out
Chihuahua
$178
Montreal
$293 64.9% $115
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chihuahua
$128
Montreal
$154 19.7% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Chihuahua
$120
Montreal
$133 10.3% $12
Getting Around
Chihuahua
$43
Montreal
$98 129% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Chihuahua
$38
Montreal
$51 35.4% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $605 in Chihuahua versus $1,240 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 239% higher in Montreal, 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 $33.00 in Chihuahua versus $75.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $344 – making Chihuahua the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Chihuahua
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
03:47 3:47 AM
05:47 5:47 AM
2 h ahead of Chihuahua
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
925,762
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.57 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chihuahua Montreal 3,400 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chihuahua
  • 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
Chihuahua vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chihuahua or Montreal?
Montreal costs about 62% more than Chihuahua, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Chihuahua and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,852 per month in Chihuahua and $3,005 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chihuahua or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chihuahua, 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 Chihuahua and in Montreal?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Chihuahua and $505 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 Chihuahua or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Montreal, 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 $1,000/month in Chihuahua or in Montreal?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chihuahua, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Montreal at $2,003. In Chihuahua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chihuahua or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chihuahua costs $1,235 versus $2,003 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Chihuahua. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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