Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuiaba and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Cuiaba: $1,008 a month against $2,067 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cuiaba, Brazil
Montreal, Canada
Cuiaba
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,008
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,067
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,008 in Cuiaba versus $2,067 in Montreal.

  • Cuiaba $1,008
  • Montreal $2,067

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,521 in Cuiaba versus $3,179 in Montreal.

  • Cuiaba $1,521
  • Montreal $3,179

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,035 in Cuiaba versus $4,291 in Montreal.

  • Cuiaba $2,035
  • Montreal $4,291

Living in Cuiaba costs roughly 51% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cuiaba is 25% below, Montreal is 53% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.05 R$27.57
$18.89 CA$26.37
-73.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.63 R$151
$72.6 CA$101
-61.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 R$40.40
$10.79 CA$15.07
-31.51%
Cappuccino
$1.68 R$9.18
$3.98 CA$5.56
-57.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 R$7.47
$2.02 CA$2.82
-32.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.70
$1.63 CA$2.28
-58.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 R$9.91
$6.32 CA$8.82
-71.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 R$13.27
$7.06 CA$9.86
-65.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.87
$2.33 CA$3.26
-54.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 R$8.07
$3.25 CA$4.53
-54.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 R$9.24
$3.26 CA$4.56
-48.16%
Eggs
$2.84 R$15.49
$3.48 CA$4.85
-18.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 R$87.4
$13.73 CA$19.17
16.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.44 R$24.27
$11.48 CA$16.02
-61.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.30 R$56.3
$14.26 CA$19.91
-27.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.09 R$11.41
$3.52 CA$4.92
-40.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 R$12.46
$1.46 CA$2.03
56.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 R$12.65
$3.41 CA$4.76
-31.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.71 R$14.81
$3.20 CA$4.47
-15.31%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 R$12.98
$1.94 CA$2.70
22.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 R$10.75
$1.78 CA$2.49
10.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 R$8.09
$2.52 CA$3.52
-41.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R$7.17
$1.58 CA$2.21
-17.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10 R$11.49
$11.51 CA$16.06
-81.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.45 R$57.1
$10.57 CA$14.76
-1.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 R$9.87
$2.35 CA$3.27
-22.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 R$15.43
$2.90 CA$4.04
-2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 R$4.79
$2.61 CA$3.65
-66.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.17 R$198
$78.5 CA$110
-53.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.17 CA$4.43
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.49 CA$2.08
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$33.49 CA$46.75
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 R$6.27
$1.36 CA$1.90
-15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K R$150.4K
$28.0K CA$39.1K
-1.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K R$171.9K
$21.1K CA$29.5K
48.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 R$902
$77.6 CA$108
112.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 R$95.8
$35.63 CA$49.74
-50.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 R$133
$43.73 CA$61.1
-44.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.85 R$130
$30.07 CA$41.98
-20.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.54 R$101
$19.97 CA$27.87
-7.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 R$29.86
$11.27 CA$15.74
-51.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$412 R$2,249
$522 CA$729
-21.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,753 R$47.8K
$17.8K CA$24.8K
-50.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.4 R$379
$59.0 CA$82.3
17.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.62 R$249
$39.01 CA$54.5
16.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 R$766
$99.8 CA$139
40.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0 R$350
$110 CA$153
-41.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$306 R$1,673
$1,298 CA$1,812
-76.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$218 R$1,191
$970 CA$1,355
-77.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 R$3,955
$2,323 CA$3,243
-68.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 R$2,099
$1,689 CA$2,358
-77.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,236 R$6,751
$5,004 CA$6,984
-75.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$745 R$4,070
$3,736 CA$5,216
-80.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuiaba
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$372 R$2,032
$2,943 CA$4,108
-87.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.1
4.51
256.98%

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

Last update for Cuiaba: November 3, 2026

Last update for Montreal: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cuiaba
$260
Montreal
$357 37.4% $97
Accommodation & Living
Cuiaba
$218
Montreal
$970 345% $752
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuiaba
$207
Montreal
$157 24.1% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Cuiaba
$144
Montreal
$138 3.7% $5.3
Eating Out
Cuiaba
$105
Montreal
$292 178% $187
Getting Around
Cuiaba
$40 *
Montreal
$100 151% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Cuiaba
$35
Montreal
$53 51.3% $18

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 $306 in Cuiaba and $1,298 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays about 7.9 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $28 in Cuiaba vs $73 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $357 per month, with Cuiaba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Cuiaba
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
20:45 8:45 PM
19:45 7:45 PM
1 h behind Cuiaba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
650,877
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 5.46 BRL (1 BRL = 0.183 USD). 1 EUR = 6.13 BRL (1 BRL = 0.163 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cuiaba Montreal 7,020 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cuiaba
  • 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
Cuiaba vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cuiaba or Montreal?
Cuiaba wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Cuiaba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cuiaba or in Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 87% lower in Cuiaba. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cuiaba compared to Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $306 in Cuiaba versus $1,298 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Cuiaba and in Montreal?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuiaba – a meal for two runs $28 versus $73 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Cuiaba compared to Montreal?
All in, you’ll spend $1,008 per month in Cuiaba versus $2,067 in Montreal – Cuiaba is about 51% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cuiaba or in Montreal?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Cuiaba is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Cuiaba or Montreal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cuiaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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