Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Plaines, IL and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,581 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,063 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,855 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,159 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,129 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,255 in Montreal.

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 93% above, Montreal 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.26 $15.26

$15.92 CA$22.05

-4.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$73.1 CA$101

8.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 $10.88

$11.15 CA$15.43

-2.42%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$3.80 CA$5.26

42.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.18 CA$3.01

21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.46 CA$2.02

60.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.12 CA$8.48

-2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.78 CA$9.38

2.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.33 CA$3.22

-60.52%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.39 CA$4.69

19.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.73 CA$5.16

42.36%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$3.38 CA$4.68

21.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 $13.62

$16.25 CA$22.50

-16.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$11.54 CA$15.98

14.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.44 $16.44

$15.24 CA$21.10

7.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.74 CA$5.18

20.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.70 CA$2.36

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.11 CA$5.68

5.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.35 CA$6.02

2.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.71 CA$3.75

-5.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.62 CA$3.62

3.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.25 CA$3.12

-9.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.73 CA$2.39

13.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.36 $14.36

$13.31 CA$18.43

7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.78 CA$14.93

37.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$3.01 CA$4.17

-23.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.46 CA$4.80

7.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.74 CA$3.79

-29.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.63 CA$5.03

21.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.46 CA$2.02

-2.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.10 $25.10

$33.44 CA$46.30

-24.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.21 CA$1.68

-9.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

1.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K $25.2K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

16.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$182 $182

$76.0 CA$105

139.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.1 $50.1

$35.72 CA$49.46

40.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$42.86 CA$59.4

54.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.79 $43.79

$42.92 CA$59.4

2.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.44 $39.44

$17.23 CA$23.86

128.90%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 $14.70

$11.09 CA$15.35

32.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$620 CA$858

166.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$5,834 CA$8,078

323.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 $65.4

$62.7 CA$86.8

4.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.84 $48.84

$44.41 CA$61.5

9.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$101 CA$139

-3.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$119 CA$165

12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 $1,602

$1,211 CA$1,677

32.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,379 $1,379

$960 CA$1,329

43.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 $2,631

$2,035 CA$2,818

29.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$1,589 CA$2,201

39.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,192 $3,192

$5,181 CA$7,173

-38.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 $2,480

$3,934 CA$5,446

-36.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,104 $6,104

$2,960 CA$4,098

106.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.01

31.74%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,602 in Des Plaines, IL and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Plaines, IL pays 106% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $392 per month, with Montreal cheaper across the board.

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

Des Plaines, IL vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Des Plaines, IL and Montreal differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,581 vs $2,063 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Des Plaines, IL pays 106% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,602 in Des Plaines, IL versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,653 in Des Plaines, IL versus $620 in Montreal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $79.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,581 in Des Plaines, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Des Plaines, IL 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.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.