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: $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL versus $2,056 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,292 in Des Plaines, IL versus $3,112 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,445 in Des Plaines, IL versus $4,167 in Montreal.

Living in Des Plaines, IL is roughly 53% more expensive than in Montreal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Des Plaines, IL 128% above, Montreal 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$17.85 CA$24.62

9.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.9 $89.9

$72.3 CA$99.7

24.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.03 $13.03

$10.92 CA$15.06

19.32%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$3.97 CA$5.47

44.08%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$2.07 CA$2.86

29.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.55 CA$2.13

47.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.41 CA$8.85

8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$7.29 CA$10.05

4.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$2.39 CA$3.29

-58.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.21 CA$4.42

14.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$3.07 CA$4.23

53.42%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$3.68 CA$5.07

9.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$13.57 CA$18.72

11.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$11.63 CA$16.03

15.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.88 $19.88

$13.97 CA$19.27

42.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.68 CA$5.08

36.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.56 CA$2.15

6.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.41 CA$4.70

19.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.03 CA$4.17

61.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.98 CA$2.74

41.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.82 CA$2.52

52.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.56 CA$3.53

-17.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.39 CA$1.92

76.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.52 $10.52

$11.49 CA$15.85

-8.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$10.92 CA$15.06

37.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.26 CA$3.12

12.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.01 CA$4.15

12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.69 CA$3.71

-24.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

$75.3 CA$104

-21.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.35 CA$4.62

-5.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.50 CA$2.07

-8.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.51 $22.51

$33.70 CA$46.47

-33.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.29 CA$1.78

-22.48%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

29.30%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

27.74%

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

$193 $193

$80.4 CA$111

140.02%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$34.23 CA$47.21

73.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.2 $78.2

$41.39 CA$57.1

88.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$29.24 CA$40.32

318.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.05 $40.05

$19.89 CA$27.43

101.36%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$11.71 CA$16.15

26.64%

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

$1,559 $1,559

$564 CA$778

176.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$16.8K CA$23.2K

36.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 $64.1

$59.5 CA$82.1

7.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$42.13 CA$58.1

20.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$107 CA$148

-3.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$111 CA$153

9.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,770

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$990 CA$1,365

63.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,116

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,667 CA$2,299

33.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,275 $3,275

$5,287 CA$7,291

-38.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,480 $2,480

$3,813 CA$5,258

-34.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,177 $6,177

$3,019 CA$4,163

104.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

4.41

44.67%

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

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Des Plaines, IL pays 105% 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: $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL vs $72.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $431 vs $356 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 53% in total monthly costs ($3,139 vs $2,056 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 105% higher in Des Plaines, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Des Plaines, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,056 in Montreal versus $3,139 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 53% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.