Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Emporia, KS and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Emporia, KS: $1,558 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Emporia, KS
🇺🇸 United States
$1,558
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,558 per month in Emporia, KS vs $2,059 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Emporia, KS $1,558
  • Montreal $2,059

A couple spends around $2,497 per month in Emporia, KS vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Emporia, KS $2,497
  • Montreal $3,123

A family of three spends $3,435 per month in Emporia, KS vs $4,187 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Emporia, KS $3,435
  • Montreal $4,187

Emporia, KS is about 24% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Emporia, KS and Montreal sit above the global median – Emporia, KS by 15%, Montreal by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.83 $15.83
$18.84 CA$26.63
-15.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6 $75.6
$73.2 CA$104
3.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 $11.90
$10.54 CA$14.90
12.90%
Cappuccino
$4.45 $4.45
$3.97 CA$5.61
12.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.94 CA$2.74
20.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.57 CA$2.22
7.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$6.42 CA$9.08
-21.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 $6.06
$7.20 CA$10.19
-15.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$2.32 CA$3.28
-62.07%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.19 CA$4.51
3.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 $1.92
$3.19 CA$4.50
-39.81%
Eggs
$2.85 $2.85
$3.68 CA$5.20
-22.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.30 $8.30
$13.24 CA$18.72
-37.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.45 $8.45
$11.69 CA$16.53
-27.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.40 $14.40
$13.98 CA$19.76
3.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$3.14 CA$4.44
58.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.45 CA$2.05
-17.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.38 CA$4.78
-15.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.11 CA$4.40
-10.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.93 CA$2.72
-15.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$1.83 CA$2.58
50.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.36 CA$3.34
-20.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.50 CA$2.12
54.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.13 $9.13
$11.12 CA$15.73
-17.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.49 $9.49
$10.60 CA$14.98
-10.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.22 CA$3.14
-17.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.84 CA$4.01
-9.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.62 CA$3.71
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.1 CA$112
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 $4.91
$3.23 CA$4.56
52.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.48 CA$2.10
22.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.41 $34.41
$32.22 CA$45.55
6.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.36 CA$1.92
-34.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
-0.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$21.2K CA$30.0K
21.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 $144
$77.0 CA$109
87.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.93 $46.93
$34.14 CA$48.26
37.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.14 $49.14
$42.19 CA$59.7
16.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.39 $44.39
$30.81 CA$43.56
44.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.43 $12.43
$11.47 CA$16.22
8.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$824 $824
$506 CA$716
62.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.2K CA$23.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.75 $48.75
$57.3 CA$81.0
-14.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.34 $25.34
$38.10 CA$53.9
-33.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.5 $89.5
$91.9 CA$130
-2.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4 $83.4
$110 CA$155
-24.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$685 $685
$1,237 CA$1,748
-44.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 $546
$977 CA$1,381
-44.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,752 $1,752
$2,180 CA$3,082
-19.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 $1,108
$1,608 CA$2,273
-31.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,251 $1,251
$5,113 CA$7,228
-75.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,246 $1,246
$3,744 CA$5,293
-66.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Emporia, KS
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,551 $5,551
$2,957 CA$4,180
87.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
4.48
42.19%

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

Last update for Emporia, KS: October 18, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Emporia, KS
$546
Montreal
$977 79% $431
Groceries & Markets
Emporia, KS
$308
Montreal
$351 14% $43
Eating Out
Emporia, KS
$269
Montreal
$290 7.9% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emporia, KS
$240
Montreal
$153 36.2% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Emporia, KS
$111
Montreal
$134 20.3% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Emporia, KS
$69
Montreal
$54 22.4% $16
Getting Around
Emporia, KS
$14 *
Montreal
$100 615% $86

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $685 in Emporia, KS versus $1,237 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 88% higher in Emporia, KS, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Emporia, KS versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $308 in Emporia, KS vs $351 in Montreal – so Emporia, KS wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Emporia, KS
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
04:34 4:34 AM
05:34 5:34 AM
1 h ahead of Emporia, KS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
26,188
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Emporia, KS Montreal 2,020 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Emporia, KS
  • 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
Emporia, KS vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Emporia, KS or Montreal?
Montreal costs about 32% more than Emporia, KS, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Emporia, KS and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,337 per month in Emporia, KS and $3,089 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Emporia, KS or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Emporia, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Emporia, KS and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Emporia, KS and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Emporia, KS or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 Emporia, KS or in Montreal?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Emporia, KS, where all-in costs run around $1,558, than in Montreal at $2,059. In Emporia, KS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Emporia, KS or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Emporia, KS costs $1,558 versus $2,059 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Emporia, KS 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 Emporia, KS or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Emporia, KS. 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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