😐A single person spends $2,457 per month in Florence vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,812 per month in Florence vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,167 per month in Florence vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.
😐Florence costs about 20% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Florence and Montreal sit above the global median – Florence by 79%, Montreal by 50%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.22€24.34
$17.85CA$24.81
58.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5€69.4
$72.3CA$100
11.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.87€12.83
$10.92CA$15.18
36.17%
Cappuccino
$2.29€1.98
$3.97CA$5.51
-42.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28€2.83
$2.07CA$2.88
58.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.30
$1.55CA$2.15
-2.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.82€5.88
$6.41CA$8.91
6.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15€7.03
$7.29CA$10.13
11.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$2.39CA$3.31
-20.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.61€2.25
$3.21CA$4.45
-18.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.53
$3.07CA$4.26
-4.56%
Eggs
$4.72€4.07
$3.68CA$5.11
28.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.66€23.00
$13.57CA$18.86
96.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.79€11.03
$11.63CA$16.16
9.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.99€23.28
$13.97CA$19.41
93.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99€2.58
$3.68CA$5.12
-18.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68€2.31
$1.56CA$2.16
71.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46€2.99
$3.41CA$4.74
1.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38€2.91
$3.03CA$4.21
11.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.34€2.01
$1.98CA$2.76
18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.82CA$2.54
9.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90€1.63
$2.56CA$3.56
-25.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.58
$1.39CA$1.93
-51.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78€6.71
$11.49CA$15.97
-32.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.35€7.20
$10.92CA$15.18
-23.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.79
$2.26CA$3.14
-7.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.71
$3.01CA$4.18
4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03€1.75
$2.69CA$3.74
-24.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.19
$75.3CA$105
-39.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.86€3.33
$3.35CA$4.65
15.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26€1.09
$1.50CA$2.09
-16.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.62€27.27
$33.70CA$46.83
-6.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$1.29CA$1.80
61.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€32.2K
$28.3KCA$39.3K
31.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K€31.9K
$20.0KCA$27.7K
85.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242€208
$80.4CA$112
200.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43€10.72
$34.23CA$47.57
-63.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.69€29.06
$41.39CA$57.5
-18.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$74.0€63.8
$29.24CA$40.63
153.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.97€18.95
$19.89CA$27.64
10.46%
Cinema Ticket
$13.69€11.81
$11.71CA$16.27
16.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$769€663
$564CA$784
36.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.0K
$16.8KCA$23.4K
3.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€86.8
$59.5CA$82.7
69.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36€34.81
$42.13CA$58.6
-4.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.9
$107CA$149
2.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156€135
$111CA$154
41.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,529€1,319
$1,284CA$1,784
19.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,022€881
$990CA$1,376
3.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,903€2,504
$2,260CA$3,140
28.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,889€1,629
$1,667CA$2,317
13.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,518€5,621
$5,287CA$7,347
23.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,939€3,398
$3,813CA$5,298
3.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,027€1,749
$3,019CA$4,195
-32.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
4.41
-28.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Florence: August 31, 2026
Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,529 in Florence versus $1,284 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 49% higher in Montreal, 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 $80.0 in Florence versus $72.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $422 vs $356 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Florence vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Florence and in Montreal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,457 in Florence, $2,056 in Montreal – roughly 20% apart. Florence costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Florence compared to Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,685 per month in Florence and $3,084 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Florence and Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Florence or Montreal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,457 in Florence and $2,056 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Florence and in Montreal?
Public transport costs about 66% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,056, than in Florence at $2,457. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Florence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Florence and Montreal?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,056 in Montreal to $2,457 in Florence. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Florence or Montreal safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Florence and Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Florence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.