Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,467 in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,085 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,757 in Fort Collins, CO versus $3,174 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,048 in Fort Collins, CO versus $4,262 in Montreal.

Living in Fort Collins, CO is roughly 18% more expensive than in Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Collins, CO 85% above, Montreal 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 $18.33
$16.52 CA$23.24
10.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.2 $72.2
$74.0 CA$104
-2.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.33 $11.33
$10.94 CA$15.40
3.56%
Cappuccino
$4.69 $4.69
$3.84 CA$5.41
22.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.14 CA$3.01
-7.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.45 CA$2.04
71.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$6.13 CA$8.63
13.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54 $6.54
$6.73 CA$9.47
-2.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$2.35 CA$3.31
-55.32%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.34 CA$4.69
-5.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.74 CA$5.27
-11.23%
Eggs
$4.24 $4.24
$3.39 CA$4.77
25.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$16.30 CA$22.93
-32.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.66 $8.66
$11.81 CA$16.62
-26.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.79 $16.79
$15.64 CA$22.01
7.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.69 CA$5.20
8.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.70 CA$2.39
-7.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.11 CA$5.79
6.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$4.41 CA$6.20
14.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.79 CA$3.93
-15.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.64 CA$3.72
-25.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.29 CA$3.22
8.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.78 CA$2.51
15.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47 $9.47
$13.17 CA$18.53
-28.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.08 $19.08
$10.64 CA$14.97
79.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.99 CA$4.20
-26.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.44 CA$4.83
-22.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.81 CA$3.95
-28.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.8 CA$102
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.52 CA$4.95
-26.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.45 CA$2.05
-2.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.62 $24.62
$34.29 CA$48.26
-28.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.22 CA$1.72
-32.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$25.3K CA$35.5K
10.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$22.1K CA$31.1K
17.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 $168
$76.5 CA$108
119.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.77 $42.77
$35.60 CA$50.1
20.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0 $77.0
$42.96 CA$60.5
79.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.1 $61.1
$43.39 CA$61.1
40.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.98 $14.98
$16.83 CA$23.68
-10.99%
Cinema Ticket
$11.77 $11.77
$11.09 CA$15.60
6.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,547 $1,547
$625 CA$879
147.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$5,896 CA$8,296
111.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 $67.1
$63.1 CA$88.8
6.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.2 $92.2
$44.50 CA$62.6
107.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 $80.6
$103 CA$145
-21.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$118 CA$166
-8.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,807 $1,807
$1,207 CA$1,699
49.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,231 $1,231
$965 CA$1,358
27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,816 $2,816
$2,031 CA$2,858
38.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,304 $2,304
$1,577 CA$2,219
46.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,923 $2,923
$5,085 CA$7,155
-42.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,990 $2,990
$3,783 CA$5,324
-20.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Collins, CO
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$2,890 CA$4,066
49.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
5.01
31.54%

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

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,807 in Fort Collins, CO and $1,207 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Collins, CO pays 50% 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: $72.0 in Fort Collins, CO vs $74.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 vs $395 per month, with Fort Collins, CO 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
Fort Collins, CO vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Collins, CO or Montreal?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Fort Collins, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Fort Collins, CO or in Montreal?
Average pay runs 50% higher in Fort Collins, CO, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fort Collins, CO compared to Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,807 in Fort Collins, CO versus $1,207 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fort Collins, CO or in Montreal?
Shoppers in Fort Collins, CO pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Collins, CO compared to Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $2,467 per month in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,085 in Montreal – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Fort Collins, CO or in Montreal?
At $2,085 in Montreal versus $2,467 in Fort Collins, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Fort Collins, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Fort Collins, CO or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,085 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Fort Collins, CO compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Fort Collins, CO 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Fort Collins, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Fort Collins, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities