Cost of Living Comparison Between Hempstead, NY and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Hempstead, NY and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,587 in Hempstead, NY versus $2,063 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,739 in Hempstead, NY versus $3,159 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,891 in Hempstead, NY versus $4,255 in Montreal.

Living in Hempstead, NY is roughly 25% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hempstead, NY 93% above, Montreal 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.14 $17.14

$15.92 CA$22.20

7.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$73.1 CA$102

4.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.91 $12.91

$11.15 CA$15.54

15.78%

Cappuccino

$4.90 $4.90

$3.80 CA$5.30

28.95%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$2.18 CA$3.04

13.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.46 CA$2.04

48.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.12 CA$8.54

14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$6.78 CA$9.45

18.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.33 CA$3.24

-51.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.39 CA$4.73

-52.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 $2.41

$3.73 CA$5.20

-35.39%

Eggs

$3.50 $3.50

$3.38 CA$4.71

3.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.55 $9.55

$16.25 CA$22.66

-41.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.10 $10.10

$11.54 CA$16.09

-12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.33 $12.33

$15.24 CA$21.25

-19.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.74 CA$5.22

-21.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.70 CA$2.38

-4.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$4.11 CA$5.73

-57.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.35 CA$6.07

8.51%

Potato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.71 CA$3.77

63.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.62 CA$3.65

0.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.25 CA$3.14

9.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.73 CA$2.41

26.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.71 $13.71

$13.31 CA$18.56

3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 $14.21

$10.78 CA$15.04

31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.01 CA$4.20

-38.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.46 CA$4.83

6.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.74 CA$3.82

-28.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$72.7 CA$101

83.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.63 CA$5.07

66.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.46 CA$2.03

-2.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.77 $28.77

$33.44 CA$46.63

-13.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.21 CA$1.69

-21.49%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$24.6K CA$34.4K

17.56%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

20.73%

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

$145 $145

$76.0 CA$106

90.45%

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

$44.54 $44.54

$35.72 CA$49.81

24.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 $55.6

$42.86 CA$59.8

29.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.98 $42.98

$42.92 CA$59.9

0.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$24.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.65 $12.65

$11.09 CA$15.46

14.07%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$620 CA$864

122.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$5,834 CA$8,136

296.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.62 $36.62

$62.7 CA$87.4

-41.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.45 $24.45

$44.41 CA$61.9

-44.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$101 CA$140

-13.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 $70.6

$119 CA$166

-40.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$1,211 CA$1,689

32.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,379 $1,379

$960 CA$1,338

43.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,635 $2,635

$2,035 CA$2,838

29.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$1,589 CA$2,216

42.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,224

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,485

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,128

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

5.01

31.14%

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

Last update for Hempstead, NY: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,599 in Hempstead, NY and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Hempstead, NY vs $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $322 vs $392, with Hempstead, NY cheaper for home cooking.

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

Hempstead, NY vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hempstead, NY and Montreal differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,587 vs $2,063 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,880 in Hempstead, NY and $3,094 in Montreal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,599 in Hempstead, NY versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hempstead, NY pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,587 in Hempstead, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Hempstead, NY. 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, Hempstead, NY 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 Hempstead, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.