Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibague and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Ibague: $1,115 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ibague
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,115
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Ibague versus $2,018 in Montreal.

  • Ibague $1,115
  • Montreal $2,018

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,770 in Ibague versus $3,085 in Montreal.

  • Ibague $1,770
  • Montreal $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,426 in Ibague versus $4,152 in Montreal.

  • Ibague $2,426
  • Montreal $4,152

Living in Ibague costs roughly 45% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ibague is 17% below, Montreal is 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.68 COP 24.3K
$18.82 CA$26.61
-59.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.39 COP 134.4K
$70.3 CA$99.4
-39.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 COP 24.7K
$10.66 CA$15.06
-27.02%
Cappuccino
$1.60 COP 5,066
$3.84 CA$5.43
-58.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 COP 3,527
$1.92 CA$2.71
-42.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 COP 2,387
$1.54 CA$2.18
-51.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 COP 4,513
$6.23 CA$8.81
-77.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 COP 12.6K
$7.10 CA$10.03
-43.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 COP 3,412
$2.31 CA$3.27
-53.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 COP 7,921
$3.14 CA$4.44
-20.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 COP 3,664
$3.21 CA$4.54
-63.86%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 6,957
$3.52 CA$4.97
-37.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.03 COP 25.5K
$12.81 CA$18.11
-37.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 COP 21.0K
$11.46 CA$16.20
-42.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.7K
$13.39 CA$18.92
-27.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 COP 10.8K
$3.14 CA$4.43
8.92%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 COP 2,911
$1.44 CA$2.03
-36.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 COP 4,484
$3.47 CA$4.91
-59.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 COP 5,722
$3.07 CA$4.34
-41.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 COP 2,532
$1.90 CA$2.69
-57.89%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 COP 2,363
$1.77 CA$2.50
-57.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 COP 2,544
$2.34 CA$3.31
-65.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,798
$1.55 CA$2.19
-22.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 COP 13.8K
$11.38 CA$16.09
-61.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.68 COP 40.2K
$10.63 CA$15.03
19.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 COP 4,418
$2.27 CA$3.21
-38.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,109
$2.82 CA$3.99
1.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 COP 3,321
$2.66 CA$3.76
-60.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.5 COP 198.0K
$77.3 CA$109
-19.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 COP 4,340
$3.20 CA$4.53
-57.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 COP 1,118
$1.48 CA$2.09
-76.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.15 COP 6,802
$32.88 CA$46.48
-93.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 COP 4,185
$1.34 CA$1.90
-1.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K COP 64.5M
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-27.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K COP 114.5M
$19.6K CA$27.8K
83.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.84 COP 129.5K
$76.0 CA$107
-46.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56 COP 30.3K
$33.95 CA$48.00
-71.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.89 COP 44.0K
$42.31 CA$59.8
-67.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.47 COP 87.1K
$29.76 CA$42.07
-7.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.28 CA$28.67
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.77 COP 15.1K
$11.15 CA$15.77
-57.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$502 COP 1.6M
$507 CA$717
-1.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,436 COP 23.6M
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-53.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.07 COP 79.5K
$57.6 CA$81.4
-56.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.53 COP 153.9K
$37.58 CA$53.1
29.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 COP 249.2K
$91.9 CA$130
-14.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 333.4K
$110 CA$155
-4.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$651 COP 2.1M
$1,260 CA$1,782
-48.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 COP 1.5M
$948 CA$1,340
-50.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,007 COP 3.2M
$2,137 CA$3,021
-52.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$888 COP 2.8M
$1,614 CA$2,281
-44.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,965 COP 6.2M
$4,960 CA$7,011
-60.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,656 COP 5.2M
$3,838 CA$5,425
-56.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibague
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$616 COP 2.0M
$2,827 CA$3,997
-78.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
4.48
185.94%

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

Last update for Ibague: October 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ibague
$469
Montreal
$948 102% $478
Groceries & Markets
Ibague
$232
Montreal
$346 49.2% $114
Eating Out
Ibague
$126
Montreal
$288 128% $161
Clothing & Footwear
Ibague
$116
Montreal
$133 15.2% $18
Getting Around
Ibague
$70
Montreal
$99 41.2% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibague
$64
Montreal
$152 137% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Ibague
$37
Montreal
$52 40.7% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $651 in Ibague and $1,260 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 359% 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: $42.00 in Ibague vs $70.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $346 per month, with Ibague cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Ibague
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
07:32 7:32 AM
08:32 8:32 AM
1 h ahead of Ibague
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
530,000
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Ibague Montreal 4,570 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ibague
  • 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
Ibague vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Ibague?
Ibague is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ibague or Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 359% lower in Montreal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ibague and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $651 in Ibague versus $1,260 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ibague and in Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $1,115 per month in Ibague versus $2,018 in Montreal – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ibague runs roughly 24% less than in Montreal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ibague or in Montreal?
At $1,115 in Ibague versus $2,018 in Montreal, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibague but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Ibague the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ibague or Montreal more family-friendly?
For families, Ibague is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montreal, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ibague or Montreal?
Safety-wise, Ibague 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ibague gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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