Cost of Living Comparison Between Independence, MO and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Independence, MO and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,129 in Independence, MO versus $2,085 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,145 in Independence, MO versus $3,174 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,161 in Independence, MO versus $4,262 in Montreal.

Living in Independence, MO is roughly 2% more expensive than in Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Independence, MO 59% above, Montreal 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.07 $20.07

$16.52 CA$23.24

21.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$74.0 CA$104

-0.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.36 $11.36

$10.94 CA$15.40

3.84%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$3.84 CA$5.41

32.81%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.14 CA$3.01

38.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.45 CA$2.04

39.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.13 CA$8.63

-1.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$6.73 CA$9.47

2.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.35 CA$3.31

-50.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.34 CA$4.69

2.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.74 CA$5.27

18.98%

Eggs

$3.73 $3.73

$3.39 CA$4.77

10.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$16.30 CA$22.93

-30.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.34 $10.34

$11.81 CA$16.62

-12.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 $12.95

$15.64 CA$22.01

-17.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.69 CA$5.20

19.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.70 CA$2.39

-12.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.11 CA$5.79

42.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.66 $6.66

$4.41 CA$6.20

51.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.79 CA$3.93

-8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.64 CA$3.72

41.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.29 CA$3.22

-12.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.78 CA$2.51

40.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$13.17 CA$18.53

-33.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$10.64 CA$14.97

40.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.99 CA$4.20

-42.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.44 CA$4.83

31.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.81 CA$3.95

-27.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.52 CA$4.95

-13.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.45 CA$2.05

4.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.18 $21.18

$34.29 CA$48.26

-38.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.22 CA$1.72

-38.52%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

38.29%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$22.1K CA$31.1K

19.13%

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

$252 $252

$76.5 CA$108

229.11%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$35.60 CA$50.1

50.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$42.96 CA$60.5

53.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.47 $43.47

$43.39 CA$61.1

0.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$13.87 $13.87

$11.09 CA$15.60

25.07%

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

$905 $905

$625 CA$879

44.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$5,896 CA$8,296

311.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$63.1 CA$88.8

-14.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.22 $38.22

$44.50 CA$62.6

-14.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 $95.5

$103 CA$145

-7.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$118 CA$166

-4.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 $992

$1,207 CA$1,699

-17.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$850 $850

$965 CA$1,358

-11.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 $2,335

$2,031 CA$2,858

14.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 $1,298

$1,577 CA$2,219

-17.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,515 $1,515

$5,085 CA$7,155

-70.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,480 $3,480

$2,890 CA$4,066

20.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.01

29.74%

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

Last update for Independence, MO: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Independence, MO and $1,207 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Independence, MO pays 20% 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: $74.0 in Independence, MO vs $74.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $395 per month, with Independence, MO 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

Independence, MO vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Independence, MO and Montreal differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,129 vs $2,085 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 20% higher in Independence, MO, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Independence, MO versus $1,207 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Independence, MO pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,129 per month in Independence, MO versus $2,085 in Montreal – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,085 in Montreal versus $2,129 in Independence, MO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Independence, MO. 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, Independence, MO 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 2% less than in Independence, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.