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: $2,105 in Independence, MO versus $2,056 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,060 in Independence, MO versus $3,112 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,016 in Independence, MO versus $4,167 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 53% above, Montreal 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.14 $20.14

$17.85 CA$24.70

12.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$72.3 CA$100

3.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.56 $12.56

$10.92 CA$15.11

15.02%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$3.97 CA$5.49

36.27%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.07 CA$2.87

26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.55 CA$2.14

31.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.10 $7.10

$6.41 CA$8.87

10.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.31 $7.31

$7.29 CA$10.09

0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.39 CA$3.30

-52.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.21 CA$4.43

0.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$3.07 CA$4.25

51.47%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$3.68 CA$5.08

14.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.12 $10.12

$13.57 CA$18.78

-25.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$11.63 CA$16.08

-19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.88 $13.88

$13.97 CA$19.33

-0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.68 CA$5.10

19.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.56 CA$2.16

2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.41 CA$4.72

28.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.03 CA$4.19

14.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.98 CA$2.74

63.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.82 CA$2.52

75.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.56 CA$3.54

-26.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.39 CA$1.92

56.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.24 $8.24

$11.49 CA$15.90

-28.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$10.92 CA$15.11

38.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.26 CA$3.13

-19.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.01 CA$4.16

30.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.35 CA$4.63

-26.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.50 CA$2.08

-15.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.92 $24.92

$33.70 CA$46.63

-26.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.29 CA$1.79

-25.58%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$28.3K CA$39.1K

26.28%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$20.0K CA$27.6K

22.06%

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

$254 $254

$80.4 CA$111

215.61%

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

$64.4 $64.4

$34.23 CA$47.36

88.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$41.39 CA$57.3

71.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.46

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.52

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$11.71 CA$16.20

30.15%

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

$987 $987

$564 CA$781

74.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.3K $19.3K

$16.8K CA$23.3K

14.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 $58.0

$59.5 CA$82.3

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.67 $37.67

$42.13 CA$58.3

-10.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 $98.0

$107 CA$148

-8.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$111 CA$153

3.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 $1,038

$1,284 CA$1,776

-19.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$861 $861

$990 CA$1,370

-13.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 $2,062

$2,260 CA$3,127

-8.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,278 $1,278

$1,667 CA$2,307

-23.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,507 $1,507

$5,287 CA$7,315

-71.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,275

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,505 $3,505

$3,019 CA$4,177

16.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

4.41

38.78%

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

Last update for Independence, MO: September 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,038 in Independence, MO and $1,284 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Independence, MO pays 16% 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: $75.0 in Independence, MO vs $72.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 vs $356 per month, with Montreal 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 ($2,105 vs $2,056 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $1,038 in Independence, MO versus $1,284 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Independence, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,105 per month in Independence, MO versus $2,056 in Montreal – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,056 in Montreal versus $2,105 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.