Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla Mujeres and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Isla Mujeres: $1,087 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Isla Mujeres
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,087
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,003 in Montreal.

  • Isla Mujeres $1,087
  • Montreal $2,003

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,747 in Isla Mujeres versus $3,048 in Montreal.

  • Isla Mujeres $1,747
  • Montreal $3,048

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,407 in Isla Mujeres versus $4,092 in Montreal.

  • Isla Mujeres $2,407
  • Montreal $4,092

Living in Isla Mujeres costs roughly 46% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Isla Mujeres is 19% below, Montreal is 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.60 MX$193
$19.31 CA$27.57
-45.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.12 MX$714
$75.5 CA$108
-48.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.06 MX$147
$10.63 CA$15.17
-24.18%
Cappuccino
$3.38 MX$61.8
$3.93 CA$5.61
-13.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$22.59
$1.92 CA$2.74
-35.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 MX$17.61
$1.48 CA$2.11
-35.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 MX$40.87
$6.30 CA$8.99
-64.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 MX$69.3
$7.19 CA$10.26
-47.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$26.12
$2.22 CA$3.17
-35.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$48.25
$3.06 CA$4.37
-13.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$28.74
$2.94 CA$4.20
-46.60%
Eggs
$2.38 MX$43.51
$3.53 CA$5.04
-32.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.23 MX$150
$13.19 CA$18.83
-37.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.00 MX$146
$11.24 CA$16.05
-28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.78 MX$197
$13.81 CA$19.72
-21.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$49.58
$3.40 CA$4.86
-20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 MX$25.58
$1.44 CA$2.06
-2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 MX$32.53
$3.26 CA$4.66
-45.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 MX$30.19
$2.88 CA$4.11
-42.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 MX$33.66
$1.86 CA$2.65
-1.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 MX$35.22
$1.82 CA$2.61
6.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 MX$22.92
$2.43 CA$3.46
-48.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$17.72
$1.52 CA$2.18
-36.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$78.0
$11.45 CA$16.35
-62.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 MX$195
$10.36 CA$14.79
2.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 MX$28.30
$2.22 CA$3.16
-30.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 MX$50.0
$2.82 CA$4.02
-2.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 MX$11.98
$2.58 CA$3.68
-74.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.9 CA$110
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 MX$48.47
$3.25 CA$4.64
-18.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 MX$27.81
$1.48 CA$2.12
2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 MX$153
$33.04 CA$47.18
-74.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 MX$24.25
$1.36 CA$1.94
-2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$387.4K
$27.4K CA$39.2K
-22.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K MX$416.8K
$20.0K CA$28.5K
14.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.0 MX$1,023
$76.1 CA$109
-26.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.35 MX$408
$34.68 CA$49.52
-35.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89 MX$509
$42.69 CA$61.0
-34.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.84 MX$673
$28.94 CA$41.33
27.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.02 MX$292
$20.33 CA$29.03
-21.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.68 MX$85.4
$11.21 CA$16.01
-58.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$206 MX$3,758
$505 CA$721
-59.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,587 MX$65.5K
$16.0K CA$22.9K
-77.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 MX$984
$58.5 CA$83.5
-7.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 MX$724
$38.00 CA$54.3
4.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 MX$1,630
$92.7 CA$132
-3.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 MX$1,423
$106 CA$151
-26.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 MX$9,466
$1,240 CA$1,771
-58.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$7,123
$986 CA$1,408
-60.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 MX$16.9K
$2,102 CA$3,002
-56.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$762 MX$13.9K
$1,615 CA$2,306
-52.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,785 MX$32.6K
$5,043 CA$7,202
-64.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,153 MX$21.1K
$3,830 CA$5,469
-69.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isla Mujeres
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,920 CA$4,170
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
4.46
157.40%

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

Last update for Isla Mujeres: October 6, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Isla Mujeres
$390
Montreal
$986 153% $596
Groceries & Markets
Isla Mujeres
$252
Montreal
$344 36.6% $92
Eating Out
Isla Mujeres
$177
Montreal
$293 65.4% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Isla Mujeres
$117
Montreal
$133 13.1% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isla Mujeres
$106
Montreal
$154 44.4% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Isla Mujeres
$46
Montreal
$51 11.2% $5.2
Getting Around
Isla Mujeres
$13 *
Montreal
$98 659% $85

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Isla Mujeres and $1,240 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Isla Mujeres vs $75.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $344 per month, with Isla Mujeres cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Isla Mujeres
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
03:42 3:42 AM
04:42 4:42 AM
1 h ahead of Isla Mujeres
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,174
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 18.26 MXN (100 MXN = 5.48 USD). 1 EUR = 20.46 MXN (100 MXN = 4.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Isla Mujeres Montreal 2,950 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Isla Mujeres
  • 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
Isla Mujeres vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Isla Mujeres and in Montreal?
Isla Mujeres and Montreal differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,087 vs $2,003 including rent). Isla Mujeres is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Isla Mujeres compared to Montreal?
You'd need roughly $1,631 in Isla Mujeres and $3,005 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Isla Mujeres and in Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Isla Mujeres versus $1,240 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Montreal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Isla Mujeres or Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $1,087 per month in Isla Mujeres versus $2,003 in Montreal – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,087 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,003 in Montreal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Isla Mujeres but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Isla Mujeres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Isla Mujeres and Montreal?
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.
Is Isla Mujeres or Montreal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Isla Mujeres 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.
Where should expats move: Isla Mujeres or Montreal?
Expats usually find Isla Mujeres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Isla Mujeres vs other spots: cost of living compared

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