Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jefferson City, MO and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Jefferson City, MO: $1,858 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jefferson City, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$1,858
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,858 in Jefferson City, MO versus $2,059 in Montreal.

  • Jefferson City, MO $1,858
  • Montreal $2,059

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,890 in Jefferson City, MO versus $3,123 in Montreal.

  • Jefferson City, MO $2,890
  • Montreal $3,123

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,922 in Jefferson City, MO versus $4,187 in Montreal.

  • Jefferson City, MO $3,922
  • Montreal $4,187

Living in Jefferson City, MO costs roughly 10% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jefferson City, MO 37% above, Montreal 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.97 $14.97
$18.84 CA$26.63
-20.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.52 $39.52
$73.2 CA$104
-46.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.98 $9.98
$10.54 CA$14.90
-5.31%
Cappuccino
$5.49 $5.49
$3.97 CA$5.61
38.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.94 CA$2.74
5.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.57 CA$2.22
40.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.39 $5.39
$6.42 CA$9.08
-16.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 $6.34
$7.20 CA$10.19
-11.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$2.32 CA$3.28
-60.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.19 CA$4.51
2.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$3.19 CA$4.50
39.18%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$3.68 CA$5.20
15.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$13.24 CA$18.72
-66.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.71 $9.71
$11.69 CA$16.53
-16.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.38 $13.38
$13.98 CA$19.76
-4.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$3.14 CA$4.44
37.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.45 CA$2.05
11.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$3.38 CA$4.78
28.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$3.11 CA$4.40
37.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$1.93 CA$2.72
66.32%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$1.83 CA$2.58
81.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.36 CA$3.34
2.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.50 CA$2.12
30.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97 $7.97
$11.12 CA$15.73
-28.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.74 $12.74
$10.60 CA$14.98
20.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.22 CA$3.14
-12.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.84 CA$4.01
34.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.62 CA$3.71
17.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.1 CA$112
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.23 CA$4.56
-24.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.48 CA$2.10
-18.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.8 $60.8
$32.22 CA$45.55
88.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.36 CA$1.92
-36.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
29.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$21.2K CA$30.0K
19.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$77.0 CA$109
165.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.7 $65.7
$34.14 CA$48.26
92.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 $69.8
$42.19 CA$59.7
65.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$30.81 CA$43.56
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.12 $15.12
$11.47 CA$16.22
31.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,197 $1,197
$506 CA$716
136.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K $21.2K
$16.2K CA$23.0K
30.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 $50.3
$57.3 CA$81.0
-12.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.76 $42.76
$38.10 CA$53.9
12.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$91.9 CA$130
12.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$110 CA$155
14.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$887 $887
$1,237 CA$1,748
-28.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 $709
$977 CA$1,381
-27.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,774 $1,774
$2,180 CA$3,082
-18.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 $1,564
$1,608 CA$2,273
-2.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,537 $1,537
$5,113 CA$7,228
-69.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,743 $1,743
$3,744 CA$5,293
-53.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jefferson City, MO
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,915 $1,915
$2,957 CA$4,180
-35.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
4.48
46.43%

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

Last update for Jefferson City, MO: October 20, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jefferson City, MO
$709
Montreal
$977 37.7% $268
Groceries & Markets
Jefferson City, MO
$341
Montreal
$351 3% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jefferson City, MO
$340
Montreal
$153 54.9% $187
Eating Out
Jefferson City, MO
$272
Montreal
$290 6.7% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Jefferson City, MO
$145
Montreal
$134 7.9% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Jefferson City, MO
$30 *
Montreal
$54 77.7% $24
Getting Around
Jefferson City, MO
$21 *
Montreal
$100 383% $80

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 $887 in Jefferson City, MO and $1,237 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 54% 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: $40.00 in Jefferson City, MO vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $351 per month, with Jefferson City, MO cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Jefferson City, MO
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
10:23 10:23 AM
11:23 11:23 AM
1 h ahead of Jefferson City, MO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
43,079
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 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
  • Jefferson City, MO Montreal 1,710 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Jefferson City, MO
  • 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
Jefferson City, MO vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Jefferson City, MO?
Jefferson City, MO is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Jefferson City, MO or Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 54% 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 Jefferson City, MO and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $887 in Jefferson City, MO versus $1,237 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,197 in Jefferson City, MO versus $506 in Montreal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Jefferson City, MO or in Montreal?
Dining out is cheaper in Jefferson City, MO – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $73.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Jefferson City, MO or in Montreal?
At $1,858 in Jefferson City, MO versus $2,059 in Montreal, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Jefferson City, MO but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Jefferson City, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jefferson City, MO or Montreal more family-friendly?
For families, Jefferson City, MO 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, Jefferson City, MO or Montreal?
Safety-wise, Jefferson City, 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jefferson City, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Jefferson City, MO vs other spots: cost of living compared

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