Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Leon and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Leon: $1,223 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Leon
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,223
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Leon vs $2,018 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Leon $1,223
  • Montreal $2,018

A couple spends around $1,985 per month in Leon vs $3,085 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Leon $1,985
  • Montreal $3,085

A family of three spends $2,747 per month in Leon vs $4,152 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Leon $2,747
  • Montreal $4,152

Leon is about 39% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Leon sits 9% below the global median, while Montreal is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.17 MX$206
$18.82 CA$26.61
-40.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2 MX$1,020
$70.3 CA$99.4
-21.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 MX$163
$10.66 CA$15.06
-17.45%
Cappuccino
$4.03 MX$74.5
$3.84 CA$5.43
4.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$28.84
$1.92 CA$2.71
-18.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.04
$1.54 CA$2.18
-18.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 MX$56.8
$6.23 CA$8.81
-50.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 MX$72.6
$7.10 CA$10.03
-44.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$31.67
$2.31 CA$3.27
-25.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 MX$49.51
$3.14 CA$4.44
-14.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.31
$3.21 CA$4.54
-43.93%
Eggs
$3.27 MX$60.4
$3.52 CA$4.97
-7.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.21 MX$133
$12.81 CA$18.11
-43.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.58 MX$140
$11.46 CA$16.20
-33.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.81 MX$200
$13.39 CA$18.92
-19.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.03
$3.14 CA$4.43
-20.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.59
$1.44 CA$2.03
-4.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 MX$33.76
$3.47 CA$4.91
-47.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 MX$28.42
$3.07 CA$4.34
-49.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.75
$1.90 CA$2.69
4.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 MX$38.60
$1.77 CA$2.50
18.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$25.56
$2.34 CA$3.31
-41.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 MX$12.89
$1.55 CA$2.19
-54.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 MX$129
$11.38 CA$16.09
-38.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.63 MX$252
$10.63 CA$15.03
28.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 MX$43.71
$2.27 CA$3.21
4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 MX$66.7
$2.82 CA$3.99
28.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Leon
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 MX$13.93
$2.66 CA$3.76
-71.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.67 MX$659
$77.3 CA$109
-53.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 MX$51.1
$3.20 CA$4.53
-13.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.72 MX$50.2
$1.48 CA$2.09
83.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.96 MX$276
$32.88 CA$46.48
-54.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.97
$1.34 CA$1.90
8.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$392.0K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-24.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K MX$446.3K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$21.60 MX$399
$76.0 CA$107
-71.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.70 MX$752
$33.95 CA$48.00
19.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 MX$1,077
$42.31 CA$59.8
37.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 MX$1,121
$29.76 CA$42.07
103.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.51 MX$638
$20.28 CA$28.67
70.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MX$120
$11.15 CA$15.77
-41.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$183 MX$3,386
$507 CA$717
-63.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,826 MX$70.7K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-76.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$1,049
$57.6 CA$81.4
-1.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.0 MX$1,219
$37.58 CA$53.1
75.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MX$1,868
$91.9 CA$130
9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 MX$2,122
$110 CA$155
4.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leon
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$524 MX$9,681
$1,260 CA$1,782
-58.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 MX$6,653
$948 CA$1,340
-62.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 MX$14.1K
$2,137 CA$3,021
-64.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$683 MX$12.6K
$1,614 CA$2,281
-57.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,960 CA$7,011
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,838 CA$5,425
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leon
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 MX$9,839
$2,827 CA$3,997
-81.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
4.48
158.93%

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

Last update for Leon: October 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Leon
$360
Montreal
$948 163% $588
Groceries & Markets
Leon
$262
Montreal
$346 32.1% $84
Eating Out
Leon
$199
Montreal
$288 44.9% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Leon
$152
Montreal
$133 12.4% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
$121
Montreal
$152 26.2% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Leon
$74
Montreal
$52 29.3% $22
Getting Around
Leon
$55
Montreal
$99 79% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Leon versus $1,260 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 431% higher in Montreal, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Leon versus $70.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $346 – making Leon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Leon
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
22:11 10:11 PM
00:11 12:11 AM
2 h ahead of Leon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,579,803
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Leon Montreal 3,730 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Leon
  • 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
Leon vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Leon or Montreal?
Montreal costs about 65% more than Leon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Leon and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,834 per month in Leon and $3,027 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Leon or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Leon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Leon or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Leon and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Leon and $70.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Leon or in Montreal?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Leon, where all-in costs run around $1,223, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Leon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Leon or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Leon costs $1,223 versus $2,018 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Leon compared to Montreal?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Leon or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Leon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Leon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?