Cost of Living Comparison Between Lille and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Lille and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,906 per month in Lille vs $2,055 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,942 per month in Lille vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,978 per month in Lille vs $4,191 in Montreal, rent included.

Lille is about 7% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lille and Montreal sit above the global median – Lille by 43%, Montreal by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.97 €15.74
$15.99 CA$22.53
12.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €59.6
$74.4 CA$105
-8.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.16 €12.40
$10.94 CA$15.41
29.43%
Cappuccino
$3.71 €3.25
$3.84 CA$5.41
-3.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 €2.82
$2.08 CA$2.94
54.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 €1.89
$1.50 CA$2.11
44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.00 €7.01
$6.23 CA$8.77
28.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 €4.95
$6.54 CA$9.22
-13.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 €1.28
$2.36 CA$3.33
-38.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.25 CA$4.58
-45.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.93 €2.57
$3.83 CA$5.40
-23.50%
Eggs
$4.09 €3.58
$3.45 CA$4.86
18.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.38 €19.61
$16.11 CA$22.69
38.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.02 €11.40
$11.91 CA$16.77
9.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.17 €21.18
$15.44 CA$21.75
56.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.79 €3.32
$3.68 CA$5.18
2.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 €1.99
$1.62 CA$2.28
40.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 €2.08
$4.13 CA$5.81
-42.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 €2.76
$4.46 CA$6.28
-29.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 €1.71
$2.69 CA$3.79
-27.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 €1.87
$2.55 CA$3.59
-16.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 €1.38
$2.27 CA$3.20
-30.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 €0.56
$1.74 CA$2.45
-63.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.40 €11.74
$13.32 CA$18.76
0.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.40 €7.36
$10.59 CA$14.91
-20.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.02 CA$4.26
-19.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 €3.72
$3.51 CA$4.95
21.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lille
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 €1.98
$2.81 CA$3.96
-19.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.9 €60.3
$73.6 CA$104
-6.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.65 €4.07
$3.49 CA$4.91
33.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 €1.61
$1.40 CA$1.98
30.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.61 €28.57
$33.86 CA$47.70
-3.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.75
$1.22 CA$1.72
63.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K €32.5K
$25.4K CA$35.8K
45.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.1K €32.5K
$21.4K CA$30.1K
73.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 €170
$75.0 CA$106
158.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.01 €20.15
$35.87 CA$50.5
-35.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.52 €25.86
$43.06 CA$60.7
-31.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.97 €34.14
$42.58 CA$60.0
-8.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 €16.19
$17.21 CA$24.24
7.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.50 €12.71
$11.01 CA$15.51
31.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$565 €495
$621 CA$875
-9.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,578 €7,515
$5,904 CA$8,316
45.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 €78.7
$62.4 CA$87.9
43.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98 €32.40
$45.39 CA$63.9
-18.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 €74.3
$104 CA$147
-18.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €92.6
$120 CA$169
-11.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lille
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 €740
$1,209 CA$1,703
-30.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$688 €603
$955 CA$1,345
-27.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,617 €1,417
$2,103 CA$2,962
-23.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 €1,044
$1,596 CA$2,249
-25.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,542 €3,979
$5,209 CA$7,338
-12.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,108 €2,723
$3,729 CA$5,253
-16.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lille
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,946 €2,581
$2,950 CA$4,156
-0.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.69
5.01
-26.35%

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

Last update for Lille: July 21, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $845 in Lille versus $1,209 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 0% 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 $68.0 in Lille versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $393 – making Lille the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Lille vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lille and in Montreal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,906 in Lille, $2,055 in Montreal – roughly 8% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lille compared to Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,860 per month in Lille and $3,083 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lille and Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lille, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lille or Montreal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,906 in Lille and $2,055 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Lille and in Montreal?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Lille. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lille, where all-in costs run around $1,906, than in Montreal at $2,055. In Lille it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lille and Montreal?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,906 in Lille to $2,055 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lille or Montreal safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lille and Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Lille. 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.

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