Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Cabos and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Los Cabos: $1,371 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Los Cabos
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,371
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,371 in Los Cabos versus $2,018 in Montreal.

  • Los Cabos $1,371
  • Montreal $2,018

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,211 in Los Cabos versus $3,085 in Montreal.

  • Los Cabos $2,211
  • Montreal $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,051 in Los Cabos versus $4,152 in Montreal.

  • Los Cabos $3,051
  • Montreal $4,152

Living in Los Cabos costs roughly 32% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Los Cabos 2% above, Montreal 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.30 MX$412
$18.82 CA$26.61
18.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.70 MX$807
$70.3 CA$99.4
-37.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.76 MX$254
$10.66 CA$15.06
29.08%
Cappuccino
$5.22 MX$96.5
$3.84 CA$5.43
35.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 MX$42.51
$1.92 CA$2.71
19.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$38.06
$1.54 CA$2.18
33.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.99 MX$92.2
$6.23 CA$8.81
-19.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.36 MX$154
$7.10 CA$10.03
17.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$30.46
$2.31 CA$3.27
-28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 MX$52.8
$3.14 CA$4.44
-8.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.38 MX$44.07
$3.21 CA$4.54
-25.86%
Eggs
$2.41 MX$44.49
$3.52 CA$4.97
-31.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 MX$166
$12.81 CA$18.11
-30.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.56 MX$177
$11.46 CA$16.20
-16.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 MX$328
$13.39 CA$18.92
32.64%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 MX$76.4
$3.14 CA$4.43
31.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MX$32.89
$1.44 CA$2.03
23.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 MX$54.2
$3.47 CA$4.91
-15.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.53 MX$46.70
$3.07 CA$4.34
-17.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 MX$43.16
$1.90 CA$2.69
23.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 MX$46.73
$1.77 CA$2.50
42.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$22.99
$2.34 CA$3.31
-47.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 MX$15.94
$1.55 CA$2.19
-44.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 MX$83.6
$11.38 CA$16.09
-60.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$191
$10.63 CA$15.03
-2.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$29.70
$2.27 CA$3.21
-29.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 MX$57.8
$2.82 CA$3.99
10.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 MX$25.98
$2.66 CA$3.76
-46.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.3 CA$109
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 MX$49.20
$3.20 CA$4.53
-16.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 MX$35.59
$1.48 CA$2.09
30.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.63 MX$215
$32.88 CA$46.48
-64.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$25.43
$1.34 CA$1.90
2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.2K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-25.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K MX$449.9K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
24.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.6 MX$1,083
$76.0 CA$107
-22.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.70 MX$512
$33.95 CA$48.00
-18.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.59 MX$454
$42.31 CA$59.8
-41.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.48 MX$637
$29.76 CA$42.07
15.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.05 MX$371
$20.28 CA$28.67
-1.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 MX$79.1
$11.15 CA$15.77
-61.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$215 MX$3,971
$507 CA$717
-57.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,652 MX$86.0K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-71.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.3 MX$1,724
$57.6 CA$81.4
62.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.63 MX$751
$37.58 CA$53.1
8.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 MX$2,298
$91.9 CA$130
35.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.7 MX$1,657
$110 CA$155
-18.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 MX$11.3K
$1,260 CA$1,782
-51.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 MX$7,226
$948 CA$1,340
-58.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,044 MX$19.3K
$2,137 CA$3,021
-51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$781 MX$14.4K
$1,614 CA$2,281
-51.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,933 MX$35.7K
$4,960 CA$7,011
-61.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,131 MX$20.9K
$3,838 CA$5,425
-70.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Los Cabos
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$811 MX$15.0K
$2,827 CA$3,997
-71.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.48
152.23%

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

Last update for Los Cabos: 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
Los Cabos
$391
Montreal
$948 142% $557
Eating Out
Los Cabos
$341
Montreal
$288 15.7% $54
Groceries & Markets
Los Cabos
$310
Montreal
$346 11.7% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Los Cabos
$157
Montreal
$133 14.8% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Los Cabos
$111
Montreal
$152 37.3% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Los Cabos
$43
Montreal
$52 21% $9
Getting Around
Los Cabos
$18 *
Montreal
$99 450% $81

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 $612 in Los Cabos and $1,260 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 249% 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: $44.00 in Los Cabos vs $70.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $346 per month, with Los Cabos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Los Cabos
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
07:44 7:44 AM
10:44 10:44 AM
3 h ahead of Los Cabos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
202,694
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 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
  • Los Cabos Montreal 4,130 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Los Cabos
  • 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
Los Cabos vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Los Cabos?
Los Cabos is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and leisure. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Los Cabos or Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 249% 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 Los Cabos and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $612 in Los Cabos versus $1,260 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Los Cabos and in Montreal?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Montreal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Los Cabos and in Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $1,371 per month in Los Cabos versus $2,018 in Montreal – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Los Cabos or in Montreal?
At $1,371 in Los Cabos versus $2,018 in Montreal, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Los Cabos but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Los Cabos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Los Cabos or Montreal more family-friendly?
For families, Los Cabos 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, Los Cabos or Montreal?
Safety-wise, Los Cabos 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 Los Cabos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Los Cabos vs other spots: cost of living compared

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