😐A single person spends $2,078 per month in Louvain-la-Neuve vs $2,073 in Montreal, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,029 per month in Louvain-la-Neuve vs $3,175 in Montreal, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,980 per month in Louvain-la-Neuve vs $4,277 in Montreal, rent included.
😐Louvain-la-Neuve and Montreal have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Louvain-la-Neuve and Montreal sit above the global median – Louvain-la-Neuve by 56%, Montreal by 56%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26€15.05
$16.22CA$22.77
6.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.8€78.3
$74.3CA$104
20.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.28€10.70
$11.14CA$15.64
10.23%
Cappuccino
$3.52€3.07
$3.83CA$5.37
-8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26€2.84
$2.13CA$3.00
53.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.61
$1.45CA$2.03
106.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67€4.94
$6.11CA$8.58
-7.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22€3.68
$6.46CA$9.07
-34.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.16
$2.24CA$3.14
-40.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.90€2.53
$3.22CA$4.52
-9.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$3.65CA$5.13
-28.77%
Eggs
$3.72€3.24
$3.36CA$4.72
10.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.56€14.43
$15.97CA$22.41
3.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.10€9.67
$11.84CA$16.62
-6.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.78€16.38
$15.18CA$21.31
23.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94€2.56
$3.74CA$5.25
-21.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43€2.12
$1.70CA$2.38
42.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74€2.39
$3.98CA$5.58
-31.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22€2.81
$4.45CA$6.25
-27.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.66CA$3.73
-2.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.87
$2.57CA$3.61
-16.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64€1.43
$2.22CA$3.12
-26.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$1.71CA$2.40
-47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.33€8.13
$13.02CA$18.27
-28.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12€7.08
$10.74CA$15.08
-24.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14€1.87
$3.07CA$4.30
-30.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.74
$3.55CA$4.98
-11.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82€2.46
$2.69CA$3.77
4.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.9€48.74
$74.0CA$104
-24.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.98€4.34
$3.64CA$5.11
36.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42€2.11
$1.44CA$2.02
68.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.38€30.84
$34.18CA$47.98
3.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87€1.63
$1.17CA$1.64
59.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K€30.4K
$24.9KCA$34.9K
39.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K€25.1K
$22.0KCA$30.9K
30.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$256€223
$75.2CA$106
240.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.97€19.16
$36.93CA$51.8
-40.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0€53.2
$44.25CA$62.1
37.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.15€34.13
$42.03CA$59.0
-6.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.92€14.75
$16.79CA$23.56
0.77%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19€13.24
$10.87CA$15.26
39.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$622€543
$624CA$876
-0.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K€11.9K
$5,856CA$8,220
133.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107€93.1
$61.7CA$86.6
73.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.41€42.20
$44.74CA$62.8
8.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118€103
$102CA$143
16.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156€136
$121CA$169
29.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,283€1,119
$1,220CA$1,712
5.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$751€655
$956CA$1,341
-21.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,548€1,350
$2,044CA$2,869
-24.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081€942
$1,584CA$2,223
-31.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,158CA$7,239
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,803CA$5,338
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Louvain-la-Neuve
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,662€2,321
$2,899CA$4,069
-8.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
5.01
-27.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Louvain-la-Neuve: July 25, 2026
Last update for Montreal: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,283 in Louvain-la-Neuve versus $1,220 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 9% higher in Montreal. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Louvain-la-Neuve versus $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $348 in Louvain-la-Neuve vs $389 in Montreal – so Louvain-la-Neuve wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Louvain-la-Neuve vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,117 per month in Louvain-la-Neuve and $3,110 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Louvain-la-Neuve or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, 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 Louvain-la-Neuve or in Montreal?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Louvain-la-Neuve – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do childcare costs compare in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Montreal?
Kindergarten costs $622 per month in Louvain-la-Neuve and $624 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Louvain-la-Neuve or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,073, than in Louvain-la-Neuve at $2,078. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Louvain-la-Neuve it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Louvain-la-Neuve or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,073 versus $2,078 in Louvain-la-Neuve. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Louvain-la-Neuve 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 Louvain-la-Neuve or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Louvain-la-Neuve makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Louvain-la-Neuve vs other spots: cost of living compared