Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between McHenry, IL and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $2,886 in McHenry, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

McHenry, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,886
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,886 per month in McHenry, IL vs $2,059 in Montreal, rent included.

  • McHenry, IL $2,886
  • Montreal $2,059

A couple spends around $4,170 per month in McHenry, IL vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

  • McHenry, IL $4,170
  • Montreal $3,123

A family of three spends $5,455 per month in McHenry, IL vs $4,187 in Montreal, rent included.

  • McHenry, IL $5,455
  • Montreal $4,187

McHenry, IL costs about 40% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both McHenry, IL and Montreal sit above the global median – McHenry, IL by 113%, Montreal by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 $20.39
$18.84 CA$26.63
8.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 $65.8
$73.2 CA$104
-10.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.12 $13.12
$10.54 CA$14.90
24.48%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$3.97 CA$5.61
42.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 $3.10
$1.94 CA$2.74
59.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.57 CA$2.22
61.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$6.42 CA$9.08
11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$7.20 CA$10.19
11.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$2.32 CA$3.28
-59.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.19 CA$4.51
7.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$3.19 CA$4.50
30.41%
Eggs
$3.79 $3.79
$3.68 CA$5.20
2.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.74 $14.74
$13.24 CA$18.72
11.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$11.69 CA$16.53
11.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.85 $19.85
$13.98 CA$19.76
41.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$3.14 CA$4.44
47.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.45 CA$2.05
11.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$3.38 CA$4.78
56.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.11 CA$4.40
56.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.93 CA$2.72
47.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.83 CA$2.58
65.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.36 CA$3.34
-8.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.50 CA$2.12
58.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 $10.80
$11.12 CA$15.73
-2.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.46 $15.46
$10.60 CA$14.98
45.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.22 CA$3.14
20.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 $4.56
$2.84 CA$4.01
60.56%
🚌 Getting Around
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.62 CA$3.71
-12.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.1 CA$112
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.23 CA$4.56
23.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.48 CA$2.10
33.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.97 $43.97
$32.22 CA$45.55
36.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.36 CA$1.92
-22.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
9.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$21.2K CA$30.0K
21.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 $273
$77.0 CA$109
254.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$34.14 CA$48.26
51.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.6 $82.6
$42.19 CA$59.7
95.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.87 $44.87
$30.81 CA$43.56
45.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.87 $14.87
$11.47 CA$16.22
29.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,749 $1,749
$506 CA$716
245.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$16.2K CA$23.0K
46.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8 $64.8
$57.3 CA$81.0
13.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$38.10 CA$53.9
34.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$91.9 CA$130
16.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$110 CA$155
10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$1,237 CA$1,748
30.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,452 $1,452
$977 CA$1,381
48.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,885 $2,885
$2,180 CA$3,082
32.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,451 $2,451
$1,608 CA$2,273
52.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,120 $3,120
$5,113 CA$7,228
-38.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,499 $2,499
$3,744 CA$5,293
-33.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
McHenry, IL
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,382 $7,382
$2,957 CA$4,180
149.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
4.48
49.33%

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

Last update for McHenry, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
McHenry, IL
$1.5K
Montreal
$977 32.7% $476
Groceries & Markets
McHenry, IL
$428
Montreal
$351 18% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
McHenry, IL
$408
Montreal
$153 62.4% $254
Eating Out
McHenry, IL
$345
Montreal
$290 15.7% $54
Clothing & Footwear
McHenry, IL
$155
Montreal
$134 13.9% $22
Sport & Entertainment
McHenry, IL
$75
Montreal
$54 27.9% $21
Getting Around
McHenry, IL
$23 *
Montreal
$100 336% $77

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,620 in McHenry, IL versus $1,237 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 150% higher in McHenry, IL, 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 $66.0 in McHenry, IL versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $428 in McHenry, IL vs $351 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 McHenry, IL
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
16:49 4:49 PM
17:49 5:49 PM
1 h ahead of McHenry, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
27,135
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
  • McHenry, IL Montreal 1,230 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • McHenry, IL
  • 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
McHenry, IL vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, McHenry, IL or Montreal?
McHenry, IL costs about 40% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 McHenry, IL and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,328 per month in McHenry, IL and $3,089 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, McHenry, IL 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.
How do dining costs compare in McHenry, IL and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in McHenry, IL and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in McHenry, IL or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 22% more in McHenry, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in McHenry, IL or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,059, than in McHenry, IL at $2,886. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in McHenry, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, McHenry, IL or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,059 versus $2,886 in McHenry, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is McHenry, IL 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 McHenry, IL or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, McHenry, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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