Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Memphis, TN and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,434 per month in Memphis, TN vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,435 per month in Memphis, TN vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,437 per month in Memphis, TN vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Memphis, TN costs about 18% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Memphis, TN and Montreal sit above the global median – Memphis, TN by 82%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.35 $19.35

$15.92 CA$22.05

21.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$73.1 CA$101

2.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 $10.12

$11.15 CA$15.43

-9.24%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$3.80 CA$5.26

34.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.18 CA$3.01

15.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.46 CA$2.02

33.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.12 CA$8.48

-0.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.78 CA$9.38

16.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.33 CA$3.22

-60.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.39 CA$4.69

-18.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.73 CA$5.16

21.72%

Eggs

$4.13 $4.13

$3.38 CA$4.68

22.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$16.25 CA$22.50

-30.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.08 $11.08

$11.54 CA$15.98

-3.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.58 $15.58

$15.24 CA$21.10

2.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$3.74 CA$5.18

69.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.70 CA$2.36

-7.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.11 CA$5.68

28.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.35 CA$6.02

12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.71 CA$3.75

88.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.62 CA$3.62

33.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.25 CA$3.12

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.73 CA$2.39

42.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.79 $7.79

$13.31 CA$18.43

-41.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 $14.26

$10.78 CA$14.93

32.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$3.01 CA$4.17

-43.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.46 CA$4.80

-44.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.24 $1.24

$2.74 CA$3.79

-54.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.53 $12.53

$72.7 CA$101

-82.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.63 CA$5.03

-43.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.46 CA$2.02

-6.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.39 $20.39

$33.44 CA$46.30

-39.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.21 CA$1.68

-32.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.9K $32.9K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

33.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K $27.0K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

24.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$212 $212

$76.0 CA$105

178.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$35.72 CA$49.46

67.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$42.86 CA$59.4

59.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.34 $38.34

$42.92 CA$59.4

-10.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.69 $17.69

$17.23 CA$23.86

2.67%

Cinema Ticket

$12.78 $12.78

$11.09 CA$15.35

15.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$620 CA$858

156.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.7K $26.7K

$5,834 CA$8,078

358.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.46 $39.46

$62.7 CA$86.8

-37.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.08 $32.08

$44.41 CA$61.5

-27.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 $73.6

$101 CA$139

-26.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$119 CA$165

15.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 $1,197

$1,211 CA$1,677

-1.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 $1,154

$960 CA$1,329

20.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 $1,586

$2,035 CA$2,818

-22.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 $1,637

$1,589 CA$2,201

2.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

$5,181 CA$7,173

-66.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,380 $1,380

$3,934 CA$5,446

-64.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,642 $3,642

$2,960 CA$4,098

23.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.01

30.34%

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

Last update for Memphis, TN: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Memphis, TN versus $1,211 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 23% higher in Memphis, TN, 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 $75.0 in Memphis, TN versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $392 – making Montreal 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

Memphis, TN vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,434 in Memphis, TN, $2,063 in Montreal – roughly 18% apart. Memphis, TN costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,651 per month in Memphis, TN and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 480% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,591 per month in Memphis, TN and $620 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Memphis, TN at $2,434. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Memphis, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,063 in Montreal to $2,434 in Memphis, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Memphis, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.