🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,960 in Montpellier versus $2,063 in Montreal.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,922 in Montpellier versus $3,159 in Montreal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,884 in Montpellier versus $4,255 in Montreal.
🙂Living in Montpellier costs roughly 5% less than in Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montpellier46% above, Montreal54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.88
$15.92CA$22.05
8.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€48.92
$73.1CA$101
-22.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.07€11.24
$11.15CA$15.43
17.22%
Cappuccino
$3.72€3.20
$3.80CA$5.26
-2.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72€2.34
$2.18CA$3.01
24.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$1.46CA$2.02
30.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.09
$6.12CA$8.48
-3.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.87
$6.78CA$9.38
-33.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$2.33CA$3.22
-41.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.98€2.56
$3.39CA$4.69
-12.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62€2.25
$3.73CA$5.16
-29.76%
Eggs
$4.19€3.60
$3.38CA$4.68
23.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.08€16.41
$16.25CA$22.50
17.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.47€13.31
$11.54CA$15.98
34.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.43€22.74
$15.24CA$21.10
73.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$3.74CA$5.18
-15.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$1.70CA$2.36
34.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$4.11CA$5.68
-39.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87€3.33
$4.35CA$6.02
-11.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.71CA$3.75
-12.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.62CA$3.62
1.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.36
$2.25CA$3.12
-29.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58€0.50
$1.73CA$2.39
-66.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04€12.08
$13.31CA$18.43
5.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12€6.99
$10.78CA$14.93
-24.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.68
$3.01CA$4.17
3.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80€3.27
$3.46CA$4.80
9.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.81€1.55
$2.74CA$3.79
-33.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.41€14.98
$72.7CA$101
-76.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08€4.37
$3.63CA$5.03
39.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59€1.36
$1.46CA$2.02
8.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.35€28.69
$33.44CA$46.30
-0.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.74
$1.21CA$1.68
67.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.2K
$24.6KCA$34.1K
52.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K€32.7K
$21.7KCA$30.0K
75.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190€164
$76.0CA$105
150.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.11€24.18
$35.72CA$49.46
-21.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.06€30.16
$42.86CA$59.4
-18.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.36€33.00
$42.92CA$59.4
-10.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.35€25.25
$17.23CA$23.86
70.34%
Cinema Ticket
$14.15€12.17
$11.09CA$15.35
27.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$770€662
$620CA$858
24.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,169€7,027
$5,834CA$8,078
40.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.4
$62.7CA$86.8
64.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46€38.25
$44.41CA$61.5
0.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.9
$101CA$139
7.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178€153
$119CA$165
49.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$836€719
$1,211CA$1,677
-30.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$752€647
$960CA$1,329
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,363€1,172
$2,035CA$2,818
-33.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115€959
$1,589CA$2,201
-29.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,444
$5,181CA$7,173
-0.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,116€3,541
$3,934CA$5,446
4.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,784€2,394
$2,960CA$4,098
-5.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
5.01
-27.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montpellier: May 31, 2026
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $836 in Montpellier and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Montreal pays 6% 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: $57.0 in Montpellier vs $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $408 vs $392, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.
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
Montpellier vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Montpellier?
Montpellier is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montpellier or Montreal?
On paper, Montreal earns 6% less. 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 Montpellier and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $836 in Montpellier versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Montpellier and Montreal?
Shoppers in Montreal pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Montpellier or Montreal?
Dining out is cheaper in Montpellier – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $73.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Montpellier or Montreal?
At $1,960 in Montpellier versus $2,063 in Montreal, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montpellier but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Montpellier the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montpellier or Montreal more family-friendly?
For families, Montpellier 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, Montpellier or Montreal?
Safety-wise, Montpellier 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 Montpellier gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montpellier vs other spots: cost of living compared