Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montpellier and Montreal

For one person, living costs are similar in Montpellier and in Montreal: $1,945 and $2,018 a month, rent and utilities included.

Montpellier
🇫🇷 France
$1,945
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,945 in Montpellier versus $2,018 in Montreal.

  • Montpellier $1,945
  • Montreal $2,018

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,919 in Montpellier versus $3,085 in Montreal.

  • Montpellier $2,919
  • Montreal $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,892 in Montpellier versus $4,152 in Montreal.

  • Montpellier $3,892
  • Montreal $4,152

Living in Montpellier costs roughly 4% less than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montpellier 44% above, Montreal 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.51 €14.68
$18.82 CA$26.61
-12.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.8 €63.9
$70.3 CA$99.4
2.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.92 €14.16
$10.66 CA$15.06
49.34%
Cappuccino
$3.64 €3.23
$3.84 CA$5.43
-5.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.66
$1.92 CA$2.71
55.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.54 CA$2.18
31.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 €5.11
$6.23 CA$8.81
-7.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 €3.95
$7.10 CA$10.03
-37.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.24
$2.31 CA$3.27
-39.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 €1.93
$3.14 CA$4.44
-30.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.64 €2.35
$3.21 CA$4.54
-17.76%
Eggs
$3.74 €3.33
$3.52 CA$4.97
6.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.65 €16.59
$12.81 CA$18.11
45.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.83 €12.30
$11.46 CA$16.20
20.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.28 €21.60
$13.39 CA$18.92
81.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 €2.62
$3.14 CA$4.43
-6.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.40 €2.13
$1.44 CA$2.03
66.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 €2.61
$3.47 CA$4.91
-15.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 €3.42
$3.07 CA$4.34
25.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 €2.07
$1.90 CA$2.69
22.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 €2.63
$1.77 CA$2.50
67.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.34 CA$3.31
-25.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 €0.56
$1.55 CA$2.19
-59.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.68 €12.16
$11.38 CA$16.09
20.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.47 €6.64
$10.63 CA$15.03
-29.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.81 €3.38
$2.27 CA$3.21
67.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.47
$2.82 CA$3.99
-1.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 €1.77
$2.66 CA$3.76
-25.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$1.07 €0.96
$77.3 CA$109
-98.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 €4.42
$3.20 CA$4.53
55.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 €1.52
$1.48 CA$2.09
14.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.84 €29.22
$32.88 CA$46.48
-0.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.89
$1.34 CA$1.90
58.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €30.3K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
21.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K €31.4K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
79.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 €200
$76.0 CA$107
195.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.56 €14.73
$33.95 CA$48.00
-51.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.59 €28.98
$42.31 CA$59.8
-22.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.70 €29.98
$29.76 CA$42.07
13.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18 €12.61
$20.28 CA$28.67
-30.08%
Cinema Ticket
$13.68 €12.16
$11.15 CA$15.77
22.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$735 €654
$507 CA$717
45.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K €11.5K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-19.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5 €78.8
$57.6 CA$81.4
53.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.5 €58.3
$37.58 CA$53.1
74.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €91.3
$91.9 CA$130
11.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178 €158
$110 CA$155
62.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$897 €798
$1,260 CA$1,782
-28.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$725 €645
$948 CA$1,340
-23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,480 €1,317
$2,137 CA$3,021
-30.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 €1,029
$1,614 CA$2,281
-28.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,927 €4,382
$4,960 CA$7,011
-0.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,636 €3,234
$3,838 CA$5,425
-5.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montpellier
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,738 €2,435
$2,827 CA$3,997
-3.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.48
-14.96%

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

Last update for Montpellier: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montpellier
$725
Montreal
$948 30.6% $222
Groceries & Markets
Montpellier
$386
Montreal
$346 10.3% $40
Eating Out
Montpellier
$281
Montreal
$288 2.4% $6.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montpellier
$274
Montreal
$152 44.4% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Montpellier
$196
Montreal
$133 31.7% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Montpellier
$61
Montreal
$52 14.7% $9
Getting Around
Montpellier
$23
Montreal
$99 338% $76

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $897 in Montpellier and $1,260 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 3% 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: $72.0 in Montpellier vs $70.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $346 per month, with Montreal cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Montpellier
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
16:46 4:46 PM
10:46 10:46 AM
6 h behind Montpellier
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
302,454
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Montpellier Montreal 5,890 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montpellier
  • 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
Montpellier vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Montpellier?
Montpellier is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and transport. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montpellier or Montreal?
On paper, salaries run 3% 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 Montpellier and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $897 in Montpellier 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 Montpellier and in Montreal?
Shoppers in Montreal pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Montpellier or in Montreal?
Dining out is cheaper in Montpellier – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $70.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montpellier or in Montreal?
At $1,945 in Montpellier versus $2,018 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 4% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?