🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,960 in Montpellier versus $2,024 in Strasbourg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,922 in Montpellier versus $3,027 in Strasbourg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,884 in Montpellier versus $4,031 in Strasbourg.
🙂Living in Montpellier costs roughly 3% less than in Strasbourg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montpellier46% above, Strasbourg51% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.88
$17.41€14.98
-0.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€48.92
$73.6€63.3
-22.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.07€11.24
$12.98€11.16
0.69%
Cappuccino
$3.72€3.20
$3.48€2.99
6.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72€2.34
$2.78€2.39
-2.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$2.43€2.09
-21.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.09
$6.54€5.63
-9.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.87
$5.36€4.61
-16.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.17
$1.65€1.42
-17.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.98€2.56
$2.50€2.15
19.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62€2.25
$2.79€2.40
-6.09%
Eggs
$4.19€3.60
$4.56€3.93
-8.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.08€16.41
$28.86€24.82
-33.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.47€13.31
$17.96€15.45
-13.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.43€22.74
$24.37€20.96
8.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.73
$3.12€2.69
1.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.52€2.17
-9.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$3.44€2.96
-27.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87€3.33
$3.83€3.30
1.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.40€2.06
-1.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.66€2.29
-0.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.36
$1.36€1.17
16.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58€0.50
$0.85€0.73
-31.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04€12.08
$13.97€12.02
0.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12€6.99
$9.05€7.78
-10.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.68
$2.07€1.78
50.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80€3.27
$3.93€3.38
-3.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.81€1.55
$2.26€1.94
-19.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.41€14.98
$63.9€55.0
-72.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08€4.37
$3.49€3.01
45.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59€1.36
$1.04€0.89
52.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.35€28.69
$38.66€33.26
-13.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.74
$2.01€1.73
1.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.2K
$37.4K€32.2K
0.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0K€32.7K
$38.0K€32.7K
0.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190€164
$256€220
-25.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.11€24.18
$23.55€20.26
19.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.06€30.16
$33.40€28.73
4.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.36€33.00
$39.97€34.39
-4.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.35€25.25
$26.82€23.07
9.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.15€12.17
$14.04€12.08
0.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$770€662
$1,377€1,184
-44.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,169€7,027
$7,076€6,087
15.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.4
$108€92.5
-4.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46€38.25
$38.74€33.32
14.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.9
$91.0€78.3
18.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178€153
$125€107
42.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$836€719
$787€677
6.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$752€647
$687€591
9.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,363€1,172
$1,713€1,473
-20.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115€959
$953€820
17.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,444
$5,492€4,725
-5.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,116€3,541
$3,194€2,747
28.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,784€2,394
$2,948€2,536
-5.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
3.65
-0.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montpellier: May 31, 2026
Last update for Strasbourg: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $836 in Montpellier and $787 in Strasbourg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Strasbourg 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 $74.0 in Strasbourg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $449 per month, with Montpellier cheaper across the board.
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 Strasbourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strasbourg cheaper than Montpellier?
Montpellier is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montpellier or Strasbourg?
On paper, Strasbourg 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 Strasbourg?
Rent for a central apartment: $836 in Montpellier versus $787 in Strasbourg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Montpellier and Strasbourg?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Strasbourg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Montpellier or Strasbourg?
Dining out is cheaper in Montpellier – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $74.0 in Strasbourg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Montpellier or Strasbourg?
At $1,960 in Montpellier versus $2,024 in Strasbourg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Montpellier but tight or insufficient in Strasbourg. The gap between the two cities makes Montpellier the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montpellier or Strasbourg more family-friendly?
For families, Montpellier is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Strasbourg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montpellier or Strasbourg?
Safety-wise, Montpellier and Strasbourg 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 3% less than in Strasbourg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montpellier vs other spots: cost of living compared