Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Americana

For one person, living is cheaper in Americana: $886 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Americana
🇧🇷 Brazil
$886
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Americana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montreal and in Americana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,059 in Montreal versus $886 in Americana.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Americana $886

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $1,400 in Americana.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Americana $1,400

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Montreal versus $1,914 in Americana.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Americana $1,914

Living in Montreal is roughly 132% more expensive than in Americana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montreal is 52% above, Americana is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$5.84 R$29.61
222.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$24.19 R$123
202.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$8.10 R$41.07
30.12%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$2.08 R$10.54
90.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.83 R$9.26
6.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$1.26 R$6.39
24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$1.47 R$7.44
336.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$2.46 R$12.46
192.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.03 R$5.20
125.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$1.73 R$8.78
84.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$1.30 R$6.57
145.38%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$2.18 R$11.07
68.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$9.17 R$46.48
44.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$4.34 R$22.02
169.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$8.33 R$42.21
67.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.24 R$11.36
40.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.25 R$6.35
16.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$1.23 R$6.24
174.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$1.47 R$7.43
111.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$1.21 R$6.15
59.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$1.09 R$5.52
67.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$0.84 R$4.25
180.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$0.78 R$3.97
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$2.30 R$11.64
383.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$8.93 R$45.26
18.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$1.35 R$6.83
64.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$2.07 R$10.49
37.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Americana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
$1.01 R$5.11
159.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
$43.79 R$222
80.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$1.31 R$6.64
146.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$0.86 R$4.34
72.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$7.94 R$40.25
305.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.22 R$6.17
11.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$23.7K R$120.2K
16.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$33.7K R$171.1K
-37.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$55.8 R$283
38.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$12.50 R$63.3
173.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$22.40 R$114
88.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$18.79 R$95.3
63.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
$27.75 R$141
-29.15%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$7.15 R$36.27
60.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$280 R$1,417
81.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$7,188 R$36.4K
125.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$78.7 R$399
-27.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$66.5 R$337
-42.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$111 R$562
-17.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$85.5 R$433
28.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Americana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
$355 R$1,799
248.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
$241 R$1,220
305.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
$681 R$3,452
220.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
$467 R$2,366
244.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$1,734 R$8,792
194.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$1,215 R$6,160
208.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Americana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$748 R$3,792
295.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11
-59.27%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Americana: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Americana
$241 75.4% $736
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Americana
$194 44.7% $157
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Americana
$121 58.5% $170
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Americana
$91 40.9% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Americana
$154 15% $20
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Americana
$53 46.7% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Americana
$33 38.4% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,237 in Montreal and $355 in Americana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 295% 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: $73.0 in Montreal vs $24.00 in Americana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $194 per month, with Americana cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Americana
🕒 Local time
23:16 11:16 PM
00:16 12:16 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
237,240
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Americana 8,040 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Americana

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
Montreal vs Americana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Americana?
Americana wins on cost – living expenses run 132% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Americana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or in Americana?
Average pay runs 295% higher in Montreal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal compared to Americana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,237 in Montreal versus $355 in Americana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Montreal compared to Americana?
A monthly transit pass in Americana runs roughly 81% less than in Montreal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Montreal and in Americana?
Childcare runs $506 in Montreal versus $280 in Americana. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Americana?
At $886 in Americana versus $2,059 in Montreal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Americana but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Americana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Americana?
Both work as nomad bases, but Americana delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $886 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Americana hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Americana?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Americana 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Americana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 132% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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