Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ann Arbor, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $2,750 in Ann Arbor, MI, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

99

Cost of Living Index in Montreal
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Montreal Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in Ann Arbor, MI
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Ann Arbor, MI Living Index

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Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,059

/mo nomad

Ann Arbor, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,750

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Ann Arbor, MI

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 Ann Arbor, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,059 in Montreal versus $2,750 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Montreal $2,059
Ann Arbor, MI $2,750

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $4,198 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Montreal $3,123
Ann Arbor, MI $4,198

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Montreal versus $5,646 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Montreal $4,187
Ann Arbor, MI $5,646

Living in Montreal costs roughly 25% less than in Ann Arbor, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 52% above, Ann Arbor, MI 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.84 CA$26.63

$18.66 $18.66

0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.2 CA$104

$59.3 $59.3

23.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.54 CA$14.90

$11.76 $11.76

-10.37%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.61

$5.18 $5.18

-23.36%

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

$1.94 CA$2.74

$2.90 $2.90

-33.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.22

$2.09 $2.09

-24.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.42 CA$9.08

$6.47 $6.47

-0.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 CA$10.19

$8.14 $8.14

-11.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.28

$0.99 $0.99

134.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.19 CA$4.51

$3.83 $3.83

-16.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 CA$4.50

$4.88 $4.88

-34.63%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.20

$3.82 $3.82

-3.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.24 CA$18.72

$19.36 $19.36

-31.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.69 CA$16.53

$13.03 $13.03

-10.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.98 CA$19.76

$14.93 $14.93

-6.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.44

$6.91 $6.91

-54.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.86 $1.86

-22.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.78

$3.81 $3.81

-11.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.11 CA$4.40

$4.50 $4.50

-30.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CA$2.72

$2.39 $2.39

-19.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.83 CA$2.58

$2.85 $2.85

-35.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 CA$3.34

$2.52 $2.52

-6.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.12

$2.02 $2.02

-25.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.12 CA$15.73

$10.32 $10.32

7.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.60 CA$14.98

$15.09 $15.09

-29.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.14

$2.18 $2.18

1.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$4.01

$3.79 $3.79

-25.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.62 CA$3.71

$1.78 $1.78

47.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.1 CA$112

$45.62 $45.62

73.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 CA$4.56

$2.93 $2.93

10.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.10

$1.51 $1.51

-1.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.22 CA$45.55

$26.09 $26.09

23.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.92

$1.06 $1.06

28.30%

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

$27.6K CA$39.1K

$29.6K $29.6K

-6.61%

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

$21.2K CA$30.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

-19.15%

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

$77.0 CA$109

$201 $201

-61.67%

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

$34.14 CA$48.26

$58.9 $58.9

-42.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.19 CA$59.7

$73.0 $73.0

-42.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.81 CA$43.56

$63.2 $63.2

-51.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.66 CA$27.79

$19.46 $19.46

1.03%

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 CA$16.22

$13.22 $13.22

-13.24%

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

$506 CA$716

$1,999 $1,999

-74.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K CA$23.0K

$19.6K $19.6K

-17.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$81.0

$55.8 $55.8

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.10 CA$53.9

$44.52 $44.52

-14.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 CA$130

$113 $113

-18.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$155

$106 $106

3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,237 CA$1,748

$2,077 $2,077

-40.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 CA$1,381

$1,375 $1,375

-28.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 CA$3,082

$3,811 $3,811

-42.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 CA$2,273

$2,692 $2,692

-40.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,113 CA$7,228

$5,516 $5,516

-7.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,744 CA$5,293

$2,597 $2,597

44.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,957 CA$4,180

$5,148 $5,148

-42.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

6.6

-32.12%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Montreal

$977 47.4%

Ann Arbor, MI

$1.4K 50% 40.8% $398

Groceries & Markets

Montreal

$351 17.1%

Ann Arbor, MI

$430 15.7% 22.6% $79

Eating Out

Montreal

$290 14.1%

Ann Arbor, MI

$315 11.5% 8.6% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montreal

$153 7.5%

Ann Arbor, MI

$333 12.1% 117% $180

Clothing & Footwear

Montreal

$134 6.5%

Ann Arbor, MI

$144 5.2% 7.5% $10

Getting Around

Montreal

$100 4.9%

Ann Arbor, MI

$63 2.3% 36.9% $37

Sport & Entertainment

Montreal

$54 2.6%

Ann Arbor, MI

$90 3.3% 66.8% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,237 in Montreal and $2,077 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 74% 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 $59.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $430, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Montreal

🇺🇸 Ann Arbor, MI

🕒 Local time

00:35 12:35 AM

Same time as Montreal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,762,949

123,851

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Montreal Ann Arbor, MI 890 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Montreal
Ann Arbor, MI

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 Ann Arbor, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and Ann Arbor, MI differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($2,059 vs $2,750 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 74% lower in Ann Arbor, MI. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,237 in Montreal versus $2,077 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $59.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,059 per month in Montreal versus $2,750 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,059 in Montreal versus $2,750 in Ann Arbor, MI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Ann Arbor, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Ann Arbor, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Ann Arbor, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.