Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ann Arbor, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ann Arbor, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,597 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Montreal versus $3,934 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Montreal versus $5,271 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 21% less than in Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 54% above, Ann Arbor, MI 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.14

$15.24 $15.24

4.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$74.2 $74.2

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$11.83 $11.83

-5.75%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.29

$4.63 $4.63

-17.93%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$2.71 $2.71

-19.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$2.10 $2.10

-30.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.96 $5.96

2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.42

$6.16 $6.16

10.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.24

$0.81 $0.81

187.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.72

$3.69 $3.69

-8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$6.09 $6.09

-38.75%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$2.63 $2.63

28.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.60

$17.82 $17.82

-8.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$9.91 $9.91

16.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.19

$14.24 $14.24

7.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$5.35 $5.35

-30.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.62 $1.62

4.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.71

$4.59 $4.59

-10.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$5.02 $5.02

-13.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.20 $2.20

23.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.64

$3.71 $3.71

-29.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$1.70 $1.70

32.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.43 $2.43

-28.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.51

$9.93 $9.93

34.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$15.00

$15.18 $15.18

-28.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.05 $2.05

46.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.82

$3.48 $3.48

-0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$1.73 $1.73

58.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$44.16 $44.16

64.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$2.92 $2.92

24.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.57 $1.57

-7.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.50

$26.29 $26.29

27.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.69

$0.95 $0.95

27.37%

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

$24.6K CA$34.3K

$26.4K $26.4K

-6.59%

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

$21.7K CA$30.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

-11.66%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$156 $156

-51.32%

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

$35.72 CA$49.68

$48.07 $48.07

-25.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$67.9 $67.9

-36.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.7

$43.20 $43.20

-0.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.97

$17.33 $17.33

-0.58%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.42

$12.68 $12.68

-12.54%

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

$620 CA$862

$1,966 $1,966

-68.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,114

$19.9K $19.9K

-70.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$53.0 $53.0

18.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.8

$37.49 $37.49

18.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$85.3 $85.3

18.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$166

$100 $100

18.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,684

$1,848 $1,848

-34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,334

$1,376 $1,376

-30.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,831

$3,902 $3,902

-47.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,210

$2,600 $2,600

-38.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,205

$5,473 $5,473

-5.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,470

$2,615 $2,615

50.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,116

$5,083 $5,083

-41.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.62

-24.32%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Montreal and $1,848 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 72% 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 $74.0 in Ann Arbor, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $403 per month, with Montreal 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

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

Montreal and Ann Arbor, MI differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($2,063 vs $2,597 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Ann Arbor, MI earns 72% less. 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: $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,848 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 $74.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Montreal versus $2,597 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,597 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 26% less than in Ann Arbor, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.