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: $2,056 in Montreal versus $2,717 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,112 in Montreal versus $4,233 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,167 in Montreal versus $5,749 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 24% less than in Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 50% above, Ann Arbor, MI 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.70

$18.56 $18.56

-3.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$100

$60.3 $60.3

19.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$12.11 $12.11

-9.83%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.49

$5.07 $5.07

-21.70%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.91 $2.91

-28.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$2.11 $2.11

-26.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.88

$6.40 $6.40

0.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.09

$8.03 $8.03

-9.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$0.94 $0.94

154.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.44

$3.83 $3.83

-16.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$4.96 $4.96

-38.10%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.09

$3.75 $3.75

-1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.78

$19.19 $19.19

-29.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.09

$13.47 $13.47

-13.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.33

$14.93 $14.93

-6.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.10

$6.91 $6.91

-46.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.96 $1.96

-20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.72

$3.77 $3.77

-9.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.19

$4.41 $4.41

-31.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$2.36 $2.36

-16.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$2.89 $2.89

-37.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$2.43 $2.43

5.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$1.97 $1.97

-29.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.90

$10.01 $10.01

14.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$14.84 $14.84

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$2.07 $2.07

9.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$3.75 $3.75

-19.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$1.77 $1.77

51.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

$45.52 $45.52

65.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.63

$3.04 $3.04

10.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.57 $1.57

-4.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.63

$26.71 $26.71

26.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.79

$1.02 $1.02

26.47%

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

$28.3K CA$39.1K

$35.9K $35.9K

-21.13%

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

$20.0K CA$27.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

-21.02%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$196 $196

-59.10%

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

$34.23 CA$47.37

$57.5 $57.5

-40.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.3

$73.2 $73.2

-43.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.46

$64.3 $64.3

-54.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.52

$19.60 $19.60

1.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.20

$12.95 $12.95

-9.58%

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

$564 CA$781

$2,025 $2,025

-72.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

$20.1K $20.1K

-16.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.3

$55.1 $55.1

8.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.3

$42.91 $42.91

-1.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$114 $114

-5.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$106 $106

4.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,776

$2,070 $2,070

-37.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,370

$1,414 $1,414

-29.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,127

$3,881 $3,881

-41.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,307

$2,661 $2,661

-37.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,316

$5,420 $5,420

-2.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,276

$2,518 $2,518

51.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,177

$4,815 $4,815

-37.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

6.08

-27.47%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Montreal and $2,070 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 59% 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 Montreal vs $60.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $356 vs $430, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

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 32% in total monthly costs ($2,056 vs $2,717 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 59% 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: $1,284 in Montreal versus $2,070 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 $72.0 versus $60.0 in Ann Arbor, MI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,056 per month in Montreal versus $2,717 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,056 in Montreal versus $2,717 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 32% less than in Ann Arbor, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.