Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Appleton, WI

For one person, living costs are similar in Montreal and in Appleton, WI: $2,003 and $2,097 a month, rent and utilities included.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Appleton, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,097
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Appleton, WI

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 Appleton, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $2,097 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Appleton, WI $2,097

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $3,238 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Appleton, WI $3,238

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $4,380 in Appleton, WI, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Appleton, WI $4,380

Montreal is about 4% cheaper than Appleton, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Montreal and Appleton, WI sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Appleton, WI by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$17.91 $17.91
7.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$66.1 $66.1
14.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$11.11 $11.11
-4.32%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$5.23 $5.23
-24.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$2.63 $2.63
-27.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$2.27 $2.27
-34.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$4.61 $4.61
36.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$6.20 $6.20
15.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$0.98 $0.98
126.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$3.00 $3.00
2.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$5.15 $5.15
-42.91%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$4.71 $4.71
-25.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$14.34 $14.34
-8.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$8.43 $8.43
33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$15.31 $15.31
-9.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$5.02 $5.02
-32.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$1.32 $1.32
9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$3.09 $3.09
5.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$4.32 $4.32
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$2.06 $2.06
-9.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$2.78 $2.78
-34.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$2.18 $2.18
11.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$3.13 $3.13
-51.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$10.86 $10.86
5.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$15.14 $15.14
-31.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.68 $1.68
32.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$3.48 $3.48
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$3.29 $3.29
-1.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.42 $1.42
4.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
$24.47 $24.47
35.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.02 $1.02
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$36.3K $36.3K
-24.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$24.7K $24.7K
-19.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$176 $176
-56.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$44.67 $44.67
-22.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$60.6 $60.6
-29.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$23.78 $23.78
21.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$41.09 $41.09
-50.52%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$14.48 $14.48
-22.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$1,512 $1,512
-66.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$31.2K $31.2K
-48.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$39.33 $39.33
48.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$25.09 $25.09
51.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$50.9 $50.9
82.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$109 $109
-2.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$1,501 $1,501
-17.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$1,017 $1,017
-3.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$1,804 $1,804
16.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$1,910 $1,910
-15.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$2,320 $2,320
117.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$2,268 $2,268
68.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Appleton, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$4,011 $4,011
-27.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
6.37
-29.98%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Appleton, WI: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Appleton, WI
$1K 3.1% $31
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Appleton, WI
$381 10.9% $37
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Appleton, WI
$294 0.5% $1.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Appleton, WI
$282 83.4% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Appleton, WI
$101 24.1% $32
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Appleton, WI
$10 * 89.4% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Appleton, WI
$53 2.7% $1.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Montreal versus $1,501 in Appleton, WI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Appleton, WI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal versus $66.0 in Appleton, WI. Groceries tell a different story – $344 in Montreal vs $381 in Appleton, WI – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Appleton, WI
🕒 Local time
00:56 12:56 AM
23:56 11:56 PM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
74,139
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Appleton, WI 1,180 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Appleton, WI

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 Appleton, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Appleton, WI cheaper than Montreal?
Yes – Appleton, WI is pricier by about 5%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $3,145 in Appleton, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Montreal or in Appleton, WI?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal and $66.0 in Appleton, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Montreal and in Appleton, WI?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Appleton, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Montreal or in Appleton, WI?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,003, than in Appleton, WI at $2,097. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Appleton, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montreal or Appleton, WI more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Montreal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Montreal or Appleton, WI?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Appleton, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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