Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Araxa

For one person, living is cheaper in Araxa: $881 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Araxa
🇧🇷 Brazil
$881
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Araxa

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,018 in Montreal versus $881 in Araxa.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Araxa $881

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,085 in Montreal versus $1,393 in Araxa.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Araxa $1,393

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,152 in Montreal versus $1,906 in Araxa.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Araxa $1,906

Living in Montreal is roughly 129% more expensive than in Araxa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montreal is 49% above, Araxa is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$6.39 R$32.38
194.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$27.69 R$140
153.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$8.65 R$43.85
23.24%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$1.81 R$9.20
112.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$1.23 R$6.25
56.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$0.81 R$4.13
90.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$1.70 R$8.62
266.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$3.20 R$16.22
121.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$1.02 R$5.17
126.47%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$1.74 R$8.83
80.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$1.22 R$6.18
163.11%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$2.23 R$11.30
57.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$9.45 R$47.90
35.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$4.33 R$21.94
164.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$8.46 R$42.87
58.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$2.18 R$11.04
44.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.27 R$6.44
13.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$1.18 R$5.97
194.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$1.53 R$7.73
100.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$1.18 R$5.98
61.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$1.14 R$5.78
55.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$0.78 R$3.96
200.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$0.83 R$4.22
86.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$2.47 R$12.52
360.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$7.97 R$40.39
33.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$1.34 R$6.77
69.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$2.10 R$10.64
34.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
$0.98 R$4.97
171.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
$40.29 R$204
91.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
$1.16 R$5.86
175.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$0.95 R$4.82
55.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$9.25 R$46.91
255.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$1.31 R$6.65
2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$23.9K R$121.4K
17.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$34.7K R$176.0K
-43.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$75.4 R$382
0.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$13.91 R$70.5
144.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$21.18 R$107
99.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$25.71 R$130
15.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
$27.86 R$141
-27.21%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$7.12 R$36.08
56.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
$285 R$1,445
77.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
$7,880 R$39.9K
103.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$55.2 R$280
4.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$50.7 R$257
-25.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$91.9 R$466
-0.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$72.3 R$367
51.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$351 R$1,781
258.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$243 R$1,232
289.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$672 R$3,405
218.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$479 R$2,427
237.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$1,724 R$8,738
187.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$1,048 R$5,313
266.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Araxa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
$245 R$1,241
1054.75%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Araxa: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Araxa
$243 74.3% $704
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Araxa
$193 44.2% $153
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Araxa
$122 57.6% $166
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Araxa
$111 27.4% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Araxa
$122 8.9% $12
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Araxa
$50 49.1% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Araxa
$40 23.3% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,260 in Montreal and $351 in Araxa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 1055% 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: $70.0 in Montreal vs $28.00 in Araxa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $193 per month, with Araxa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Araxa
🕒 Local time
10:09 10:09 AM
11:09 11:09 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
111,691
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 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 Araxa 7,720 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Araxa

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 Araxa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Araxa?
Araxa wins on cost – living expenses run 129% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Araxa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or in Araxa?
Average pay runs 1055% 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 Araxa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,260 in Montreal versus $351 in Araxa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Araxa?
All in, you'll spend $2,018 per month in Montreal versus $881 in Araxa – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Montreal compared to Araxa?
A monthly transit pass in Araxa runs roughly 92% less than in Montreal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Araxa?
At $881 in Araxa versus $2,018 in Montreal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Araxa but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Araxa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Araxa?
Both work as nomad bases, but Araxa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $881 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Araxa hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Araxa?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Araxa 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 Araxa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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