Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Arica

For one person, living is cheaper in Arica: $111 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $22,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Arica
🇨🇱 Chile
$111
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Arica

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

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $111 in Arica, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Arica $111

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $178 in Arica, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Arica $178

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $246 in Arica, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Arica $246

Montreal costs about 1722% more than Arica, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Arica is 92% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.75
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.9
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.14
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.46
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.72
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.19
$1.25 CLP 1,230
23.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.86
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.08
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.29
$1.01 CLP 992
128.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.47
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.57
-
-
Eggs
$3.52 CA$5.00
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.21
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.29
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$19.03
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.46
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.04
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.94
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.37
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.70
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.52
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.33
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.21
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.17
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.11
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.23
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.01
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Arica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.78
$0.70 CLP 691
280.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$110
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.55
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.73
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.91
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$40.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$108
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.26
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$60.1
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.29
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.85
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$721
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.8
$40.20 CLP 39.6K
43.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.4
$20.59 CLP 20.3K
82.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$131
$53.9 CLP 53.1K
70.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$156
$91.7 CLP 90.3K
19.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Arica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,792
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,347
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,037
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,293
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,049
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,454
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Arica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$4,019
$504 CLP 496.1K
461.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
5
-10.40%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Arica: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Arica
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Arica
$10 * 97.1% $336
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Arica
$5 * 98.3% $283
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Arica
- * 100%
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Arica
$93 30.4% $41
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Arica
$2.8 * 97.1% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Arica
- * 100%

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 461% higher in Montreal, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇨🇱 Arica
🕒 Local time
08:50 8:50 AM
09:50 9:50 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
202,131
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 985 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,103 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Arica 7,120 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Arica

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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Montreal and in Arica compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,018 in Montreal, $111 in Arica – roughly 1722% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Montreal compared to Arica?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $166 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Montreal or Arica?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,018 in Montreal and $111 in Arica. That's a gap of about 1722%.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 3341% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $111, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Montreal and Arica?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $111 in Arica to $2,018 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Montreal or Arica safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Montreal and Arica?
If budget matters most, go with Arica. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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