Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Atibaia

For one person, living is cheaper in Atibaia: $827 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Atibaia
🇧🇷 Brazil
$827
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Atibaia

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,018 in Montreal versus $827 in Atibaia.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Atibaia $827

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,085 in Montreal versus $1,465 in Atibaia.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Atibaia $1,465

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,152 in Montreal versus $2,104 in Atibaia.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Atibaia $2,104

Living in Montreal is roughly 144% more expensive than in Atibaia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montreal is 49% above, Atibaia is 39% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.76
$8.09 R$40.60
132.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.9
$32.64 R$164
115.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.15
$7.09 R$35.57
50.35%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.46
$2.35 R$11.78
63.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.72
$1.37 R$6.90
40.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.19
$0.91 R$4.58
69.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.86
$2.01 R$10.10
209.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.09
$2.99 R$14.98
137.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.29
$1.13 R$5.69
104.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.47
$1.83 R$9.20
71.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.57
$1.38 R$6.94
132.61%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$5.00
$2.45 R$12.28
43.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.22
$10.70 R$53.7
19.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.30
$4.83 R$24.25
137.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$19.03
$9.93 R$49.82
34.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.46
$2.21 R$11.07
42.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.04
$1.29 R$6.48
11.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.94
$1.18 R$5.91
194.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.37
$1.63 R$8.16
88.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.70
$1.17 R$5.88
62.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.52
$1.32 R$6.65
34.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.33
$0.98 R$4.90
138.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.21
$0.77 R$3.87
101.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.18
$2.44 R$12.25
366.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.12
$7.84 R$39.33
35.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.23
$1.36 R$6.80
66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.01
$1.90 R$9.52
48.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.79
$1.02 R$5.13
160.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$110
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.55
$1.52 R$7.64
110.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$1.63 R$8.16
-9.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.75
$17.68 R$88.7
85.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.91
$1.30 R$6.52
3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$40.0K
$21.2K R$106.4K
32.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.9K
$31.8K R$159.8K
-38.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$108
$81.2 R$407
-6.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.28
$12.24 R$61.4
177.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$60.2
$22.80 R$114
85.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.31
$23.72 R$119
25.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.84
$20.10 R$101
0.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.86
$8.89 R$44.63
25.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$721
$279 R$1,402
81.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.8K
$10.3K R$51.5K
56.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.8
$55.3 R$278
4.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.4
$38.29 R$192
-1.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$131
$75.7 R$380
21.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$156
$60.1 R$301
82.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,792
$297 R$1,490
324.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,347
$204 R$1,025
363.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,038
$992 R$4,978
115.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,294
$689 R$3,459
134.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,052
$1,997 R$10.0K
148.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,456
$1,732 R$8,691
121.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Atibaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$4,020
$495 R$2,485
470.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
12.79
-64.97%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Atibaia: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Atibaia
$204 78.4% $743
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Atibaia
$208 39.9% $138
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Atibaia
$139 51.6% $148
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Atibaia
$116 23.7% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Atibaia
$103 22.7% $30
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Atibaia
$14 * 86% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Atibaia
$42 20.3% $11

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,260 in Montreal and $297 in Atibaia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 471% 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 $33.00 in Atibaia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $208 per month, with Atibaia cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Atibaia
🕒 Local time
09:46 9:46 AM
10:46 10:46 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
158,647
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.02 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.62 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Atibaia 8,110 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Atibaia

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 Atibaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Montreal and in Atibaia?
Montreal and Atibaia differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($2,018 vs $827 including rent). Atibaia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Montreal or Atibaia?
Average pay runs 471% 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 do apartment prices compare in Montreal and in Atibaia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,260 in Montreal versus $297 in Atibaia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Montreal and Atibaia?
Childcare runs $507 in Montreal versus $279 in Atibaia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Atibaia – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $70.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $827 in Atibaia versus $2,018 in Montreal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Atibaia but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Atibaia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Montreal and Atibaia?
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.
Is Montreal or Atibaia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Atibaia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Montreal or Atibaia?
Expats usually find Atibaia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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