Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Auburn, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $3,212 in Auburn, CA, rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

99

Cost of Living Index in Montreal
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Montreal Living Index
156

Cost of Living Index in Auburn, CA
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Auburn, CA Living Index

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Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,018

/mo nomad

Auburn, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,212

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Auburn, CA

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

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $3,212 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

Montreal $2,018
Auburn, CA $3,212

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $4,620 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

Montreal $3,085
Auburn, CA $4,620

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $6,027 in Auburn, CA, rent included.

Montreal $4,152
Auburn, CA $6,027

Montreal is about 37% cheaper than Auburn, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montreal and Auburn, CA sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Auburn, CA by 138%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 CA$26.61

$25.25 $25.25

-25.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$99.4

$90.7 $90.7

-22.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.66 CA$15.06

$11.92 $11.92

-10.57%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.43

$4.91 $4.91

-21.79%

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

$1.92 CA$2.71

$2.54 $2.54

-24.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 CA$2.18

$2.37 $2.37

-35.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.23 CA$8.81

$4.86 $4.86

28.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 CA$10.03

$7.11 $7.11

-0.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.27

$1.23 $1.23

87.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 CA$4.44

$4.52 $4.52

-30.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.21 CA$4.54

$8.21 $8.21

-60.90%

Eggs

$3.52 CA$4.97

$3.17 $3.17

11.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.81 CA$18.11

$25.79 $25.79

-50.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$16.20

$18.58 $18.58

-38.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.92

$23.00 $23.00

-41.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.43

$7.72 $7.72

-59.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CA$2.03

$1.70 $1.70

-15.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 CA$4.91

$8.51 $8.51

-59.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.34

$6.78 $6.78

-54.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.69

$5.10 $5.10

-62.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 CA$2.50

$3.06 $3.06

-42.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 CA$3.31

$2.02 $2.02

15.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.19

$2.27 $2.27

-31.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.38 CA$16.09

$11.66 $11.66

-2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 CA$15.03

$15.24 $15.24

-30.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 CA$3.21

$1.46 $1.46

55.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$3.99

$2.02 $2.02

39.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 CA$3.76

$3.40 $3.40

-21.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.3 CA$109

$88.2 $88.2

-12.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 CA$4.53

$3.26 $3.26

-1.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$2.43 $2.43

-39.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.88 CA$46.48

$40.49 $40.49

-18.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.90

$1.22 $1.22

9.84%

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

$28.2K CA$39.8K

$32.8K $32.8K

-14.25%

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

$19.6K CA$27.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

-19.87%

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

$76.0 CA$107

$189 $189

-59.80%

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

$33.95 CA$48.00

$49.79 $49.79

-31.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.31 CA$59.8

$66.7 $66.7

-36.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.76 CA$42.07

$64.4 $64.4

-53.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.28 CA$28.67

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 CA$15.77

$15.10 $15.10

-26.16%

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

$507 CA$717

$2,686 $2,686

-81.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.7K

$5,939 $5,939

170.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 CA$81.4

$68.7 $68.7

-16.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.58 CA$53.1

$46.74 $46.74

-19.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 CA$130

$110 $110

-16.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$155

$199 $199

-44.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 CA$1,782

$1,823 $1,823

-30.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$948 CA$1,340

$1,591 $1,591

-40.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 CA$3,021

$2,784 $2,784

-23.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 CA$2,281

$2,344 $2,344

-31.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,960 CA$7,011

$3,277 $3,277

51.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,838 CA$5,425

$2,675 $2,675

43.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,827 CA$3,997

$3,926 $3,926

-27.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

6.77

-33.83%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Auburn, CA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Montreal

$948 47%

Auburn, CA

$1.6K 49.5% 67.9% $644

Groceries & Markets

Montreal

$346 17.2%

Auburn, CA

$558 17.4% 60.9% $211

Eating Out

Montreal

$288 14.3%

Auburn, CA

$355 11% 23.2% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montreal

$152 7.5%

Auburn, CA

$305 9.5% 101% $153

Clothing & Footwear

Montreal

$133 6.6%

Auburn, CA

$191 6% 43.2% $58

Getting Around

Montreal

$99 4.9%

Auburn, CA

$117 3.7% 19% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Montreal

$52 2.6%

Auburn, CA

$95 3% 81.8% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $1,823 in Auburn, CA. 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 39% higher in Auburn, CA, 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 $70.0 in Montreal versus $91.0 in Auburn, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $558 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Montreal

🇺🇸 Auburn, CA

🕒 Local time

17:53 5:53 PM

14:53 2:53 PM

3 h behind Montreal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,762,949

76,143

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

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Between locations

Montreal Auburn, CA 3,920 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Montreal
Auburn, CA

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 Auburn, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,018 in Montreal, $3,212 in Auburn, CA – roughly 59% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $4,818 in Auburn, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $507 per month in Montreal and $2,686 in Auburn, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% more in Auburn, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,018, than in Auburn, CA at $3,212. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Auburn, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,018 in Montreal to $3,212 in Auburn, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.