Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Barranquilla

For one person, living is cheaper in Barranquilla: $1,439 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Barranquilla
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,439
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Barranquilla

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

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $1,439 in Barranquilla, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Barranquilla $1,439

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $2,247 in Barranquilla, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Barranquilla $2,247

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $3,056 in Barranquilla, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Barranquilla $3,056

Montreal costs about 39% more than Barranquilla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Montreal and Barranquilla sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Barranquilla by 7%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$8.66 COP 27.6K
122.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$62.1 COP 198.0K
21.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$13.40 COP 42.7K
-20.67%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$2.62 COP 8,356
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$1.35 COP 4,298
42.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.23 COP 3,929
20.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$3.04 COP 9,679
107.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$7.70 COP 24.5K
-6.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$0.90 COP 2,875
146.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$1.24 COP 3,966
146.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$1.52 COP 4,834
93.42%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$2.04 COP 6,509
73.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$4.77 COP 15.2K
176.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$17.28 COP 55.1K
-34.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$6.84 COP 21.8K
101.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$2.19 COP 6,985
55.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$0.95 COP 3,031
51.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$0.58 COP 1,862
462.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$1.87 COP 5,948
54.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$1.20 COP 3,831
55.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$0.95 COP 3,019
91.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.25 COP 3,971
94.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$0.95 COP 3,017
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$5.02 COP 16.0K
128.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$12.31 COP 39.2K
-15.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.50 COP 4,783
48.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$4.52 COP 14.4K
-37.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$1.13 COP 3,615
128.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$3.31 COP 10.6K
-1.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$3.01 COP 9,582
-50.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
$15.51 COP 49.4K
113.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.29 COP 4,122
5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$21.3K COP 68.0M
28.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$27.9K COP 88.9M
-28.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$148 COP 471.7K
-48.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$14.29 COP 45.5K
142.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$32.19 COP 102.6K
32.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$33.20 COP 105.8K
-12.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$4.47 COP 14.2K
150.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$301 COP 959.1K
67.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$4,623 COP 14.7M
246.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$109 COP 346.3K
-46.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$46.51 COP 148.2K
-18.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$181 COP 577.5K
-48.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$245 COP 781.3K
-56.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$760 COP 2.4M
63.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$489 COP 1.6M
101.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$796 COP 2.5M
164.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$883 COP 2.8M
82.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$1,793 COP 5.7M
181.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$616 COP 2.0M
521.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Barranquilla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$502 COP 1.6M
481.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
10
-55.40%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Barranquilla: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Barranquilla
$489 50.4% $497
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Barranquilla
$248 27.7% $95
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Barranquilla
$182 37.9% $111
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Barranquilla
$195 26.7% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Barranquilla
$262 97.2% $129
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Barranquilla
$23 * 76.6% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Barranquilla
$42 18% $9.2

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 $760 in Barranquilla. 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 482% higher in Montreal, 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 $62.0 in Barranquilla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $248 – making Barranquilla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇨🇴 Barranquilla
🕒 Local time
08:27 8:27 AM
07:27 7:27 AM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
1,327,209
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, 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).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,571 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Barranquilla 3,840 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Barranquilla

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 Barranquilla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Barranquilla?
Montreal costs about 39% more than Barranquilla, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal and in Barranquilla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $2,158 in Barranquilla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Barranquilla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barranquilla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Barranquilla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,003 in Montreal and $1,439 in Barranquilla. That's a gap of about 39%.
How do childcare costs compare in Montreal and in Barranquilla?
Kindergarten costs $505 per month in Montreal and $301 in Barranquilla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Barranquilla?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Barranquilla, where all-in costs run around $1,439, than in Montreal at $2,003. In Barranquilla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Barranquilla?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barranquilla costs $1,439 versus $2,003 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Barranquilla?
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.
Should I move to Montreal or to Barranquilla?
If budget matters most, go with Barranquilla. 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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