Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bellevue, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $3,719 in Bellevue, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Bellevue, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,719
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Bellevue, WA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,018 in Montreal versus $3,719 in Bellevue, WA.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Bellevue, WA $3,719

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,085 in Montreal versus $5,673 in Bellevue, WA.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Bellevue, WA $5,673

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,152 in Montreal versus $7,628 in Bellevue, WA.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Bellevue, WA $7,628

Living in Montreal costs roughly 46% less than in Bellevue, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Bellevue, WA 175% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$25.37 $25.37
-25.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$102 $102
-30.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$13.04 $13.04
-18.25%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$5.82 $5.82
-34.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$3.21 $3.21
-40.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$2.62 $2.62
-41.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$8.07 $8.07
-22.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$8.08 $8.08
-12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$1.10 $1.10
110.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$4.86 $4.86
-35.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$6.00 $6.00
-46.50%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$5.55 $5.55
-36.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$16.32 $16.32
-21.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$15.78 $15.78
-27.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$23.03 $23.03
-41.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$5.59 $5.59
-43.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.87 $1.87
-22.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$5.29 $5.29
-34.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$4.53 $4.53
-32.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$2.64 $2.64
-28.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$3.18 $3.18
-44.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$2.03 $2.03
15.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$2.49 $2.49
-37.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$12.17 $12.17
-6.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$18.59 $18.59
-42.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$2.17 $2.17
4.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$4.76 $4.76
-40.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
$2.80 $2.80
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
$106 $106
-27.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
$2.54 $2.54
25.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$1.65 $1.65
-10.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$30.32 $30.32
8.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$1.44 $1.44
-6.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$36.7K $36.7K
-23.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$25.8K $25.8K
-23.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$226 $226
-66.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$54.0 $54.0
-37.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$65.8 $65.8
-35.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$134 $134
-77.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
$39.89 $39.89
-49.16%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$17.31 $17.31
-35.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
$1,980 $1,980
-74.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
$31.5K $31.5K
-49.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$60.8 $60.8
-5.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$44.35 $44.35
-15.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$95.8 $95.8
-4.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$127 $127
-13.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$2,683 $2,683
-53.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$2,041 $2,041
-53.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$5,658 $5,658
-62.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$3,822 $3,822
-57.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$4,604 $4,604
7.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$4,735 $4,735
-18.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Bellevue, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
$8,805 $8,805
-67.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.64
-32.53%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Bellevue, WA: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Bellevue, WA
$2K 115% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Bellevue, WA
$495 43% $149
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Bellevue, WA
$392 36.1% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Bellevue, WA
$346 127% $193
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Bellevue, WA
$148 10.7% $14
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Bellevue, WA
$128 30.4% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Bellevue, WA
$169 224% $117

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,260 in Montreal and $2,683 in Bellevue, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bellevue, WA pays 211% 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 $102 in Bellevue, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $495 per month, with Montreal cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Bellevue, WA
🕒 Local time
18:20 6:20 PM
15:20 3:20 PM
3 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
151,854
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Bellevue, WA 3,660 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Bellevue, WA

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 Bellevue, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellevue, WA cheaper than Montreal?
Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montreal or Bellevue, WA?
On paper, salaries run 211% lower in Bellevue, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Montreal and Bellevue, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,260 in Montreal versus $2,683 in Bellevue, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Montreal or in Bellevue, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $102 in Bellevue, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Montreal and in Bellevue, WA?
All in, you'll spend $2,018 per month in Montreal versus $3,719 in Bellevue, WA – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Montreal or in Bellevue, WA?
At $2,018 in Montreal versus $3,719 in Bellevue, WA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Bellevue, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montreal or Bellevue, WA more family-friendly?
For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bellevue, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montreal or Bellevue, WA?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Bellevue, WA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Bellevue, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Montreal vs other spots: cost of living compared

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