Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Campinas

For one person, living is cheaper in Campinas: $992 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Campinas
🇧🇷 Brazil
$992
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Campinas

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

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $992 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Campinas $992

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $1,654 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Campinas $1,654

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $2,316 in Campinas, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Campinas $2,316

Montreal costs about 102% more than Campinas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Campinas is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$9.94 R$49.63
94.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$36.56 R$183
106.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$9.16 R$45.73
16.05%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$2.35 R$11.75
67.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$1.34 R$6.68
43.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$0.87 R$4.34
70.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$2.44 R$12.17
158.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$3.89 R$19.41
84.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$1.02 R$5.10
117.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$2.02 R$10.08
51.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$1.38 R$6.89
113.04%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$2.63 R$13.14
34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$10.76 R$53.7
22.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$4.56 R$22.76
146.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$10.80 R$53.9
27.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$2.31 R$11.53
47.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$1.71 R$8.52
-15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$1.52 R$7.61
114.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$1.35 R$6.75
113.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$1.27 R$6.33
46.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$1.24 R$6.19
46.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$0.99 R$4.94
145.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$0.88 R$4.39
72.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$2.52 R$12.57
354.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$8.36 R$41.75
23.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.49 R$7.44
48.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$2.53 R$12.64
11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$1.14 R$5.68
126.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
$44.16 R$220
74.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$1.17 R$5.83
177.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$0.77 R$3.86
92.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
$8.36 R$41.75
295.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.29 R$6.44
5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$23.9K R$119.5K
14.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$32.9K R$164.0K
-39.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$65.7 R$328
15.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$15.03 R$75.0
130.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$22.71 R$113
87.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$29.96 R$150
-3.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$36.60 R$183
-44.45%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$8.03 R$40.08
39.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$435 R$2,170
16.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$11.0K R$54.9K
45.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$64.1 R$320
-8.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$56.6 R$282
-32.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$91.1 R$454
1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$78.0 R$389
35.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$429 R$2,141
189.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$292 R$1,460
237.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$971 R$4,847
116.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$688 R$3,432
134.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$2,168 R$10.8K
132.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$1,242 R$6,199
208.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Campinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$571 R$2,850
411.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
10.81
-58.74%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Campinas: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Campinas
$292 70.3% $694
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Campinas
$219 36.4% $125
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Campinas
$164 44% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Campinas
$103 32.6% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Campinas
$130 1.8% $2.4
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Campinas
$54 45.1% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Campinas
$46 10.4% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Montreal versus $429 in Campinas. 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 411% 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 $37.00 in Campinas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $219 – making Campinas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Campinas
🕒 Local time
08:13 8:13 AM
09:13 9:13 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
1,139,047
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, 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).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Campinas 8,070 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Campinas

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 Campinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Campinas?
Montreal costs about 102% more than Campinas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Campinas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $1,488 in Campinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Campinas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Campinas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Campinas?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Campinas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal and $37.00 in Campinas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Campinas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Campinas, where all-in costs run around $992, than in Montreal at $2,003. In Campinas 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 Campinas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Campinas costs $992 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 Campinas?
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 Campinas?
If budget matters most, go with Campinas. 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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