Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Caxias do Sul

For one person, living is cheaper in Caxias do Sul: $817 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Caxias do Sul
🇧🇷 Brazil
$817
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Caxias do Sul

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 Caxias do Sul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $817 in Caxias do Sul, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Caxias do Sul $817

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $1,379 in Caxias do Sul, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Caxias do Sul $1,379

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $1,941 in Caxias do Sul, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Caxias do Sul $1,941

Montreal costs about 147% more than Caxias do Sul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Caxias do Sul is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.76
$6.97 R$34.95
170.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.9
$38.56 R$193
82.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.15
$6.99 R$35.07
52.50%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.46
$1.94 R$9.72
97.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.72
$1.42 R$7.10
35.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.19
$1.10 R$5.52
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.86
$2.25 R$11.31
176.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.09
$2.97 R$14.91
139.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.29
$0.89 R$4.46
159.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.47
$1.66 R$8.32
89.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.57
$1.14 R$5.71
181.58%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$5.00
$2.00 R$10.02
76.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.22
$10.22 R$51.3
25.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.30
$4.88 R$24.50
134.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$19.03
$10.20 R$51.2
31.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.46
$1.56 R$7.85
101.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.04
$1.09 R$5.49
32.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.94
$0.58 R$2.92
498.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.37
$1.66 R$8.33
84.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.70
$0.98 R$4.90
93.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.52
$0.67 R$3.38
164.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.33
$0.79 R$3.95
196.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.21
$0.73 R$3.68
112.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.18
$2.55 R$12.78
346.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.12
$3.96 R$19.89
168.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.23
$1.12 R$5.61
102.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.01
$2.24 R$11.24
25.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.79
$1.40 R$7.04
90.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$110
$43.70 R$219
76.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.55
$1.27 R$6.39
151.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$0.81 R$4.08
82.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.75
$8.08 R$40.52
306.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.91
$1.30 R$6.54
3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$40.0K
$23.7K R$119.2K
18.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.9K
$33.5K R$168.0K
-41.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$108
$71.6 R$359
6.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.28
$12.57 R$63.1
170.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$60.2
$22.36 R$112
89.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.31
$26.54 R$133
12.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.84
$59.0 R$296
-65.64%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.86
$7.48 R$37.55
49.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$721
$406 R$2,035
25.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.8K
$24.2K R$121.4K
-33.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.8
$50.4 R$253
14.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.4
$36.75 R$184
2.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$131
$101 R$507
-8.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$156
$79.6 R$399
37.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,792
$272 R$1,364
363.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,347
$184 R$923
415.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,038
$701 R$3,518
204.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,294
$429 R$2,151
276.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,052
$1,769 R$8,876
180.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,456
$1,226 R$6,154
212.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Caxias do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$4,020
$565 R$2,833
400.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11.5
-61.04%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Caxias do Sul: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Caxias do Sul
$184 80.6% $764
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Caxias do Sul
$183 47.2% $164
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Caxias do Sul
$127 55.8% $161
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Caxias do Sul
$106 30% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Caxias do Sul
$120 9.8% $13
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Caxias do Sul
$55 44.5% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Caxias do Sul
$42 20.3% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $272 in Caxias do Sul. 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 401% 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 $70.0 in Montreal versus $39.00 in Caxias do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $183 – making Caxias do Sul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Caxias do Sul
🕒 Local time
13:24 1:24 PM
14:24 2:24 PM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
463,501
💱 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 Caxias do Sul 8,610 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Caxias do Sul

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 Caxias do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Montreal and in Caxias do Sul compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,018 in Montreal, $817 in Caxias do Sul – roughly 147% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Montreal compared to Caxias do Sul?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $1,226 in Caxias do Sul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Montreal and Caxias do Sul?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Caxias do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Montreal and in Caxias do Sul?
Public transport costs about 77% less in Caxias do Sul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Montreal and Caxias do Sul?
Kindergarten costs $507 per month in Montreal and $406 in Caxias do Sul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Caxias do Sul, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Caxias do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Montreal and Caxias do Sul?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Caxias do Sul to $2,018 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Montreal or Caxias do Sul safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Montreal and Caxias do Sul?
If budget matters most, go with Caxias do Sul. 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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