Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cedar Rapids, IA

For one person, living costs are similar in Montreal and in Cedar Rapids, IA: $2,018 and $2,058 a month, rent and utilities included.

99

Cost of Living Index in Montreal
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Montreal Living Index
100

Cost of Living Index in Cedar Rapids, IA
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Cedar Rapids, IA Living Index

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Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,018

/mo nomad

Cedar Rapids, IA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,058

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Cedar Rapids, IA

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 Cedar Rapids, IA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $2,058 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Montreal $2,018
Cedar Rapids, IA $2,058

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $3,080 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Montreal $3,085
Cedar Rapids, IA $3,080

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $4,101 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent included.

Montreal $4,152
Cedar Rapids, IA $4,101

Montreal is about 2% cheaper than Cedar Rapids, IA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Montreal and Cedar Rapids, IA sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Cedar Rapids, IA by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 CA$26.61

$15.12 $15.12

24.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$99.4

$69.7 $69.7

0.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.66 CA$15.06

$10.84 $10.84

-1.66%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.43

$5.81 $5.81

-33.91%

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

$1.92 CA$2.71

$2.79 $2.79

-31.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 CA$2.18

$1.88 $1.88

-18.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.23 CA$8.81

$4.63 $4.63

34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 CA$10.03

$5.87 $5.87

20.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.27

$0.70 $0.70

230.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 CA$4.44

$2.46 $2.46

27.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.21 CA$4.54

$4.70 $4.70

-31.70%

Eggs

$3.52 CA$4.97

$2.52 $2.52

39.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.81 CA$18.11

$14.10 $14.10

-9.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$16.20

$10.94 $10.94

4.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.92

$16.25 $16.25

-17.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.43

$4.93 $4.93

-36.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CA$2.03

$1.10 $1.10

30.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.47 CA$4.91

$5.26 $5.26

-34.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.34

$4.58 $4.58

-32.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.69

$2.59 $2.59

-26.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 CA$2.50

$2.22 $2.22

-20.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 CA$3.31

$2.01 $2.01

16.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.19

$2.23 $2.23

-30.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.38 CA$16.09

$10.01 $10.01

13.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 CA$15.03

$10.82 $10.82

-1.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 CA$3.21

$2.18 $2.18

4.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$3.99

$3.26 $3.26

-13.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.66 CA$3.76

$1.71 $1.71

55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.3 CA$109

$30.20 $30.20

155.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 CA$4.53

$3.48 $3.48

-8.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$1.84 $1.84

-19.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.88 CA$46.48

$45.60 $45.60

-27.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.90

$0.85 $0.85

57.65%

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

$28.2K CA$39.8K

$36.1K $36.1K

-22.10%

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

$19.6K CA$27.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

-26.14%

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

$76.0 CA$107

$208 $208

-63.40%

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

$33.95 CA$48.00

$52.0 $52.0

-34.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.31 CA$59.8

$70.2 $70.2

-39.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.76 CA$42.07

$102 $102

-70.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.28 CA$28.67

$19.05 $19.05

6.46%

Cinema Ticket

$11.15 CA$15.77

$12.77 $12.77

-12.69%

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

$507 CA$717

$893 $893

-43.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.7K

$12.8K $12.8K

25.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 CA$81.4

$62.5 $62.5

-7.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.58 CA$53.1

$63.5 $63.5

-40.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 CA$130

$128 $128

-27.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$155

$152 $152

-27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 CA$1,782

$1,141 $1,141

10.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$948 CA$1,340

$724 $724

30.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 CA$3,021

$1,637 $1,637

30.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 CA$2,281

$1,194 $1,194

35.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,960 CA$7,011

$1,582 $1,582

213.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,838 CA$5,425

$1,547 $1,547

148.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,827 CA$3,997

$3,682 $3,682

-23.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

6.63

-32.43%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Montreal

$948 47%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$724 35.2% 23.6% $224

Groceries & Markets

Montreal

$346 17.2%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$367 17.9% 6% $21

Eating Out

Montreal

$288 14.3%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$277 13.5% 3.8% $11

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montreal

$152 7.5%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$330 16% 117% $178

Clothing & Footwear

Montreal

$133 6.6%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$183 8.9% 36.8% $49

Getting Around

Montreal

$99 4.9%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$50 2.4% 49.6% $49

Sport & Entertainment

Montreal

$52 2.6%

Cedar Rapids, IA

$128 6.2% 146% $76

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $1,141 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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 30% higher in Cedar Rapids, IA, 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 $70.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $367 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Montreal

🇺🇸 Cedar Rapids, IA

🕒 Local time

16:24 4:24 PM

15:24 3:24 PM

1 h behind Montreal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,762,949

137,710

💱 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 →

On the map

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Between locations

Montreal Cedar Rapids, IA 1,500 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Montreal
Cedar Rapids, IA

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 Cedar Rapids, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cedar Rapids, IA is pricier by about 2%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $3,087 in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Cedar Rapids, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Montreal and $70.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,018, than in Cedar Rapids, IA at $2,058. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cedar Rapids, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montreal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Cedar Rapids, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.