Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,003 a month against $3,169 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

99

Cost of Living Index in Montreal
Learn more

Montreal Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,003

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,169

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Chicago, IL

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

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $3,169 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montreal $2,003
Chicago, IL $3,169

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $4,682 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montreal $3,048
Chicago, IL $4,682

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $6,196 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montreal $4,092
Chicago, IL $6,196

Montreal is about 37% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montreal and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.31 CA$27.52

$21.62 $21.62

-10.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 CA$108

$91.2 $91.2

-17.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.63 CA$15.15

$13.09 $13.09

-18.79%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.60

$5.78 $5.78

-32.01%

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

$1.92 CA$2.73

$2.64 $2.64

-27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 CA$2.11

$2.28 $2.28

-35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.30 CA$8.98

$6.94 $6.94

-9.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 CA$10.24

$8.93 $8.93

-19.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.17

$1.27 $1.27

74.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 CA$4.36

$3.94 $3.94

-22.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.19

$4.96 $4.96

-40.73%

Eggs

$3.53 CA$5.03

$4.64 $4.64

-23.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 CA$18.79

$13.97 $13.97

-5.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 CA$16.02

$14.37 $14.37

-21.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 CA$19.69

$18.59 $18.59

-25.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.85

$5.37 $5.37

-36.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CA$2.06

$1.93 $1.93

-25.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.65

$4.01 $4.01

-18.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.10

$4.94 $4.94

-41.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 CA$2.65

$2.80 $2.80

-33.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.60

$2.76 $2.76

-34.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 CA$3.46

$2.16 $2.16

12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.17

$3.12 $3.12

-51.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.45 CA$16.32

$15.71 $15.71

-27.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.36 CA$14.76

$15.23 $15.23

-31.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.16

$2.57 $2.57

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$4.02

$3.48 $3.48

-18.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.58 CA$3.67

$2.48 $2.48

4.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.9 CA$110

$74.4 $74.4

3.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 CA$4.64

$3.23 $3.23

0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.11

$1.43 $1.43

3.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.04 CA$47.09

$24.33 $24.33

35.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.94

$1.25 $1.25

8.80%

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

$27.4K CA$39.1K

$35.9K $35.9K

-23.56%

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

$20.0K CA$28.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

-23.12%

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

$76.1 CA$109

$195 $195

-60.88%

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

$34.68 CA$49.43

$69.0 $69.0

-49.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.69 CA$60.9

$62.1 $62.1

-31.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.94 CA$41.26

$54.5 $54.5

-46.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.97

$27.80 $27.80

-26.87%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 CA$15.98

$17.84 $17.84

-37.16%

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

$505 CA$720

$1,513 $1,513

-66.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K CA$22.8K

$31.1K $31.1K

-48.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 CA$83.4

$68.1 $68.1

-14.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.00 CA$54.2

$51.6 $51.6

-26.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 CA$132

$101 $101

-8.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$151

$141 $141

-25.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 CA$1,768

$2,437 $2,437

-49.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$986 CA$1,405

$1,662 $1,662

-40.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 CA$2,996

$4,644 $4,644

-54.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 CA$2,302

$2,751 $2,751

-41.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,043 CA$7,188

$4,036 $4,036

24.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,830 CA$5,459

$2,677 $2,677

43.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,920 CA$4,163

$4,861 $4,861

-39.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.46

6.77

-34.12%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Montreal

$986 47.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53% 68.6% $676

Groceries & Markets

Montreal

$344 16.7%

Chicago, IL

$450 14.3% 30.8% $106

Eating Out

Montreal

$293 14.2%

Chicago, IL

$354 11.3% 20.8% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montreal

$154 7.5%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.4% 112% $172

Clothing & Footwear

Montreal

$133 6.5%

Chicago, IL

$163 5.2% 22.8% $30

Getting Around

Montreal

$98 4.8%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 3.2% $3.1

Sport & Entertainment

Montreal

$51 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 75.6% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Montreal versus $2,437 in Chicago, IL. 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 66% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $91.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $450 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Montreal

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

09:46 9:46 AM

08:46 8:46 AM

1 h behind Montreal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,762,949

2,746,388

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.702 USD

1 CAD = 0.626 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Montreal Chicago, IL 1,200 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Montreal
Chicago, IL

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 Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,003 in Montreal, $3,169 in Chicago, IL – roughly 58% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $4,753 in Chicago, IL. 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 31% more in Chicago, IL, 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 $75.0 in Montreal and $91.0 in Chicago, IL. 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 $2,003, than in Chicago, IL at $3,169. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,003 in Montreal to $3,169 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.