Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ciudad Obregon

For one person, living is cheaper in Ciudad Obregon: $1,183 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Ciudad Obregon
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,183
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Ciudad Obregon

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,059 in Montreal versus $1,183 in Ciudad Obregon.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Ciudad Obregon $1,183

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $1,868 in Ciudad Obregon.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Ciudad Obregon $1,868

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Montreal versus $2,553 in Ciudad Obregon.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Ciudad Obregon $2,553

Living in Montreal is roughly 74% more expensive than in Ciudad Obregon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montreal is 52% above, Ciudad Obregon is 13% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$10.31 MX$191
82.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$48.41 MX$895
51.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$8.32 MX$154
26.68%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$3.94 MX$72.7
0.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.24 MX$22.87
56.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$1.13 MX$20.93
38.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$2.56 MX$47.31
150.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$4.33 MX$80.1
66.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.57 MX$29.02
47.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$2.57 MX$47.49
24.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$1.73 MX$32.05
84.39%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$2.39 MX$44.10
53.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$8.27 MX$153
60.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$8.07 MX$149
44.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$11.24 MX$208
24.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.65 MX$48.92
18.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.49 MX$27.48
-2.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$1.85 MX$34.15
82.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$1.78 MX$32.82
74.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$2.01 MX$37.20
-3.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$1.74 MX$32.07
5.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$1.47 MX$27.18
60.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$1.11 MX$20.57
35.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$4.25 MX$78.6
161.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$11.44 MX$211
-7.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$1.70 MX$31.39
30.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$3.09 MX$57.1
-8.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
$0.68 MX$12.48
285.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$2.53 MX$46.69
27.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$1.67 MX$30.81
-11.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$9.65 MX$178
233.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.35 MX$25.00
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$25.9K MX$478.2K
6.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$25.4K MX$469.7K
-16.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$65.9 MX$1,218
16.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$19.30 MX$357
76.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$28.95 MX$535
45.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$33.67 MX$622
-8.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
$20.00 MX$370
-1.70%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$5.07 MX$93.7
126.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$215 MX$3,980
135.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$4,644 MX$85.8K
249.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$53.4 MX$987
7.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$40.86 MX$755
-6.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$101 MX$1,862
-8.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$89.8 MX$1,659
22.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
$684 MX$12.6K
80.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
$436 MX$8,053
124.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
$1,160 MX$21.4K
87.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
$786 MX$14.5K
104.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$1,931 MX$35.7K
164.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$1,120 MX$20.7K
234.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Ciudad Obregon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$1,189 MX$22.0K
148.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11.3
-60.35%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Ciudad Obregon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Ciudad Obregon
$436 55.4% $541
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Ciudad Obregon
$261 25.5% $90
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Ciudad Obregon
$186 36.1% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Ciudad Obregon
$114 25.6% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Ciudad Obregon
$128 4.1% $5.5
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Ciudad Obregon
$14 * 86.5% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Ciudad Obregon
$44 18.5% $9.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,237 in Montreal and $684 in Ciudad Obregon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 149% 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: $73.0 in Montreal vs $48.00 in Ciudad Obregon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $261 per month, with Ciudad Obregon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇲🇽 Ciudad Obregon
🕒 Local time
15:20 3:20 PM
12:20 12:20 PM
3 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
329,404
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Ciudad Obregon 3,770 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Ciudad Obregon

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 Ciudad Obregon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Ciudad Obregon?
Ciudad Obregon wins on cost – living expenses run 74% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ciudad Obregon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or in Ciudad Obregon?
Average pay runs 149% higher in Montreal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal compared to Ciudad Obregon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,237 in Montreal versus $684 in Ciudad Obregon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Montreal and in Ciudad Obregon?
Childcare runs $506 in Montreal versus $215 in Ciudad Obregon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Ciudad Obregon?
Dining out is cheaper in Ciudad Obregon – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $73.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Ciudad Obregon?
At $1,183 in Ciudad Obregon versus $2,059 in Montreal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ciudad Obregon but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Ciudad Obregon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Ciudad Obregon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ciudad Obregon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,183 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ciudad Obregon hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Ciudad Obregon?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Ciudad Obregon 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ciudad Obregon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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