Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Des Plaines, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Des Plaines, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,056 in Montreal versus $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,112 in Montreal versus $4,292 in Des Plaines, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,167 in Montreal versus $5,445 in Des Plaines, IL.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 34% less than in Des Plaines, IL, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 50% above, Des Plaines, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.62

$19.61 $19.61

-8.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$99.7

$89.9 $89.9

-19.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.06

$13.03 $13.03

-16.19%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.47

$5.72 $5.72

-30.59%

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

$2.07 CA$2.86

$2.68 $2.68

-22.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.13

$2.29 $2.29

-32.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.85

$6.93 $6.93

-7.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.05

$7.64 $7.64

-4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.29

$1.00 $1.00

139.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.42

$3.66 $3.66

-12.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.23

$4.71 $4.71

-34.82%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.07

$4.03 $4.03

-8.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.72

$15.14 $15.14

-10.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.03

$13.42 $13.42

-13.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.27

$19.88 $19.88

-29.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.08

$5.01 $5.01

-26.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.15

$1.66 $1.66

-6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.70

$4.07 $4.07

-16.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.17

$4.88 $4.88

-37.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$2.81 $2.81

-29.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$2.78 $2.78

-34.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.53

$2.10 $2.10

21.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$2.46 $2.46

-43.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.85

$10.52 $10.52

9.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.06

$14.97 $14.97

-27.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.12

$2.54 $2.54

-11.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.15

$3.39 $3.39

-11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.71

$2.02 $2.02

33.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

$59.3 $59.3

27.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.62

$3.17 $3.17

5.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$1.37 $1.37

9.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.47

$22.51 $22.51

49.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.78

$1.00 $1.00

29.00%

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

$28.3K CA$39.0K

$36.6K $36.6K

-22.66%

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

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$25.5K $25.5K

-21.72%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$193 $193

-58.34%

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

$34.23 CA$47.21

$59.5 $59.5

-42.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.1

$78.2 $78.2

-47.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.32

$122 $122

-76.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.43

$40.05 $40.05

-50.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.15

$14.83 $14.83

-21.04%

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

$564 CA$778

$1,559 $1,559

-63.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

-26.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.1

$64.1 $64.1

-7.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.1

$50.7 $50.7

-16.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$103 $103

3.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$121 $121

-8.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,770

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,365

$1,619 $1,619

-38.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,116

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,299

$2,228 $2,228

-25.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,291

$3,275 $3,275

61.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,258

$2,480 $2,480

53.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,163

$6,177 $6,177

-51.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

6.38

-30.88%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Des Plaines, IL: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Des Plaines, IL pays 105% 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: $72.0 in Montreal vs $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $431 per month, with Montreal cheaper across the board.

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 Des Plaines, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and Des Plaines, IL differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($2,056 vs $3,139 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 105% lower in Des Plaines, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Des Plaines, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $90.0 in Des Plaines, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,056 in Montreal versus $3,139 in Des Plaines, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Des Plaines, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Des Plaines, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Des Plaines, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.