Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Diadema

For one person, living is cheaper in Diadema: $623 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $17,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Diadema
🇧🇷 Brazil
$623
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Diadema

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,059 in Montreal versus $623 in Diadema.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Diadema $623

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $1,074 in Diadema.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Diadema $1,074

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Montreal versus $1,526 in Diadema.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Diadema $1,526

Living in Montreal is roughly 231% more expensive than in Diadema, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montreal is 52% above, Diadema is 54% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$8.72 R$44.22
116.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$49.36 R$250
48.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$8.79 R$44.55
19.91%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$2.17 R$11.02
82.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.36 R$6.87
42.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$0.89 R$4.52
76.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$2.83 R$14.36
126.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$4.27 R$21.67
68.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.18 R$5.97
96.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$1.87 R$9.48
70.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$1.14 R$5.77
179.82%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$2.66 R$13.48
38.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$9.11 R$46.17
45.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$4.31 R$21.86
171.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$10.73 R$54.4
30.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.70 R$13.70
16.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.85 R$9.36
-21.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$1.61 R$8.18
109.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$1.83 R$9.26
69.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$1.43 R$7.23
34.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$1.23 R$6.25
48.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$0.92 R$4.65
156.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$0.80 R$4.07
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$2.74 R$13.89
305.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$9.00 R$45.64
17.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$1.69 R$8.58
31.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$2.47 R$12.51
14.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$1.27 R$6.43
154.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$1.01 R$5.13
46.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$9.27 R$46.97
247.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.30 R$6.58
4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$23.9K R$120.9K
15.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$33.3K R$168.8K
-36.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$43.18 R$219
78.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$14.52 R$73.6
135.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$18.47 R$93.6
128.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$19.98 R$101
54.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$7.84 R$39.73
46.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$439 R$2,223
15.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$7,604 R$38.5K
113.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$55.0 R$279
4.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$57.9 R$293
-34.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$95.3 R$483
-3.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$85.5 R$434
28.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$1,209 R$6,128
322.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$796 R$4,036
370.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Diadema
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$505 R$2,558
486.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11.12
-59.71%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Diadema: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Diadema
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Diadema
$218 37.8% $133
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Diadema
$154 47% $137
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Diadema
$76 50.3% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Diadema
$132 1.1% $1.5
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Diadema
$6.3 * 93.7% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Diadema
$36 33.7% $18

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

Cost Breakdown

Montreal pays 486% 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 $49.00 in Diadema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $218 per month, with Diadema cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Diadema
🕒 Local time
05:30 5:30 AM
06:30 6:30 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
393,237
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Diadema 8,160 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Diadema

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 Diadema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diadema cheaper than Montreal?
Diadema is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 231% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montreal or Diadema?
Average pay runs 486% 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 do food prices compare in Montreal and in Diadema?
Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Montreal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Montreal and in Diadema?
All in, you'll spend $2,059 per month in Montreal versus $623 in Diadema – a 231% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montreal or in Diadema?
At $623 in Diadema versus $2,059 in Montreal, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Diadema but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Diadema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montreal or Diadema more family-friendly?
For families, Diadema is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montreal, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montreal or Diadema?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Diadema 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Diadema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 231% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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