Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Dublin, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $3,813 in Dublin, CA, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Dublin, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,813
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Dublin, CA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,059 in Montreal versus $3,813 in Dublin, CA.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Dublin, CA $3,813

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $5,432 in Dublin, CA.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Dublin, CA $5,432

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,187 in Montreal versus $7,050 in Dublin, CA.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Dublin, CA $7,050

Living in Montreal costs roughly 46% less than in Dublin, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 52% above, Dublin, CA 181% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$20.80 $20.80
-9.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$65.0 $65.0
12.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$11.14 $11.14
-5.39%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$5.28 $5.28
-24.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$2.67 $2.67
-27.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$2.39 $2.39
-34.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$7.09 $7.09
-9.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$6.90 $6.90
4.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.65 $1.65
40.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$4.43 $4.43
-27.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$4.07 $4.07
-21.62%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$5.86 $5.86
-37.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$6.65 $6.65
99.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$14.16 $14.16
-17.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$22.22 $22.22
-37.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$5.25 $5.25
-40.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$2.02 $2.02
-28.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$5.52 $5.52
-38.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$4.48 $4.48
-30.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$3.60 $3.60
-46.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$2.15 $2.15
-14.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$2.04 $2.04
15.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$2.55 $2.55
-41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$11.57 $11.57
-3.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$15.73 $15.73
-32.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$2.46 $2.46
-9.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$3.31 $3.31
-14.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
$3.09 $3.09
-15.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
$89.7 $89.7
-11.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$3.56 $3.56
-9.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$3.03 $3.03
-51.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$30.19 $30.19
6.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.41 $1.41
-3.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$36.6K $36.6K
-24.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$26.1K $26.1K
-18.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$124 $124
-37.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$48.57 $48.57
-29.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$81.6 $81.6
-48.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$34.51 $34.51
-10.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
$34.94 $34.94
-43.73%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$15.11 $15.11
-24.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$1,797 $1,797
-71.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$39.0K $39.0K
-58.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$59.1 $59.1
-3.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$52.0 $52.0
-26.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$79.2 $79.2
16.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$119 $119
-8.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
$2,822 $2,822
-56.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
$2,457 $2,457
-60.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
$4,530 $4,530
-51.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
$4,002 $4,002
-59.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$12.9K $12.9K
-60.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$10.8K $10.8K
-65.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Dublin, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$6,418 $6,418
-53.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.67
-32.83%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Dublin, CA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Dublin, CA
$2.5K 152% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Dublin, CA
$445 26.8% $94
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Dublin, CA
$333 14.5% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Dublin, CA
$254 65.6% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Dublin, CA
$139 4.3% $5.7
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Dublin, CA
$121 20.4% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Dublin, CA
$65 20.4% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,237 in Montreal and $2,822 in Dublin, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dublin, CA pays 117% 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 $65.0 in Dublin, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $445, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Dublin, CA
🕒 Local time
19:46 7:46 PM
16:46 4:46 PM
3 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
49,328
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Dublin, CA 4,050 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Dublin, CA

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 Dublin, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Dublin, CA?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Dublin, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or in Dublin, CA?
On paper, salaries run 117% lower in Dublin, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal compared to Dublin, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,237 in Montreal versus $2,822 in Dublin, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Dublin, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Dublin, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Dublin, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $65.0 in Dublin, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or in Dublin, CA?
At $2,059 in Montreal versus $3,813 in Dublin, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Dublin, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Dublin, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,059 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Dublin, CA?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Dublin, CA 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 Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Dublin, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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