Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Flagstaff, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $2,965 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Flagstaff, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,965
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Flagstaff, AZ

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

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $2,965 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Flagstaff, AZ $2,965

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $4,337 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Flagstaff, AZ $4,337

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $5,710 in Flagstaff, AZ, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Flagstaff, AZ $5,710

Montreal is about 32% cheaper than Flagstaff, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Montreal and Flagstaff, AZ sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Flagstaff, AZ by 120%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$19.64 $19.64
-4.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$81.2 $81.2
-13.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$14.61 $14.61
-27.04%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$6.23 $6.23
-38.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$3.31 $3.31
-41.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$2.44 $2.44
-36.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$6.02 $6.02
3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$6.89 $6.89
3.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$0.79 $0.79
192.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.59 $2.59
21.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$4.17 $4.17
-23.02%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$4.32 $4.32
-18.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$14.39 $14.39
-10.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$7.55 $7.55
51.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$11.08 $11.08
20.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$3.84 $3.84
-18.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.87 $1.87
-22.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$3.61 $3.61
-3.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$3.74 $3.74
-17.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$2.29 $2.29
-17.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$2.21 $2.21
-19.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$2.23 $2.23
4.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$2.65 $2.65
-41.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$10.38 $10.38
9.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$12.14 $12.14
-12.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$2.17 $2.17
4.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$2.32 $2.32
21.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
$1.02 $1.02
160.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
$31.46 $31.46
145.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
$2.67 $2.67
19.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$1.34 $1.34
10.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$36.63 $36.63
-10.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$1.14 $1.14
17.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$36.0K $36.0K
-21.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$25.9K $25.9K
-24.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$242 $242
-68.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$52.2 $52.2
-34.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$76.5 $76.5
-44.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$68.9 $68.9
-56.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
$20.14 $20.14
0.70%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$13.77 $13.77
-19.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
$1,845 $1,845
-72.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
$23.2K $23.2K
-30.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$62.8 $62.8
-8.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$35.23 $35.23
6.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$110 $110
-16.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$133 $133
-17.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$2,008 $2,008
-37.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$1,620 $1,620
-41.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$3,420 $3,420
-37.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$2,785 $2,785
-42.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$4,586 $4,586
8.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$4,299 $4,299
-10.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Flagstaff, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
$3,743 $3,743
-24.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.46
-30.65%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Flagstaff, AZ: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Flagstaff, AZ
$1.6K 70.9% $672
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Flagstaff, AZ
$337 2.6% $9.2
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Flagstaff, AZ
$343 19% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Flagstaff, AZ
$370 143% $218
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Flagstaff, AZ
$154 15.2% $20
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Flagstaff, AZ
$45 54.4% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Flagstaff, AZ
$96 85.2% $44

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $2,008 in Flagstaff, AZ. 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 32% higher in Flagstaff, AZ, 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 $70.0 in Montreal versus $81.0 in Flagstaff, AZ. Groceries tell a different story – $346 in Montreal vs $337 in Flagstaff, AZ – so Flagstaff, AZ wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Flagstaff, AZ
🕒 Local time
13:32 1:32 PM
10:32 10:32 AM
3 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
76,831
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 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 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Flagstaff, AZ 3,390 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Flagstaff, AZ

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 Flagstaff, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Flagstaff, AZ?
Flagstaff, AZ costs about 47% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal and in Flagstaff, AZ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $4,448 in Flagstaff, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Flagstaff, AZ?
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.
How expensive is transport in Montreal compared to Flagstaff, AZ?
Public transport costs about 146% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Montreal and in Flagstaff, AZ?
Kindergarten costs $507 per month in Montreal and $1,845 in Flagstaff, AZ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or in Flagstaff, AZ?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,018, than in Flagstaff, AZ at $2,965. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Flagstaff, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Flagstaff, AZ?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,018 versus $2,965 in Flagstaff, AZ. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Flagstaff, AZ?
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.
Should I move to Montreal or to Flagstaff, AZ?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Flagstaff, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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