Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Florianopolis

For one person, living is cheaper in Florianopolis: $1,276 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Florianopolis
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,276
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Florianopolis

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,003 in Montreal versus $1,276 in Florianopolis.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Florianopolis $1,276

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,048 in Montreal versus $2,070 in Florianopolis.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Florianopolis $2,070

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,092 in Montreal versus $2,864 in Florianopolis.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Florianopolis $2,864

Living in Montreal is roughly 57% more expensive than in Florianopolis, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montreal is 49% above, Florianopolis is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$9.55 R$47.68
102.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$45.58 R$228
65.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$7.95 R$39.69
33.71%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$2.40 R$11.98
63.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$1.36 R$6.78
41.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.08 R$5.40
37.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$2.96 R$14.78
112.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$3.50 R$17.48
105.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$1.03 R$5.17
115.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$1.62 R$8.10
88.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$1.27 R$6.34
131.50%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$2.63 R$13.14
34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$9.71 R$48.47
35.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$4.16 R$20.75
170.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$10.04 R$50.1
37.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$2.32 R$11.57
46.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$1.30 R$6.51
10.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$1.48 R$7.38
120.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$1.65 R$8.23
74.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$1.04 R$5.20
78.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$0.99 R$4.96
83.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$0.81 R$4.06
200.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$0.70 R$3.52
117.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$2.93 R$14.63
290.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$10.14 R$50.6
2.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.47 R$7.35
51.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$2.90 R$14.47
-2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$1.35 R$6.75
91.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
$81.9 R$409
-6.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$1.59 R$7.93
104.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.63 R$8.15
-9.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
$12.07 R$60.2
173.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.31 R$6.56
3.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$24.1K R$120.3K
13.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$34.3K R$171.0K
-41.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$85.5 R$427
-10.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$12.52 R$62.5
177.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$22.21 R$111
92.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$29.90 R$149
-3.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$19.18 R$95.7
6.00%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$7.84 R$39.13
42.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$771 R$3,851
-34.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$11.0K R$54.7K
45.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$65.4 R$327
-10.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$69.8 R$349
-45.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$113 R$566
-18.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$68.9 R$344
53.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$656 R$3,273
89.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$507 R$2,531
94.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$1,362 R$6,796
54.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$1,061 R$5,297
52.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$2,805 R$14.0K
79.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$1,584 R$7,905
141.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Florianopolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$996 R$4,971
193.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
10.61
-57.96%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Florianopolis: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Florianopolis
$507 48.6% $479
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Florianopolis
$206 40% $138
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Florianopolis
$161 45.2% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Florianopolis
$120 21.7% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Florianopolis
$143 7.6% $10
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Florianopolis
$97 0.8% $0.8
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Florianopolis
$46 11.3% $5.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,240 in Montreal and $656 in Florianopolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 193% 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: $75.0 in Montreal vs $46.00 in Florianopolis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $206 per month, with Florianopolis cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Florianopolis
🕒 Local time
01:12 1:12 AM
02:12 2:12 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
537,211
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Florianopolis 8,510 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Florianopolis

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 Florianopolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Florianopolis?
Florianopolis wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Montreal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Florianopolis the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or in Florianopolis?
Average pay runs 193% 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 Florianopolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,240 in Montreal versus $656 in Florianopolis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Florianopolis?
Dining out is cheaper in Florianopolis – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $75.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Florianopolis?
All in, you'll spend $2,003 per month in Montreal versus $1,276 in Florianopolis – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Florianopolis?
At $1,276 in Florianopolis versus $2,003 in Montreal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Florianopolis but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Florianopolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Florianopolis?
Both work as nomad bases, but Florianopolis delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,276 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Florianopolis hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Florianopolis?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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