🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,502 in Fort Collins, CO.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Montreal versus $3,709 in Fort Collins, CO.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Montreal versus $4,916 in Fort Collins, CO.
🙂Living in Montreal costs roughly 18% less than in Fort Collins, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal54% above, Fort Collins, CO87% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.92CA$22.14
$18.24$18.24
-12.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1CA$102
$70.9$70.9
3.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15CA$15.50
$11.59$11.59
-3.80%
Cappuccino
$3.80CA$5.29
$4.81$4.81
-21.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.03
$2.05$2.05
6.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.03
$2.40$2.40
-39.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12CA$8.51
$6.81$6.81
-10.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78CA$9.42
$6.39$6.39
6.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33CA$3.24
$1.01$1.01
130.69%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39CA$4.72
$3.15$3.15
7.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73CA$5.19
$3.26$3.26
14.42%
Eggs
$3.38CA$4.70
$4.26$4.26
-20.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.25CA$22.60
$10.83$10.83
50.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54CA$16.05
$8.79$8.79
31.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.24CA$21.19
$16.63$16.63
-8.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.20
$3.90$3.90
-4.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70CA$2.37
$1.57$1.57
8.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.11CA$5.71
$4.37$4.37
-5.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35CA$6.05
$5.04$5.04
-13.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71CA$3.76
$2.27$2.27
19.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.64
$1.88$1.88
39.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25CA$3.13
$2.42$2.42
-7.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.40
$1.95$1.95
-11.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.31CA$18.51
$9.39$9.39
41.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.78CA$15.00
$19.29$19.29
-44.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01CA$4.19
$2.27$2.27
32.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46CA$4.82
$2.66$2.66
30.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74CA$3.81
$2.01$2.01
36.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.7CA$101
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63CA$5.05
$2.57$2.57
41.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46CA$2.03
$1.43$1.43
2.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.44CA$46.50
$25.38$25.38
31.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21CA$1.69
$0.87$0.87
39.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.3K
$27.3K$27.3K
-9.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KCA$30.2K
$25.4K$25.4K
-14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0CA$106
$169$169
-55.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.72CA$49.68
$43.79$43.79
-18.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.86CA$59.6
$76.7$76.7
-44.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.92CA$59.7
$59.6$59.6
-27.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23CA$23.97
$15.13$15.13
13.88%
Cinema Ticket
$11.09CA$15.42
$11.88$11.88
-6.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$620CA$862
$1,554$1,554
-60.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,834CA$8,114
$12.6K$12.6K
-53.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$87.1
$68.4$68.4
-8.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41CA$61.8
$91.5$91.5
-51.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101CA$140
$80.1$80.1
25.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CA$166
$107$107
11.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,211CA$1,684
$1,810$1,810
-33.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$960CA$1,334
$1,241$1,241
-22.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,035CA$2,831
$2,782$2,782
-26.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,589CA$2,210
$2,262$2,262
-29.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,181CA$7,205
$2,982$2,982
73.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,934CA$5,470
$2,947$2,947
33.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Fort Collins, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,960CA$4,116
$4,422$4,422
-33.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
6.59
-23.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Last update for Fort Collins, CO: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Montreal and $1,810 in Fort Collins, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort Collins, CO pays 49% 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 $71.0 in Fort Collins, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $368 per month, with Fort Collins, CO 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 Fort Collins, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Fort Collins, CO?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Fort Collins, CO. 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 Fort Collins, CO?
On paper, Fort Collins, CO earns 49% less. 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 vs Fort Collins, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,810 in Fort Collins, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or Fort Collins, CO?
Shoppers in Fort Collins, CO pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Fort Collins, CO?
All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Montreal versus $2,502 in Fort Collins, CO – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Fort Collins, CO?
At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,502 in Fort Collins, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Fort Collins, CO. 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 Fort Collins, CO?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,063 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 Fort Collins, CO?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Fort Collins, CO 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 21% less than in Fort Collins, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.