Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Hempstead, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Hempstead, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,042 in Montreal versus $1,475 in Hempstead, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,163 in Montreal versus $2,303 in Hempstead, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,284 in Montreal versus $3,132 in Hempstead, NY.

Living in Montreal is roughly 38% more expensive than in Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Hempstead, NY 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.49

$19.91 $19.91

-8.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.8

$76.0 $76.0

-7.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.23

$12.64 $12.64

-13.84%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.49

$5.13 $5.13

-23.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.76

$3.02 $3.02

-34.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.23

$2.27 $2.27

-29.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.12

$5.91 $5.91

10.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.13

$7.96 $7.96

-9.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$1.28 $1.28

78.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$1.60 $1.60

94.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$2.34 $2.34

29.49%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.03

$3.65 $3.65

-1.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.99

$9.93 $9.93

43.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.93

$11.98 $11.98

-4.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.37

$12.32 $12.32

18.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.81

$3.00 $3.00

14.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.63 $1.63

-6.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.48

$1.77 $1.77

80.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.04

$5.21 $5.21

-44.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.67

$2.73 $2.73

-30.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.52

$2.66 $2.66

-32.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.43 $2.43

5.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$2.47 $2.47

-39.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.35

$12.80 $12.80

-8.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.85

$14.97 $14.97

-29.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.32

$2.39 $2.39

-0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$4.25 $4.25

-28.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$2.84 $2.84

-4.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$104

$131 $131

-43.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$2.66 $2.66

19.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$0.63 $0.63

130.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.90

$24.38 $24.38

37.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.08 $1.08

21.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.7K CA$40.1K

$36.5K $36.5K

-21.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K CA$28.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

-19.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.2 CA$109

$220 $220

-64.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.53 CA$49.70

$63.0 $63.0

-43.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.7

$67.7 $67.7

-35.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$43.14

$111 $111

-72.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.97

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.20

$15.59 $15.59

-25.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$552 CA$772

$2,256 $2,256

-75.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$23.1K

$42.1K $42.1K

-60.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.5

$48.79 $48.79

13.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.6

$47.09 $47.09

-18.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$102 $102

-2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$146

$139 $139

-25.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,726

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,385

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,037

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,289

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,176

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,209

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,279

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

6.16

-27.92%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $71.0 in Montreal vs $76.0 in Hempstead, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $354 vs $341, with Hempstead, NY cheaper for home cooking.

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 Hempstead, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and Hempstead, NY differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($2,042 vs $1,475 including rent). Hempstead, NY is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,063 in Montreal and $2,212 in Hempstead, NY to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Montreal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Hempstead, NY – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $71.0 in Montreal. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,475 in Hempstead, NY versus $2,042 in Montreal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hempstead, NY but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Hempstead, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Hempstead, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Hempstead, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.