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: $2,055 in Montreal versus $2,500 in Hempstead, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $3,730 in Hempstead, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,191 in Montreal versus $4,960 in Hempstead, NY.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 18% less than in Hempstead, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 54% above, Hempstead, NY 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.99 CA$22.53

$16.68 $16.68

-4.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 CA$105

$73.6 $73.6

1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.41

$13.17 $13.17

-16.93%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$4.97 $4.97

-22.74%

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

$2.08 CA$2.94

$2.49 $2.49

-16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.11

$2.16 $2.16

-30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.23 CA$8.77

$7.13 $7.13

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 CA$9.22

$8.20 $8.20

-20.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 CA$3.33

$1.19 $1.19

98.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.58

$1.68 $1.68

93.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.40

$2.39 $2.39

60.25%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.86

$3.50 $3.50

-1.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.11 CA$22.69

$9.68 $9.68

66.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.91 CA$16.77

$10.26 $10.26

16.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.44 CA$21.75

$12.05 $12.05

28.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.18

$2.97 $2.97

23.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 CA$2.28

$1.59 $1.59

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.81

$1.83 $1.83

125.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.28

$4.70 $4.70

-5.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.79

$4.28 $4.28

-37.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.59

$2.59 $2.59

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 CA$3.20

$2.47 $2.47

-8.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.45

$2.19 $2.19

-20.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.32 CA$18.76

$13.27 $13.27

0.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.59 CA$14.91

$15.27 $15.27

-30.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 CA$4.26

$1.89 $1.89

59.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CA$4.95

$3.47 $3.47

1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.96

$1.96 $1.96

43.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 CA$104

$133 $133

-44.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 CA$4.91

$6.02 $6.02

-42.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.98

$1.40 $1.40

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.86 CA$47.70

$29.72 $29.72

13.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$0.88 $0.88

38.64%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

$29.2K $29.2K

-12.93%

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

$21.4K CA$30.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

-17.57%

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

$75.0 CA$106

$147 $147

-48.85%

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

$35.87 CA$50.5

$43.06 $43.06

-16.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.06 CA$60.7

$54.9 $54.9

-21.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.58 CA$60.0

$42.34 $42.34

0.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.21 CA$24.24

Cinema Ticket

$11.01 CA$15.51

$12.68 $12.68

-13.17%

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

$621 CA$875

$1,423 $1,423

-56.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,904 CA$8,316

$23.5K $23.5K

-74.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 CA$87.9

$36.83 $36.83

69.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.39 CA$63.9

$23.54 $23.54

92.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$147

$86.3 $86.3

20.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 CA$169

$71.4 $71.4

67.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 CA$1,703

$1,573 $1,573

-23.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 CA$1,345

$1,361 $1,361

-29.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,103 CA$2,962

$2,615 $2,615

-19.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 CA$2,249

$2,195 $2,195

-27.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,209 CA$7,338

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,729 CA$5,253

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,950 CA$4,156

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.57

-23.74%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 21, 2026

Last update for Hempstead, NY: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Montreal and $1,573 in Hempstead, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Montreal vs $74.0 in Hempstead, NY. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $325, 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 22% in total monthly costs ($2,055 vs $2,500 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,083 in Montreal and $3,750 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Montreal versus $1,573 in Hempstead, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Hempstead, NY pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $74.0 in Hempstead, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,055 in Montreal versus $2,500 in Hempstead, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Hempstead, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal 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 Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Hempstead, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.