Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Independence, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Independence, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,084 in Montreal versus $2,155 in Independence, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,161 in Montreal versus $3,100 in Independence, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,239 in Montreal versus $4,046 in Independence, MO.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 3% less than in Independence, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 55% above, Independence, MO 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 CA$22.30

$20.15 $20.15

-20.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.4 CA$102

$75.1 $75.1

-2.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.32

$11.55 $11.55

-5.02%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.29

$4.95 $4.95

-23.43%

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

$2.16 CA$3.01

$3.06 $3.06

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.94 $1.94

-22.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 CA$8.24

$5.96 $5.96

-1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 CA$9.52

$7.17 $7.17

-4.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.23

$1.21 $1.21

90.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 CA$4.72

$3.52 $3.52

-3.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.36

$4.67 $4.67

-17.99%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.75

$3.73 $3.73

-8.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.11 CA$22.50

$11.46 $11.46

40.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.46

$10.40 $10.40

13.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 CA$21.40

$12.69 $12.69

20.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.11

$4.64 $4.64

-21.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 CA$2.25

$1.50 $1.50

7.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 CA$5.68

$5.79 $5.79

-29.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 CA$6.14

$6.61 $6.61

-33.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.56 $2.56

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.72

$3.69 $3.69

-27.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$1.98 $1.98

15.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.48

$2.53 $2.53

-30.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.07 CA$18.25

$8.74 $8.74

49.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.70 CA$14.94

$15.21 $15.21

-29.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 CA$4.37

$1.82 $1.82

71.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 CA$4.82

$4.53 $4.53

-23.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$2.05 $2.05

38.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.92

$2.94 $2.94

19.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$1.59 $1.59

-9.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.29 CA$46.48

$20.87 $20.87

59.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$0.82 $0.82

50.00%

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

$25.4K CA$35.4K

$34.9K $34.9K

-27.32%

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

$21.5K CA$30.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-19.81%

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

$73.9 CA$103

$250 $250

-70.40%

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

$36.87 CA$51.5

$52.2 $52.2

-29.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.97 CA$60.0

$68.0 $68.0

-36.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.82 CA$59.8

$43.16 $43.16

-0.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 CA$23.55

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 CA$15.63

$13.97 $13.97

-19.90%

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

$608 CA$850

$930 $930

-34.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,823 CA$8,132

$24.2K $24.2K

-75.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 CA$85.3

$52.7 $52.7

15.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.96 CA$62.8

$37.34 $37.34

20.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$143

$96.0 $96.0

6.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$170

$115 $115

6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 CA$1,674

$971 $971

23.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$942 CA$1,316

$838 $838

12.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 CA$2,914

$2,298 $2,298

-9.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 CA$2,178

$1,300 $1,300

19.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,093 CA$7,112

$1,506 $1,506

238.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,283

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,880 CA$4,022

$3,511 $3,511

-17.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.5

-22.92%

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

Last update for Montreal: June 7, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,198 in Montreal and $971 in Independence, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Independence, MO pays 22% 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 $75.0 in Independence, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $396 per month, with Montreal 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 Independence, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and Independence, MO differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,084 vs $2,155 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Independence, MO earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,198 in Montreal versus $971 in Independence, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Independence, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,084 per month in Montreal versus $2,155 in Independence, MO – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,084 in Montreal versus $2,155 in Independence, MO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Independence, MO. 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 Independence, MO 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 3% less than in Independence, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.