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: $2,073 in Montreal versus $2,165 in Independence, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Montreal versus $3,152 in Independence, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,277 in Montreal versus $4,140 in Independence, MO.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 4% less than in Independence, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 56% above, Independence, MO 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 CA$22.77

$20.09 $20.09

-19.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 CA$104

$73.7 $73.7

0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 CA$15.64

$11.40 $11.40

-2.28%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.37

$4.98 $4.98

-23.09%

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

$2.13 CA$3.00

$2.99 $2.99

-28.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.98 $1.98

-26.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 CA$8.58

$5.82 $5.82

4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.46 CA$9.07

$6.79 $6.79

-4.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.14

$1.21 $1.21

85.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 CA$4.52

$3.49 $3.49

-7.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 CA$5.13

$4.63 $4.63

-21.17%

Eggs

$3.36 CA$4.72

$3.55 $3.55

-5.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 CA$22.41

$11.71 $11.71

36.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.84 CA$16.62

$10.67 $10.67

10.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 CA$21.31

$13.08 $13.08

16.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$4.50 $4.50

-16.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.38

$1.45 $1.45

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$6.13 $6.13

-35.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 CA$6.25

$6.77 $6.77

-34.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.73

$2.54 $2.54

4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 CA$3.61

$3.76 $3.76

-31.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CA$3.12

$2.07 $2.07

7.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.40

$2.44 $2.44

-29.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.02 CA$18.27

$8.83 $8.83

47.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 CA$15.08

$14.76 $14.76

-27.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.30

$1.81 $1.81

69.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.98

$4.58 $4.58

-22.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 CA$104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 CA$5.11

$3.04 $3.04

19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.02

$1.58 $1.58

-8.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.18 CA$47.98

$20.91 $20.91

63.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.64

$0.81 $0.81

44.44%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$35.4K $35.4K

-29.63%

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

$22.0K CA$30.9K

$26.6K $26.6K

-17.01%

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

$75.2 CA$106

$249 $249

-69.80%

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

$36.93 CA$51.8

$53.1 $53.1

-30.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.25 CA$62.1

$68.0 $68.0

-34.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.03 CA$59.0

$42.23 $42.23

-0.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.79 CA$23.56

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 CA$15.26

$14.08 $14.08

-22.80%

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

$624 CA$876

$903 $903

-30.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 CA$8,220

$24.5K $24.5K

-76.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 CA$86.6

$53.1 $53.1

16.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.74 CA$62.8

$37.79 $37.79

18.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$143

$95.9 $95.9

5.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$169

$111 $111

8.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 CA$1,712

$1,000 $1,000

22.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 CA$1,341

$850 $850

12.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 CA$2,869

$2,364 $2,364

-13.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 CA$2,223

$1,300 $1,300

21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,158 CA$7,239

$1,490 $1,490

246.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,803 CA$5,338

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,899 CA$4,069

$3,440 $3,440

-15.74%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,220 in Montreal and $1,000 in Independence, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Independence, MO pays 19% 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: $74.0 in Montreal vs $74.0 in Independence, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $389 vs $397 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 4% in total monthly costs ($2,073 vs $2,165 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Independence, MO. 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: $1,220 in Montreal versus $1,000 in Independence, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Independence, MO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,073 per month in Montreal versus $2,165 in Independence, MO – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,073 in Montreal versus $2,165 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 4% less than in Independence, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.