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: $2,108 in Montreal versus $2,074 in Independence, MO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,226 in Montreal versus $3,052 in Independence, MO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,344 in Montreal versus $4,029 in Independence, MO.

Living in Montreal is roughly 2% more expensive than in Independence, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 53% above, Independence, MO 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.73

$20.24 $20.24

-11.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$76.4 $76.4

-3.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$12.21 $12.21

-11.47%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$5.39 $5.39

-27.27%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.63 $2.63

-22.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$1.96 $1.96

-22.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.14

$7.17 $7.17

-8.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$7.34 $7.34

-2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$1.15 $1.15

106.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$3.20 $3.20

0.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$4.58 $4.58

-35.59%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$4.26 $4.26

-13.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$10.06 $10.06

35.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$9.85 $9.85

21.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$13.67 $13.67

2.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$4.56 $4.56

-20.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.63 $1.63

-4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$4.31 $4.31

-23.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$3.42 $3.42

-10.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$3.24 $3.24

-38.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

$3.16 $3.16

-39.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$1.87 $1.87

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.14 $2.14

-35.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$7.91 $7.91

49.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$15.13 $15.13

-28.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$1.82 $1.82

30.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$3.91 $3.91

-25.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

$2.55 $2.55

29.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.27 $1.27

14.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$24.99 $24.99

31.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$0.90 $0.90

45.56%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$34.5K $34.5K

-16.67%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

-17.37%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$251 $251

-68.11%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$64.4 $64.4

-45.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$71.6 $71.6

-40.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.50

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.93

$14.86 $14.86

-22.75%

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

$565 CA$784

$973 $973

-41.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$19.1K $19.1K

-13.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$56.3 $56.3

6.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$36.85 $36.85

13.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$96.5 $96.5

7.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$115 $115

-2.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$1,008 $1,008

28.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,407

$856 $856

18.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$2,063 $2,063

10.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$1,286 $1,286

30.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,151

$1,504 $1,504

242.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

$3,503 $3,503

-13.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

6.12

-27.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Independence, MO: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,294 in Montreal and $1,008 in Independence, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Independence, MO pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Montreal vs $76.0 in Independence, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $363 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 2% in total monthly costs ($2,108 vs $2,074 including rent). Independence, MO is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 16% 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: $1,294 in Montreal versus $1,008 in Independence, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Montreal pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,108 per month in Montreal versus $2,074 in Independence, MO – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,074 in Independence, MO versus $2,108 in Montreal, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Independence, MO but tight or insufficient in Montreal. The gap between the two cities makes Independence, MO 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 Independence, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Montreal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.