Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Itu

For one person, living is cheaper in Itu: $747 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Itu
🇧🇷 Brazil
$747
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Itu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montreal and in Itu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,059 per month in Montreal vs $747 in Itu, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Itu $747

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $1,375 in Itu, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Itu $1,375

A family of three spends $4,187 per month in Montreal vs $2,003 in Itu, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Itu $2,003

Montreal costs about 176% more than Itu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 52% above the global median, while Itu is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$5.85 R$29.63
222.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$40.82 R$207
79.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$6.36 R$32.23
65.72%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$1.93 R$9.77
105.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$0.83 R$4.20
133.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$0.52 R$2.66
201.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$2.47 R$12.52
159.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$4.35 R$22.05
65.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.13 R$5.73
105.31%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$1.47 R$7.43
117.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$1.14 R$5.79
179.82%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$2.70 R$13.71
36.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$8.78 R$44.49
50.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$4.06 R$20.58
187.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$6.17 R$31.29
126.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$1.84 R$9.34
70.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.44 R$7.30
0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$0.82 R$4.18
312.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$1.81 R$9.19
71.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$1.02 R$5.15
89.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$1.42 R$7.21
28.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$0.83 R$4.18
184.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$0.49 R$2.48
206.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$2.89 R$14.64
284.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$6.19 R$31.38
71.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$1.71 R$8.65
29.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$2.07 R$10.50
37.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Itu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
$0.99 R$5.04
164.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
$43.71 R$222
81.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$0.97 R$4.94
232.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$1.02 R$5.15
45.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$9.46 R$47.96
240.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.02 R$5.18
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$24.1K R$122.2K
14.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$28.4K R$143.8K
-25.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$43.68 R$221
76.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$12.01 R$60.9
184.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$17.17 R$87.1
145.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$25.62 R$130
20.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
$28.11 R$142
-30.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$5.07 R$25.72
126.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$432 R$2,188
17.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$7,615 R$38.6K
113.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$50.4 R$256
13.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$40.38 R$205
-5.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$69.3 R$351
32.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$49.27 R$250
122.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Itu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
$323 R$1,639
282.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
$198 R$1,003
393.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
$814 R$4,125
167.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
$659 R$3,339
144.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$1,739 R$8,813
194.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$1,190 R$6,031
214.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Itu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$296 R$1,501
898.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11.12
-59.71%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Itu: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Itu
$198 79.7% $779
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Itu
$177 49.6% $174
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Itu
$115 60.3% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Itu
$73 52.5% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Itu
$94 29.5% $39
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Itu
$54 46.4% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Itu
$36 33.5% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,237 in Montreal versus $323 in Itu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 899% higher in Montreal, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $41.00 in Itu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $177 – making Itu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Itu
🕒 Local time
06:12 6:12 AM
07:12 7:12 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
168,240
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Itu 8,100 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Itu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Itu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Montreal and in Itu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,059 in Montreal, $747 in Itu – roughly 176% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Montreal compared to Itu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,089 per month in Montreal and $1,120 in Itu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Montreal and Itu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Itu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $41.00 in Itu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Montreal or Itu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,059 in Montreal and $747 in Itu. That's a gap of about 176%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Itu, where all-in costs run around $747, than in Montreal at $2,059. In Itu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Montreal and Itu?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $747 in Itu to $2,059 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Montreal or Itu safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Montreal and Itu?
If budget matters most, go with Itu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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