Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Jonesboro, AR

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,003 a month against $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Jonesboro, AR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,154
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Jonesboro, AR

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 Jonesboro, AR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,003 in Montreal versus $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Jonesboro, AR $2,154

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,048 in Montreal versus $2,995 in Jonesboro, AR.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Jonesboro, AR $2,995

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,092 in Montreal versus $3,836 in Jonesboro, AR.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Jonesboro, AR $3,836

Living in Montreal costs roughly 7% less than in Jonesboro, AR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Jonesboro, AR 61% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$27.74 $27.74
-30.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$59.9 $59.9
26.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$10.48 $10.48
1.43%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$4.98 $4.98
-21.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$2.29 $2.29
-16.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.81 $1.81
-18.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$4.42 $4.42
42.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$6.66 $6.66
7.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$1.09 $1.09
103.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$3.40 $3.40
-10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$2.17 $2.17
35.48%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$3.71 $3.71
-4.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$8.69 $8.69
51.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$8.73 $8.73
28.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$11.27 $11.27
22.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$4.38 $4.38
-22.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$1.14 $1.14
26.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$3.00 $3.00
8.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$3.80 $3.80
-24.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$1.64 $1.64
13.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$2.45 $2.45
-25.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.77 $1.77
37.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$1.99 $1.99
-23.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$8.09 $8.09
41.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$13.38 $13.38
-22.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.81 $1.81
22.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$3.88 $3.88
-27.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$1.11 $1.11
132.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
$30.35 $30.35
153.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$3.04 $3.04
6.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.39 $1.39
6.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
$27.60 $27.60
19.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$0.86 $0.86
58.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$32.2K $32.2K
-14.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$26.5K $26.5K
-24.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$226 $226
-66.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$46.16 $46.16
-24.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$73.5 $73.5
-41.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$39.95 $39.95
-27.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$10.76 $10.76
88.94%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$11.86 $11.86
-5.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$758 $758
-33.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$8,352 $8,352
91.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$62.3 $62.3
-6.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$37.27 $37.27
1.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$77.3 $77.3
19.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$106 $106
-0.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$1,131 $1,131
9.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$856 $856
15.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$1,387 $1,387
51.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$1,169 $1,169
38.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$1,558 $1,558
223.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$1,547 $1,547
147.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Jonesboro, AR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$3,335 $3,335
-12.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
6.36
-29.87%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Jonesboro, AR
$856 13.2% $130
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Jonesboro, AR
$316 8% $28
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Jonesboro, AR
$365 24.6% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Jonesboro, AR
$346 125% $192
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Jonesboro, AR
$127 4% $5.3
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Jonesboro, AR
$45 54.2% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Jonesboro, AR
$64 24% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,240 in Montreal and $1,131 in Jonesboro, AR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jonesboro, AR pays 14% 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: $75.0 in Montreal vs $60.0 in Jonesboro, AR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $316 per month, with Jonesboro, AR cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Jonesboro, AR
🕒 Local time
04:55 4:55 AM
03:55 3:55 AM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
78,576
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Jonesboro, AR 1,790 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Jonesboro, AR

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 Jonesboro, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jonesboro, AR cheaper than Montreal?
Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and leisure. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Montreal or Jonesboro, AR?
On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Jonesboro, AR. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Montreal and Jonesboro, AR?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,240 in Montreal versus $1,131 in Jonesboro, AR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Montreal and in Jonesboro, AR?
All in, you'll spend $2,003 per month in Montreal versus $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 153% less than in Jonesboro, AR. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Montreal or in Jonesboro, AR?
At $2,003 in Montreal versus $2,154 in Jonesboro, AR, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Jonesboro, AR. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montreal or Jonesboro, AR more family-friendly?
For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jonesboro, AR, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montreal or Jonesboro, AR?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Jonesboro, AR are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Jonesboro, AR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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