🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,088 in Montreal versus $2,318 in Lexington, KY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $3,375 in Lexington, KY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,157 in Montreal versus $4,432 in Lexington, KY.
🙂Living in Montreal costs roughly 10% less than in Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal56% above, Lexington, KY73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.89CA$21.77
$15.06$15.06
5.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7CA$102
$69.6$69.6
7.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.83CA$14.83
$9.98$9.98
8.52%
Cappuccino
$3.80CA$5.21
$4.83$4.83
-21.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.88
$2.32$2.32
-9.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51CA$2.08
$1.83$1.83
-17.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.09CA$8.34
$4.65$4.65
30.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48CA$8.88
$8.14$8.14
-20.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CA$3.18
$0.71$0.71
226.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26CA$4.47
$2.99$2.99
9.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.19
$4.75$4.75
-20.21%
Eggs
$3.46CA$4.73
$3.20$3.20
8.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.07CA$22.02
$12.88$12.88
24.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.78CA$16.14
$10.97$10.97
7.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.13CA$20.73
$16.20$16.20
-6.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.12
$4.76$4.76
-21.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71CA$2.34
$1.30$1.30
31.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.92CA$5.37
$3.50$3.50
12.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28CA$5.87
$4.35$4.35
-1.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74CA$3.75
$3.30$3.30
-16.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.64CA$3.62
$3.30$3.30
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28CA$3.13
$1.96$1.96
16.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.34
$1.86$1.86
-8.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.39CA$18.35
$8.02$8.02
66.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.95CA$15.00
$12.83$12.83
-14.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00CA$4.11
$2.79$2.79
7.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60CA$4.94
$3.29$3.29
9.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82CA$3.86
$1.03$1.03
173.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.1CA$103
$30.23$30.23
148.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52CA$4.82
$5.07$5.07
-30.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46CA$2.00
$1.58$1.58
-7.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.29CA$46.97
$29.01$29.01
18.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19CA$1.63
$0.80$0.80
48.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.3K
$22.8K$22.8K
10.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KCA$30.0K
$25.6K$25.6K
-14.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.7CA$102
$208$208
-64.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.83CA$49.09
$70.4$70.4
-49.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.53CA$59.6
$67.9$67.9
-35.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.06CA$59.0
$34.36$34.36
25.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.90CA$23.15
$30.43$30.43
-44.46%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10CA$15.21
$14.97$14.97
-25.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$609CA$834
$1,154$1,154
-47.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,925CA$8,117
$25.0K$25.0K
-76.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8CA$86.0
$59.5$59.5
5.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85CA$61.5
$35.14$35.14
27.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101CA$138
$104$104
-2.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118CA$162
$159$159
-25.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,221CA$1,673
$1,096$1,096
11.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$955CA$1,308
$1,024$1,024
-6.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,105CA$2,883
$2,145$2,145
-1.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,600CA$2,192
$1,719$1,719
-6.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,308CA$7,272
$2,097$2,097
153.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,045CA$5,542
$2,046$2,046
97.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Lexington, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,031CA$4,152
$3,928$3,928
-22.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
6.67
-24.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lexington, KY: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,221 in Montreal and $1,096 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lexington, KY pays 30% 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 $70.0 in Lexington, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $371 per month, with Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Lexington, KY?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Lexington, KY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or Lexington, KY?
On paper, Lexington, KY earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal vs Lexington, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,221 in Montreal versus $1,096 in Lexington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Lexington, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $70.0 in Lexington, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Lexington, KY?
All in, you'll spend $2,088 per month in Montreal versus $2,318 in Lexington, KY – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Lexington, KY?
At $2,088 in Montreal versus $2,318 in Lexington, KY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Lexington, KY. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Lexington, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,088 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Lexington, KY?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Lexington, KY 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Lexington, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.