Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Louisville, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Louisville, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,056 in Montreal versus $2,230 in Louisville, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,112 in Montreal versus $3,400 in Louisville, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,167 in Montreal versus $4,570 in Louisville, KY.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 8% less than in Louisville, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 50% above, Louisville, KY 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.85 CA$24.70
$14.78 $14.78
20.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3 CA$100
$73.6 $73.6
-1.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 CA$15.11
$9.66 $9.66
13.04%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.49
$5.21 $5.21
-23.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.87
$2.15 $2.15
-3.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.14
$1.59 $1.59
-2.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.41 CA$8.88
$5.84 $5.84
9.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 CA$10.09
$7.14 $7.14
2.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 CA$3.30
$0.78 $0.78
206.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 CA$4.44
$3.24 $3.24
-0.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.25
$5.17 $5.17
-40.62%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.09
$3.71 $3.71
-0.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.57 CA$18.78
$15.47 $15.47
-12.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 CA$16.09
$11.75 $11.75
-1.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 CA$19.33
$16.36 $16.36
-14.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 CA$5.10
$5.65 $5.65
-34.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 CA$2.16
$1.66 $1.66
-6.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.72
$4.68 $4.68
-27.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 CA$4.19
$4.67 $4.67
-35.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 CA$2.74
$2.82 $2.82
-29.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.52
$2.91 $2.91
-37.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CA$3.54
$2.26 $2.26
13.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 CA$1.92
$2.27 $2.27
-38.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49 CA$15.90
$9.17 $9.17
25.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 CA$15.11
$15.63 $15.63
-30.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 CA$3.13
$2.78 $2.78
-18.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.16
$3.91 $3.91
-23.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.69 CA$3.72
$1.73 $1.73
55.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.3 CA$104
$50.0 $50.0
50.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 CA$4.63
$2.73 $2.73
22.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.08
$1.39 $1.39
7.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.70 CA$46.63
$30.58 $30.58
10.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 CA$1.79
$0.88 $0.88
46.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K CA$39.1K
$37.1K $37.1K
-23.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$27.6K
$25.4K $25.4K
-21.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.4 CA$111
$179 $179
-55.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.23 CA$47.37
$59.7 $59.7
-42.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.39 CA$57.3
$67.5 $67.5
-38.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.24 CA$40.46
$20.45 $20.45
42.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.89 CA$27.52
$2.44 $2.44
715.16%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71 CA$16.20
$11.08 $11.08
5.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 CA$781
$1,259 $1,259
-55.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K CA$23.3K
$16.1K $16.1K
4.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 CA$82.3
$49.17 $49.17
21.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.13 CA$58.3
$41.66 $41.66
1.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 CA$148
$94.7 $94.7
13.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 CA$153
$111 $111
-0.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 CA$1,776
$1,536 $1,536
-16.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 CA$1,370
$1,018 $1,018
-2.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,260 CA$3,127
$1,970 $1,970
14.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,667 CA$2,307
$1,913 $1,913
-12.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,287 CA$7,316
$2,680 $2,680
97.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,813 CA$5,276
$1,802 $1,802
111.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,019 CA$4,177
$4,027 $4,027
-25.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
6.03
-26.87%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Louisville, KY: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Montreal and $1,536 in Louisville, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Louisville, KY pays 33% 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: $72.0 in Montreal vs $74.0 in Louisville, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $414 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 Louisville, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Louisville, KY?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Louisville, 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 in Louisville, KY?
On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Louisville, KY. 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 compared to Louisville, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,536 in Louisville, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Louisville, KY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Louisville, KY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Louisville, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $74.0 in Louisville, KY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or in Louisville, KY?
At $2,056 in Montreal versus $2,230 in Louisville, KY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Louisville, 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 Louisville, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,056 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 Louisville, KY?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Louisville, 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 8% less than in Louisville, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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