๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,080 in Montreal versus $2,324 in Louisville, KY.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,136 in Montreal versus $3,596 in Louisville, KY.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,193 in Montreal versus $4,868 in Louisville, KY.
๐Living in Montreal costs roughly 11% less than in Louisville, KY, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal55% above, Louisville, KY73% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.16CA$22.14
$17.69$17.69
-8.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3CA$102
$76.7$76.7
-3.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.94CA$14.98
$10.02$10.02
9.18%
Cappuccino
$3.68CA$5.05
$5.20$5.20
-29.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07CA$2.84
$2.32$2.32
-10.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49CA$2.05
$2.02$2.02
-26.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98CA$8.20
$5.85$5.85
2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76CA$9.27
$7.36$7.36
-8.15%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CA$3.18
$0.50$0.50
364.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.21CA$4.40
$2.78$2.78
15.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.13
$5.17$5.17
-27.66%
Eggs
$3.27CA$4.48
$3.10$3.10
5.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.08CA$22.02
$15.68$15.68
2.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56CA$15.84
$12.14$12.14
-4.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.66CA$21.45
$14.24$14.24
9.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.67CA$5.03
$5.34$5.34
-31.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70CA$2.33
$1.52$1.52
11.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.06CA$5.56
$4.24$4.24
-4.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25CA$5.82
$5.84$5.84
-27.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74CA$3.76
$2.65$2.65
3.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66CA$3.65
$2.61$2.61
1.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16CA$2.96
$1.96$1.96
10.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72CA$2.35
$2.05$2.05
-16.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.21CA$18.10
$8.66$8.66
52.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.08CA$15.19
$15.61$15.61
-29.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97CA$4.07
$2.63$2.63
12.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58CA$4.91
$3.35$3.35
6.87%
๐ Getting Around
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.84CA$3.89
$1.74$1.74
63.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.8CA$103
$50.5$50.5
48.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.62CA$4.96
$2.80$2.80
29.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44CA$1.98
$1.36$1.36
5.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.03CA$46.62
$30.11$30.11
13.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18CA$1.61
$0.90$0.90
31.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.4K
$35.1K$35.1K
-28.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KCA$29.4K
$26.7K$26.7K
-19.80%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.5CA$103
$243$243
-68.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70CA$48.91
$55.9$55.9
-36.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.01CA$58.9
$61.4$61.4
-29.94%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.58CA$58.3
$22.01$22.01
93.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.17CA$23.53
$10.12$10.12
69.66%
Cinema Ticket
$11.07CA$15.16
$12.11$12.11
-8.59%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616CA$844
$1,234$1,234
-50.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,799CA$7,945
$13.6K$13.6K
-57.26%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3CA$85.3
$48.98$48.98
27.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.77CA$60.0
$43.14$43.14
1.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102CA$140
$87.7$87.7
16.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121CA$166
$98.0$98.0
23.35%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,209CA$1,657
$1,214$1,214
-0.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970CA$1,329
$1,035$1,035
-6.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085CA$2,856
$2,097$2,097
-0.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,596CA$2,186
$1,961$1,961
-18.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,442CA$7,456
$2,726$2,726
99.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,046CA$5,543
$1,790$1,790
126.01%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Louisville, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,990CA$4,096
$4,118$4,118
-27.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
6.61
-24.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montreal: April 20, 2026
Last update for Louisville, KY: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Montreal and $1,214 in Louisville, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLouisville, KY pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $74 in Montreal vs $77 in Louisville, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $389 vs $395 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 โ living expenses run 12% 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 Louisville, KY?
On paper, Louisville, KY earns 38% 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 Louisville, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Montreal versus $1,214 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 Louisville, KY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% 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 vs Louisville, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal โ a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $77.0 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 Louisville, KY?
At $2,080 in Montreal versus $2,324 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 โ similar infrastructure at $2,080 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 โ expenses run 12% less than in Louisville, KY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.