Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Memphis, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Memphis, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,415 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,417 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,419 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

Montreal is about 14% cheaper than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and Memphis, TN sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Memphis, TN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$19.19 $19.19

-13.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$75.7 $75.7

-2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$9.97 $9.97

9.73%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$5.11 $5.11

-24.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$2.99

$2.56 $2.56

-16.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$2.03 $2.03

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$5.82 $5.82

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$7.91 $7.91

-14.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$0.94 $0.94

150.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$2.75 $2.75

21.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$4.50 $4.50

-16.89%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$4.19 $4.19

-19.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$10.95 $10.95

48.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$11.00 $11.00

7.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$15.47 $15.47

1.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$6.31 $6.31

-41.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.58 $1.58

7.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$5.45 $5.45

-24.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$4.86 $4.86

-9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$4.92 $4.92

-43.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$3.35 $3.35

-21.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$2.35 $2.35

-2.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$2.47 $2.47

-27.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$7.94 $7.94

65.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$13.44 $13.44

-20.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$1.76 $1.76

69.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$1.92 $1.92

79.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$1.24 $1.24

126.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$12.67 $12.67

474.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$2.06 $2.06

70.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.40 $1.40

3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$19.81 $19.81

73.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$0.81 $0.81

50.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$33.2K $33.2K

-24.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

-19.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.5 CA$107

$215 $215

-64.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.60 CA$49.91

$58.0 $58.0

-38.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$67.0 $67.0

-35.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$37.32 $37.32

16.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

$17.71 $17.71

-4.97%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$12.63 $12.63

-12.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$625 CA$876

$1,582 $1,582

-60.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$27.8K $27.8K

-78.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$39.22 $39.22

60.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$32.45 $32.45

37.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$75.1 $75.1

36.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$141 $141

-15.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$1,207 $1,207

0.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$1,115 $1,115

-13.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$1,547 $1,547

31.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$1,600 $1,600

-1.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

$1,757 $1,757

189.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

$1,349 $1,349

180.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$3,578 $3,578

-19.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.53

-23.28%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Memphis, TN: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,207 in Memphis, TN. 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 24% higher in Memphis, TN, 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $76.0 in Memphis, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $395 in Montreal vs $393 in Memphis, TN – so Memphis, TN wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Memphis, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,085 in Montreal, $2,415 in Memphis, TN – roughly 16% apart. Memphis, TN costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,622 in Memphis, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 475% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $625 per month in Montreal and $1,582 in Memphis, TN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Memphis, TN at $2,415. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Memphis, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,085 in Montreal to $2,415 in Memphis, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Memphis, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.