Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Milwaukee, WI

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,003 a month against $2,502 in Milwaukee, WI, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

99

Cost of Living Index in Montreal
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Montreal Living Index
123

Cost of Living Index in Milwaukee, WI
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Milwaukee, WI Living Index

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Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,003

/mo nomad

Milwaukee, WI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,502

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Milwaukee, WI

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 Milwaukee, WI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,003 in Montreal versus $2,502 in Milwaukee, WI.

Montreal $2,003
Milwaukee, WI $2,502

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,048 in Montreal versus $3,628 in Milwaukee, WI.

Montreal $3,048
Milwaukee, WI $3,628

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,092 in Montreal versus $4,754 in Milwaukee, WI.

Montreal $4,092
Milwaukee, WI $4,754

Living in Montreal costs roughly 20% less than in Milwaukee, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Milwaukee, WI 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.31 CA$27.52

$20.33 $20.33

-5.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 CA$108

$73.7 $73.7

2.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.63 CA$15.15

$9.85 $9.85

7.92%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.60

$5.14 $5.14

-23.54%

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

$1.92 CA$2.73

$2.86 $2.86

-32.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 CA$2.11

$2.03 $2.03

-27.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.30 CA$8.98

$6.16 $6.16

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 CA$10.24

$7.61 $7.61

-5.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.17

$0.79 $0.79

181.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 CA$4.36

$3.55 $3.55

-13.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.19

$5.23 $5.23

-43.79%

Eggs

$3.53 CA$5.03

$4.46 $4.46

-20.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 CA$18.79

$10.06 $10.06

31.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 CA$16.02

$13.72 $13.72

-18.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 CA$19.69

$16.45 $16.45

-16.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.85

$5.32 $5.32

-36.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 CA$2.06

$1.51 $1.51

-4.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.65

$4.52 $4.52

-27.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.10

$5.17 $5.17

-44.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 CA$2.65

$2.58 $2.58

-27.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.60

$2.60 $2.60

-30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 CA$3.46

$2.33 $2.33

4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.17

$2.40 $2.40

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.45 CA$16.32

$10.88 $10.88

5.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.36 CA$14.76

$15.90 $15.90

-34.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.16

$1.97 $1.97

12.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$4.02

$3.43 $3.43

-17.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.58 CA$3.67

$2.17 $2.17

18.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.9 CA$110

$71.0 $71.0

8.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 CA$4.64

$2.84 $2.84

14.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.11

$1.57 $1.57

-5.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.04 CA$47.09

$20.67 $20.67

59.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.94

$0.99 $0.99

37.37%

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

$27.4K CA$39.1K

$35.8K $35.8K

-23.34%

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

$20.0K CA$28.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

-22.03%

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

$76.1 CA$109

$198 $198

-61.58%

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

$34.68 CA$49.43

$68.6 $68.6

-49.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.69 CA$60.9

$71.6 $71.6

-40.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.94 CA$41.26

$43.29 $43.29

-33.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.97

$18.72 $18.72

8.60%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 CA$15.98

$14.19 $14.19

-21.00%

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

$505 CA$720

$1,803 $1,803

-71.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K CA$22.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

-34.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 CA$83.4

$54.9 $54.9

6.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.00 CA$54.2

$40.46 $40.46

-6.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 CA$132

$91.7 $91.7

1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$151

$117 $117

-9.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 CA$1,768

$1,757 $1,757

-29.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$986 CA$1,405

$1,189 $1,189

-17.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 CA$2,996

$2,804 $2,804

-25.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 CA$2,302

$1,837 $1,837

-12.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,043 CA$7,188

$2,741 $2,741

83.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,830 CA$5,459

$1,683 $1,683

127.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,920 CA$4,163

$3,747 $3,747

-22.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.46

6.65

-32.93%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Milwaukee, WI: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Montreal

$986 47.9%

Milwaukee, WI

$1.2K 46.5% 20.6% $203

Groceries & Markets

Montreal

$344 16.7%

Milwaukee, WI

$409 16% 19.1% $66

Eating Out

Montreal

$293 14.2%

Milwaukee, WI

$319 12.5% 9.1% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montreal

$154 7.5%

Milwaukee, WI

$338 13.2% 120% $185

Clothing & Footwear

Montreal

$133 6.5%

Milwaukee, WI

$137 5.4% 3.1% $4.1

Getting Around

Montreal

$98 4.8%

Milwaukee, WI

$90 3.5% 7.6% $7.4

Sport & Entertainment

Montreal

$51 2.5%

Milwaukee, WI

$72 2.8% 39.5% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,240 in Montreal and $1,757 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Milwaukee, WI pays 28% 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 $74.0 in Milwaukee, WI. Groceries flip the comparison at $344 vs $409, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Montreal

🇺🇸 Milwaukee, WI

🕒 Local time

07:35 7:35 AM

06:35 6:35 AM

1 h behind Montreal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,762,949

605,013

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.702 USD

1 CAD = 0.626 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 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 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

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Between locations

Montreal Milwaukee, WI 1,170 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Montreal
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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 Milwaukee, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and Milwaukee, WI differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,003 vs $2,502 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Milwaukee, WI. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,240 in Montreal versus $1,757 in Milwaukee, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,003 per month in Montreal versus $2,502 in Milwaukee, WI – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 8% less than in Milwaukee, WI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,003 in Montreal versus $2,502 in Milwaukee, WI, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Milwaukee, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Milwaukee, WI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Milwaukee, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.