Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Pasto

For one person, living is cheaper in Pasto: $799 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Pasto
🇨🇴 Colombia
$799
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Pasto

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

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $799 in Pasto, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Pasto $799

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $1,210 in Pasto, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Pasto $1,210

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $1,622 in Pasto, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Pasto $1,622

Montreal costs about 153% more than Pasto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Pasto is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$3.98 COP 12.6K
372.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$23.79 COP 75.4K
195.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$7.46 COP 23.7K
42.90%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$1.56 COP 4,934
146.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$0.86 COP 2,724
123.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$0.61 COP 1,943
152.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$1.16 COP 3,666
437.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$2.20 COP 6,968
222.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$1.09 COP 3,464
111.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$1.29 COP 4,088
143.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$1.18 COP 3,744
172.03%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$2.14 COP 6,771
64.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$4.61 COP 14.6K
177.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$5.26 COP 16.7K
117.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$7.29 COP 23.1K
83.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$2.44 COP 7,748
28.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.04 COP 3,302
38.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$1.30 COP 4,108
166.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$1.07 COP 3,379
186.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$1.15 COP 3,648
65.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$1.13 COP 3,586
56.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$0.80 COP 2,537
192.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$0.64 COP 2,041
142.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$2.37 COP 7,509
380.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$9.81 COP 31.1K
8.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$1.09 COP 3,443
108.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$1.77 COP 5,599
59.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
$0.72 COP 2,271
269.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
$30.39 COP 96.4K
154.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
$1.43 COP 4,532
123.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$1.79 COP 5,688
-17.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$5.98 COP 18.9K
449.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$0.93 COP 2,958
44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$18.1K COP 57.2M
55.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$25.7K COP 81.6M
-23.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$83.4 COP 264.4K
-8.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$8.89 COP 28.2K
281.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$22.38 COP 71.0K
89.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$23.02 COP 73.0K
29.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$3.89 COP 12.3K
186.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
$235 COP 744.6K
115.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
$6,071 COP 19.2M
164.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$58.6 COP 185.6K
-1.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$32.60 COP 103.4K
15.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$82.4 COP 261.4K
11.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$71.8 COP 227.6K
52.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$269 COP 851.9K
369.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$237 COP 751.4K
299.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$530 COP 1.7M
303.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$415 COP 1.3M
289.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$1,429 COP 4.5M
247.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$1,069 COP 3.4M
258.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Pasto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
13.06
-65.70%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Pasto: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Pasto
$237 75% $711
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Pasto
$173 50% $173
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Pasto
$89 69.1% $199
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Pasto
$115 24.7% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Pasto
$110 17.3% $23
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Pasto
$44 55.7% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Pasto
$31 40.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $269 in Pasto. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Montreal versus $24.00 in Pasto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $173 – making Pasto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇨🇴 Pasto
🕒 Local time
00:51 12:51 AM
23:51 11:51 PM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
392,930
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Pasto 4,940 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Pasto

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 Pasto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Pasto?
Montreal costs about 153% more than Pasto, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal and in Pasto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $1,198 in Pasto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Pasto?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Pasto?
Groceries cost about 100% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Pasto?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Montreal and $24.00 in Pasto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or in Pasto?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pasto, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Pasto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Pasto?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pasto costs $799 versus $2,018 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Pasto?
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.
Should I move to Montreal or to Pasto?
If budget matters most, go with Pasto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Montreal vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?