Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Rio Branco

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio Branco: $847 a month against $2,064 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal, Canada
Rio Branco, Brazil
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,064
/mo nomad
Rio Branco
🇧🇷 Brazil
$847
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Rio Branco

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

A single person spends $2,064 per month in Montreal vs $847 in Rio Branco, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,064
  • Rio Branco $847

A couple spends around $3,156 per month in Montreal vs $1,331 in Rio Branco, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,156
  • Rio Branco $1,331

A family of three spends $4,247 per month in Montreal vs $1,815 in Rio Branco, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,247
  • Rio Branco $1,815

Montreal costs about 144% more than Rio Branco, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Montreal sits 52% above the global median, while Rio Branco is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.98 CA$26.64
$6.68 R$35.74
184.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 CA$102
$24.63 R$132
196.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 CA$15.27
$7.16 R$38.29
51.96%
Cappuccino
$3.81 CA$5.35
$2.82 R$15.10
35.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.72
$1.28 R$6.86
51.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.22
$0.72 R$3.83
119.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.37 CA$8.94
$1.90 R$10.18
235.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.26 CA$10.20
$2.75 R$14.71
164.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 CA$3.13
$0.99 R$5.28
125.25%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 CA$4.45
$1.54 R$8.24
105.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 CA$4.64
$1.16 R$6.20
185.34%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.09
$1.99 R$10.64
82.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 CA$18.47
$8.67 R$46.34
51.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 CA$16.22
$4.08 R$21.81
183.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 CA$19.25
$7.89 R$42.17
73.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 CA$4.62
$2.06 R$11.01
59.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 CA$2.05
$1.23 R$6.58
18.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.73
$1.09 R$5.84
209.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.42
$1.46 R$7.78
115.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 CA$2.65
$1.13 R$6.05
67.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.52
$1.01 R$5.39
77.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 CA$3.47
$0.77 R$4.11
220.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.22
$0.76 R$4.06
107.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.28 CA$15.84
$2.28 R$12.20
394.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.49 CA$14.73
$7.30 R$39.02
43.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 CA$3.28
$1.04 R$5.54
125.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.09
$1.92 R$10.25
51.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.61 CA$3.66
$0.63 R$3.36
314.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$111
$42.25 R$226
87.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 CA$4.57
$1.24 R$6.62
162.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.02
$0.85 R$4.53
69.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.43 CA$46.92
$7.55 R$40.34
342.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 CA$1.87
$1.28 R$6.86
3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K CA$40.2K
$22.0K R$117.8K
30.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.6K
$31.5K R$168.4K
-33.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 CA$112
$72.1 R$385
11.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.30 CA$48.14
$11.32 R$60.6
203.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.85 CA$60.1
$19.70 R$105
117.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.14 CA$43.71
$24.58 R$131
26.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41 CA$27.24
$25.43 R$136
-23.67%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23 CA$15.76
$6.60 R$35.29
70.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$525 CA$737
$264 R$1,410
99.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K CA$22.9K
$6,146 R$32.9K
165.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 CA$81.4
$51.0 R$273
13.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 CA$53.5
$46.00 R$246
-17.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 CA$131
$85.0 R$454
9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$66.8 R$357
64.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,285 CA$1,803
$343 R$1,831
275.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,371
$233 R$1,248
318.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,271 CA$3,187
$623 R$3,332
264.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 CA$2,336
$453 R$2,420
267.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,139 CA$7,212
$1,562 R$8,351
229.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,834 CA$5,381
$1,550 R$8,288
147.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Rio Branco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,002 CA$4,213
$238 R$1,271
1162.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11
-59.27%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 25, 2026

Last update for Rio Branco: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Rio Branco
$233 76.1% $743
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Rio Branco
$178 49.2% $173
Eating Out
Montreal
$291
Rio Branco
$132 54.6% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$157
Rio Branco
$103 34.4% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$135
Rio Branco
$112 17% $23
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Rio Branco
$50 49.8% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Rio Branco
$38 29.5% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,285 in Montreal versus $343 in Rio Branco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Montreal are about 13 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Montreal versus $25 in Rio Branco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $178 – making Rio Branco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Rio Branco
🕒 Local time
18:15 6:15 PM
17:15 5:15 PM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
364,756
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Rio Branco 6,200 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Rio Branco

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 Rio Branco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Rio Branco?
Montreal costs about 144% more than Rio Branco, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Rio Branco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,096 per month in Montreal and $1,270 in Rio Branco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Rio Branco?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rio Branco, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $343 there versus $1,285 in Montreal.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Rio Branco?
Groceries cost about 97% more in Montreal, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Rio Branco?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Montreal and $25 in Rio Branco. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Rio Branco?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio Branco, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Montreal at $2,064. In Rio Branco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Rio Branco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Montreal or to Rio Branco?
If budget matters most, go with Rio Branco. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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