Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Rolla, MO

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $2,401 in Rolla, MO, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Rolla, MO outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Rolla, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,401
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Rolla, MO

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

A single person spends $2,059 per month in Montreal vs $2,401 in Rolla, MO, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Rolla, MO $2,401

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $2,716 in Rolla, MO, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Rolla, MO $2,716

A family of three spends $4,187 per month in Montreal vs $3,030 in Rolla, MO, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Rolla, MO $3,030

Montreal is about 14% cheaper than Rolla, MO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Montreal and Rolla, MO sit above the global median – Montreal by 52%, Rolla, MO by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$12.07 $12.07
56.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$35.49 $35.49
106.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$9.02 $9.02
16.85%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$4.11 $4.11
-3.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.98 $1.98
-2.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$1.29 $1.29
21.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$2.91 $2.91
120.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$4.10 $4.10
75.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.00 $1.00
132.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$3.29 $3.29
-3.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$2.21 $2.21
44.34%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$1.42 $1.42
159.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$11.21 $11.21
18.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$8.73 $8.73
33.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$7.87 $7.87
77.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$4.50 $4.50
-30.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.12 $1.12
29.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$3.00 $3.00
12.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$4.40 $4.40
-29.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$1.70 $1.70
13.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$2.33 $2.33
-21.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$1.81 $1.81
30.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$2.06 $2.06
-27.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$4.94 $4.94
125.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$5.14 $5.14
106.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$1.86 $1.86
19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$4.26 $4.26
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
$2.27 $2.27
15.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$2.96 $2.96
9.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$1.46 $1.46
1.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$36.61 $36.61
-11.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$0.85 $0.85
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$28.3K $28.3K
-2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$27.0K $27.0K
-21.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$272 $272
-71.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$58.5 $58.5
-41.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$71.2 $71.2
-40.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$40.93 $40.93
-24.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
$9.94 $9.94
97.79%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$9.88 $9.88
16.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$758 $758
-33.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$20.7K $20.7K
-21.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$72.7 $72.7
-21.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$36.69 $36.69
3.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$78.6 $78.6
16.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$125 $125
-12.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
$1,616 $1,616
-23.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
$1,279 $1,279
-23.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
$1,101 $1,101
98.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
$820 $820
96.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$2,901 $2,901
76.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$2,214 $2,214
69.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Rolla, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$4,580 $4,580
-35.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.36
-29.56%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Rolla, MO: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Rolla, MO
$1.3K 30.9% $302
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Rolla, MO
$291 17% $60
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Rolla, MO
$209 28.1% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Rolla, MO
$401 162% $248
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Rolla, MO
$141 5.4% $7.2
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Rolla, MO
$19 * 80.7% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Rolla, MO
$61 12.9% $6.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,237 in Montreal versus $1,616 in Rolla, MO. 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 55% higher in Rolla, MO, 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $35.00 in Rolla, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $291 – making Rolla, MO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Rolla, MO
🕒 Local time
06:21 6:21 AM
05:21 5:21 AM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
19,943
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Rolla, MO 1,720 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Rolla, MO

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 Rolla, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Rolla, MO?
Rolla, MO costs about 17% more than Montreal, 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 Rolla, MO?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,089 per month in Montreal and $3,601 in Rolla, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Rolla, MO?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Rolla, MO?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $35.00 in Rolla, MO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Rolla, MO?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Rolla, MO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or in Rolla, MO?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,059, than in Rolla, MO at $2,401. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rolla, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Rolla, MO?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,059 versus $2,401 in Rolla, MO. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Rolla, MO?
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 Rolla, MO?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rolla, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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