Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Saint Louis, MO

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,003 a month against $2,440 in Saint Louis, MO, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Saint Louis, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,440
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis, MO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $2,440 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Saint Louis, MO $2,440

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $3,667 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Saint Louis, MO $3,667

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $4,895 in Saint Louis, MO, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Saint Louis, MO $4,895

Montreal is about 18% cheaper than Saint Louis, MO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Montreal and Saint Louis, MO sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Saint Louis, MO by 82%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$18.17 $18.17
6.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$77.8 $77.8
-2.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$11.76 $11.76
-9.61%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$5.20 $5.20
-24.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$2.41 $2.41
-20.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.71 $1.71
-13.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$5.71 $5.71
10.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$7.13 $7.13
0.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$1.25 $1.25
77.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$3.90 $3.90
-21.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$5.93 $5.93
-50.42%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$4.02 $4.02
-12.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$12.96 $12.96
1.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$15.86 $15.86
-29.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$20.86 $20.86
-33.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$8.62 $8.62
-60.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$2.40 $2.40
-40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$5.73 $5.73
-43.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$5.27 $5.27
-45.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$4.36 $4.36
-57.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$4.92 $4.92
-63.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$2.93 $2.93
-17.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$2.82 $2.82
-46.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$8.08 $8.08
41.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$14.78 $14.78
-29.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$2.92 $2.92
-23.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$3.36 $3.36
-16.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$2.54 $2.54
1.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
$78.0 $78.0
-1.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$3.57 $3.57
-8.96%
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
$39.91 $39.91
-17.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.01 $1.01
34.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$35.7K $35.7K
-23.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$25.0K $25.0K
-19.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$246 $246
-69.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$68.7 $68.7
-49.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$75.7 $75.7
-43.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$32.38 $32.38
-10.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$19.91 $19.91
2.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$13.79 $13.79
-18.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$1,422 $1,422
-64.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$23.7K $23.7K
-32.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$58.9 $58.9
-0.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$39.39 $39.39
-3.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$86.6 $86.6
7.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$120 $120
-12.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$1,522 $1,522
-18.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$919 $919
7.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$2,127 $2,127
-1.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$1,702 $1,702
-5.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$1,391 $1,391
262.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$1,857 $1,857
106.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Saint Louis, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$4,116 $4,116
-29.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
6.72
-33.63%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Saint Louis, MO: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Saint Louis, MO
$919 6.8% $67
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Saint Louis, MO
$498 45% $155
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Saint Louis, MO
$302 3.2% $9.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Saint Louis, MO
$390 154% $237
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Saint Louis, MO
$137 3.4% $4.5
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Saint Louis, MO
$100 1.8% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Saint Louis, MO
$60 16.7% $8.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Montreal versus $1,522 in Saint Louis, 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 41% higher in Saint Louis, 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 $75.0 in Montreal versus $78.0 in Saint Louis, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $498 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 Saint Louis, MO
🕒 Local time
07:37 7:37 AM
06:37 6:37 AM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
301,578
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Saint Louis, MO 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Saint Louis, MO?
Saint Louis, MO costs about 22% more than Montreal, 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 Saint Louis, MO?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $3,660 in Saint Louis, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Saint Louis, 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Saint Louis, MO?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Saint Louis, MO, 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 Saint Louis, MO?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal and $78.0 in Saint Louis, MO. 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 Saint Louis, MO?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,003, than in Saint Louis, MO at $2,440. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Louis, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Saint Louis, MO?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,003 versus $2,440 in Saint Louis, MO. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Saint Louis, 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 Saint Louis, MO?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Louis, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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