Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Saltillo

For one person, living is cheaper in Saltillo: $1,331 a month against $2,003 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Saltillo
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Saltillo

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

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $1,331 in Saltillo, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Saltillo $1,331

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $2,128 in Saltillo, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Saltillo $2,128

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $2,924 in Saltillo, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Saltillo $2,924

Montreal costs about 51% more than Saltillo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Saltillo is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$11.07 MX$203
74.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$50.2 MX$922
50.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$6.67 MX$123
59.37%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$3.61 MX$66.3
8.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$1.32 MX$24.32
45.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.03 MX$18.92
43.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$2.22 MX$40.84
183.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$3.94 MX$72.3
82.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$1.52 MX$27.84
46.05%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$3.59 MX$65.9
-14.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$1.90 MX$34.95
54.74%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$2.37 MX$43.43
48.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$10.86 MX$199
21.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$8.43 MX$155
33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$10.17 MX$187
35.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$2.80 MX$51.4
21.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$1.23 MX$22.57
17.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$1.76 MX$32.32
85.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$2.07 MX$37.93
39.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$2.15 MX$39.48
-13.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$2.60 MX$47.77
-30.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.25 MX$22.96
94.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$1.13 MX$20.70
34.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$4.30 MX$79.0
166.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$10.30 MX$189
0.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$2.39 MX$43.84
-7.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$1.46 MX$26.84
93.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$0.87 MX$15.89
196.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
$16.66 MX$306
361.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
$2.61 MX$47.87
24.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$2.02 MX$37.12
-26.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.51 MX$27.70
-9.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$19.0K MX$349.3K
44.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
$24.0K MX$440.6K
-16.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$49.27 MX$905
54.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$34.53 MX$634
0.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$30.93 MX$568
38.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$57.5 MX$1,056
-49.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$14.01 MX$257
45.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$5.91 MX$108
89.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
$248 MX$4,551
103.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$2,653 MX$48.7K
503.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$58.3 MX$1,069
0.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$58.2 MX$1,068
-34.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$87.9 MX$1,613
5.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$128 MX$2,343
-17.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$579 MX$10.6K
114.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$509 MX$9,339
93.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$952 MX$17.5K
120.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$959 MX$17.6K
68.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
$558 MX$10.3K
803.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
$883 MX$16.2K
333.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Saltillo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$813 MX$14.9K
259.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
10.53
-57.64%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Saltillo: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Saltillo
$509 48.4% $477
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Saltillo
$278 19.1% $66
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Saltillo
$180 38.4% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Saltillo
$115 25.3% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Saltillo
$149 12.5% $17
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Saltillo
$33 66.4% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Saltillo
$69 35% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Montreal versus $579 in Saltillo. 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 259% higher in Montreal, 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 $50.0 in Saltillo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $278 – making Saltillo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇲🇽 Saltillo
🕒 Local time
07:50 7:50 AM
05:50 5:50 AM
2 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
864,431
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, 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).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.57 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Saltillo 3,310 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Saltillo

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 Saltillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Saltillo?
Montreal costs about 51% more than Saltillo, 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 Saltillo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $1,997 in Saltillo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Saltillo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Saltillo, 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 Saltillo?
Groceries cost about 24% 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 Saltillo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal and $50.0 in Saltillo. 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 Saltillo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Saltillo, where all-in costs run around $1,331, than in Montreal at $2,003. In Saltillo 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 Saltillo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saltillo costs $1,331 versus $2,003 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 Saltillo?
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 Saltillo?
If budget matters most, go with Saltillo. 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.

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