Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Salto

For one person, living is cheaper in Salto: $1,332 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
Salto
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,332
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Salto

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

A single person spends $2,003 per month in Montreal vs $1,332 in Salto, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,003
  • Salto $1,332

A couple spends around $3,048 per month in Montreal vs $1,921 in Salto, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,048
  • Salto $1,921

A family of three spends $4,092 per month in Montreal vs $2,510 in Salto, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,092
  • Salto $2,510

Montreal costs about 50% more than Salto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.31 CA$27.52
$15.98 UYU 643
20.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 CA$108
$37.19 UYU 1,495
103.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 CA$15.15
$11.86 UYU 477
-10.37%
Cappuccino
$3.93 CA$5.60
$3.26 UYU 131
20.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.73
$2.21 UYU 89.0
-13.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$1.57 UYU 63.1
-5.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.30 CA$8.98
$4.57 UYU 184
37.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 CA$10.24
$3.08 UYU 124
133.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.17
$1.40 UYU 56.2
58.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 CA$4.36
$2.12 UYU 85.1
44.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.19
$1.50 UYU 60.3
96.00%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$5.03
$5.34 UYU 215
-33.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 CA$18.79
$15.05 UYU 605
-12.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 CA$16.02
$8.73 UYU 351
28.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 CA$19.69
$9.86 UYU 397
40.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.85
$1.27 UYU 51.0
167.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.06
$2.16 UYU 86.7
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 CA$4.65
$1.24 UYU 49.93
162.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.10
$1.86 UYU 74.8
54.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CA$2.65
$0.90 UYU 36.05
106.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.60
$1.66 UYU 66.8
9.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$0.89 UYU 35.78
173.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.17
$1.53 UYU 61.4
-0.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$5.29 UYU 213
116.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 CA$14.76
$7.55 UYU 303
37.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.16
$1.91 UYU 76.9
16.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$4.02
$2.61 UYU 105
8.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Salto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 CA$3.67
$0.60 UYU 23.98
330.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.9 CA$110
$29.75 UYU 1,196
158.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 CA$4.64
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$3.61 UYU 145
-59.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.04 CA$47.09
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.94
$1.95 UYU 78.3
-30.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.1 CA$109
$200 UYU 8,032
-61.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.68 CA$49.43
$21.70 UYU 872
59.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69 CA$60.9
$29.62 UYU 1,191
44.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.94 CA$41.26
$36.74 UYU 1,478
-21.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.33 CA$28.97
$12.46 UYU 501
63.16%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 CA$15.98
$9.93 UYU 399
12.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 CA$720
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K CA$22.8K
$4,463 UYU 179.4K
258.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$83.4
$85.5 UYU 3,437
-31.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.00 CA$54.2
$55.9 UYU 2,247
-32.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 CA$132
$114 UYU 4,576
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$151
$67.1 UYU 2,697
57.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Salto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CA$1,768
$438 UYU 17.6K
183.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$986 CA$1,405
$300 UYU 12.1K
228.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 CA$2,996
$749 UYU 30.1K
180.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 CA$2,302
$417 UYU 16.8K
287.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,043 CA$7,188
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,830 CA$5,459
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Salto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,920 CA$4,163
$628 UYU 25.3K
365.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.46
0
-

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

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Last update for Salto: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$986
Salto
$300 69.6% $686
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$344
Salto
$272 20.8% $71
Eating Out
Montreal
$293
Salto
$247 15.8% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$154
Salto
$251 63.6% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Salto
$145 9.3% $12
Getting Around
Montreal
$98
Salto
$50 * 48.7% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$51
Salto
$57 10.2% $5.3

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Montreal versus $438 in Salto. 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 365% 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 $37.00 in Salto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $272 – making Salto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇾 Salto
🕒 Local time
10:21 10:21 AM
11:21 11:21 AM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
104,028
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, 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).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 40.21 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.06 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Salto 8,690 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Salto

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 Salto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Salto?
Montreal costs about 50% more than Salto, 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 Salto?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,005 per month in Montreal and $1,998 in Salto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Salto?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Salto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Montreal compared to Salto?
Public transport costs about 158% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Salto?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Montreal or in Salto?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Salto, where all-in costs run around $1,332, than in Montreal at $2,003. In Salto 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 Salto?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Salto costs $1,332 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 Salto?
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 Salto?
If budget matters most, go with Salto. 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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