Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and San Marcos, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and San Marcos, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $2,360 in San Marcos, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $3,524 in San Marcos, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $4,688 in San Marcos, TX, rent included.

Montreal is about 13% cheaper than San Marcos, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and San Marcos, TX sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, San Marcos, TX by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.62

$14.76 $14.76

20.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$99.7

$59.5 $59.5

21.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.06

$10.43 $10.43

4.70%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.47

$4.73 $4.73

-16.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 CA$2.86

$2.84 $2.84

-27.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.13

$1.73 $1.73

-10.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.85

$4.86 $4.86

31.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.05

$5.97 $5.97

22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.29

$0.76 $0.76

214.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.42

$3.33 $3.33

-3.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.23

$3.83 $3.83

-19.84%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.07

$2.81 $2.81

30.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.72

$9.98 $9.98

35.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.03

$9.42 $9.42

23.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.27

$13.21 $13.21

5.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.08

$6.28 $6.28

-41.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.15

$1.13 $1.13

38.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.70

$6.58 $6.58

-48.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.17

$4.75 $4.75

-36.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$4.01 $4.01

-50.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$3.00 $3.00

-39.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.53

$1.78 $1.78

43.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$1.84 $1.84

-24.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.85

$8.82 $8.82

30.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.06

$13.89 $13.89

-21.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.12

$1.75 $1.75

29.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.15

$3.86 $3.86

-22.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.62

$4.60 $4.60

-27.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$1.81 $1.81

-17.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.47

$59.5 $59.5

-43.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.78

$0.80 $0.80

61.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K CA$39.0K

$35.5K $35.5K

-20.40%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$25.0K $25.0K

-20.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.4 CA$111

$133 $133

-39.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.23 CA$47.21

$36.60 $36.60

-6.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.1

$52.7 $52.7

-21.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.32

$69.1 $69.1

-57.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.43

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.15

$11.60 $11.60

0.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$564 CA$778

$674 $674

-16.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.2K

$18.1K $18.1K

-6.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.1

$56.7 $56.7

4.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.1

$37.57 $37.57

12.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$82.2 $82.2

30.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$122 $122

-9.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,770

$1,328 $1,328

-3.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,365

$1,251 $1,251

-20.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,116

$2,825 $2,825

-20.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,299

$2,215 $2,215

-24.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,291

$2,399 $2,399

120.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,258

$1,853 $1,853

105.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,163

$3,101 $3,101

-2.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

6.03

-26.87%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for San Marcos, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,328 in San Marcos, TX. 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 3% higher in San Marcos, TX, 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $59.0 in San Marcos, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Montreal vs $364 in San Marcos, TX – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 San Marcos, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Marcos, TX costs about 15% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,084 per month in Montreal and $3,539 in San Marcos, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Montreal and $59.0 in San Marcos, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in San Marcos, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,056, than in San Marcos, TX at $2,360. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Marcos, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,056 versus $2,360 in San Marcos, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Marcos, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.