Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and The Woodlands, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $3,121 in The Woodlands, TX, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
The Woodlands, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$3,121
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in The Woodlands, TX

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 The Woodlands, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $3,121 in The Woodlands, TX, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • The Woodlands, TX $3,121

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $4,188 in The Woodlands, TX, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • The Woodlands, TX $4,188

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $5,254 in The Woodlands, TX, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • The Woodlands, TX $5,254

Montreal is about 35% cheaper than The Woodlands, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Montreal and The Woodlands, TX sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, The Woodlands, TX by 131%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$20.12 $20.12
-6.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$95.4 $95.4
-26.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$10.70 $10.70
-0.37%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$4.49 $4.49
-14.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$2.54 $2.54
-24.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$1.86 $1.86
-17.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$5.01 $5.01
24.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$5.52 $5.52
28.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$1.13 $1.13
104.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.27 $2.27
38.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$3.16 $3.16
1.58%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$2.29 $2.29
53.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$8.68 $8.68
47.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$14.49 $14.49
-20.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$26.02 $26.02
-48.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$7.58 $7.58
-58.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.00 $1.00
44.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$7.48 $7.48
-53.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$7.65 $7.65
-59.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$3.25 $3.25
-41.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$2.24 $2.24
-20.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$1.34 $1.34
74.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$3.07 $3.07
-49.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$5.85 $5.85
94.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$11.46 $11.46
-7.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$2.05 $2.05
10.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$1.47 $1.47
91.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$14.80 $14.80
122.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$0.82 $0.82
63.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$47.7K $47.7K
-41.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$24.7K $24.7K
-20.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$198 $198
-61.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$58.4 $58.4
-41.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$49.74 $49.74
-14.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$35.63 $35.63
-16.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$18.13 $18.13
-38.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$37.84 $37.84
52.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$19.87 $19.87
89.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$62.6 $62.6
46.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$66.1 $66.1
65.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$1,877 $1,877
-32.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$1,921 $1,921
-50.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$3,035 $3,035
-29.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$2,451 $2,451
-34.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$1,837 $1,837
169.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$1,860 $1,860
106.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
The Woodlands, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
$7,834 $7,834
-63.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
6.71
-33.23%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for The Woodlands, TX: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
The Woodlands, TX
$1.9K 103% $974
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
The Woodlands, TX
$437 26.1% $90
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
The Woodlands, TX
$301 4.4% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
The Woodlands, TX
$306 101% $154
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
The Woodlands, TX
$84 37.2% $50
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
The Woodlands, TX
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
The Woodlands, TX
$72 38.1% $20

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $1,877 in The Woodlands, 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 177% higher in The Woodlands, 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 $70.0 in Montreal versus $95.0 in The Woodlands, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $437 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇺🇸 The Woodlands, TX
🕒 Local time
11:05 11:05 AM
10:05 10:05 AM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
93,847
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal The Woodlands, TX 2,560 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • The Woodlands, TX

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 The Woodlands, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or The Woodlands, TX?
The Woodlands, TX costs about 55% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 The Woodlands, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $4,681 in The Woodlands, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or The Woodlands, TX?
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 much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to The Woodlands, TX?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,018 in Montreal and $3,121 in The Woodlands, TX. That's a gap of about 55%.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in The Woodlands, TX?
Groceries cost about 26% more in The Woodlands, TX, 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 $2,000/month in Montreal or in The Woodlands, TX?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,018, than in The Woodlands, TX at $3,121. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in The Woodlands, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or The Woodlands, TX?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,018 versus $3,121 in The Woodlands, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to The Woodlands, TX?
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 The Woodlands, TX?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, The Woodlands, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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