Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Toluca

For one person, living is cheaper in Toluca: $1,098 a month against $2,059 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Toluca
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,098
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Toluca

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

A single person spends $2,059 per month in Montreal vs $1,098 in Toluca, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,059
  • Toluca $1,098

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $1,844 in Toluca, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,123
  • Toluca $1,844

A family of three spends $4,187 per month in Montreal vs $2,589 in Toluca, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,187
  • Toluca $2,589

Montreal costs about 88% more than Toluca, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 52% above the global median, while Toluca is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84 CA$26.63
$11.03 MX$204
70.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2 CA$104
$42.85 MX$792
70.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.90
$9.09 MX$168
15.95%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.61
$3.14 MX$58.0
26.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.26 MX$23.24
53.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$0.76 MX$13.97
106.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.42 CA$9.08
$2.14 MX$39.49
200.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 CA$10.19
$3.29 MX$60.8
118.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$1.77 MX$32.71
31.07%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CA$4.51
$3.12 MX$57.7
2.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 CA$4.50
$2.18 MX$40.28
46.33%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.20
$3.05 MX$56.3
20.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.72
$7.94 MX$147
66.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 CA$16.53
$8.36 MX$155
39.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 CA$19.76
$8.91 MX$165
56.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$4.08 MX$75.3
-23.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$2.11 MX$39.00
-31.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 CA$4.78
$2.22 MX$41.07
52.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.40
$2.28 MX$42.16
36.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$2.82 MX$52.2
-31.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.58
$2.30 MX$42.58
-20.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CA$3.34
$1.64 MX$30.26
43.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$1.03 MX$19.07
45.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 CA$15.73
$4.87 MX$90.0
128.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.60 CA$14.98
$12.25 MX$226
-13.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.14
$1.99 MX$36.76
11.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$3.65 MX$67.5
-22.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.71
$0.75 MX$13.92
249.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$112
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.56
$3.20 MX$59.0
0.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.10
$2.01 MX$37.22
-26.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.22 CA$45.55
$10.17 MX$188
216.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 CA$1.92
$1.44 MX$26.66
-5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.1K
$24.6K MX$454.6K
12.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K CA$30.0K
$23.5K MX$433.9K
-9.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.0 CA$109
$58.1 MX$1,074
32.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14 CA$48.26
$25.04 MX$463
36.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.19 CA$59.7
$31.71 MX$586
33.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.81 CA$43.56
$48.08 MX$889
-35.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.66 CA$27.79
$22.66 MX$419
-13.24%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 CA$16.22
$6.95 MX$128
65.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 CA$716
$224 MX$4,131
126.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$23.0K
$5,244 MX$96.9K
209.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$81.0
$66.7 MX$1,233
-14.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 CA$53.9
$53.7 MX$992
-29.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$104 MX$1,920
-11.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$104 MX$1,923
5.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,748
$705 MX$13.0K
75.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,381
$289 MX$5,345
237.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,180 CA$3,082
$972 MX$18.0K
124.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 CA$2,273
$703 MX$13.0K
128.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,113 CA$7,228
$1,296 MX$24.0K
294.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,744 CA$5,293
$915 MX$16.9K
309.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Toluca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,957 CA$4,180
$1,273 MX$23.5K
132.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
11.07
-59.53%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Last update for Toluca: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Toluca
$289 70.4% $687
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Toluca
$289 17.6% $62
Eating Out
Montreal
$290
Toluca
$178 38.6% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$153
Toluca
$115 25.1% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$134
Toluca
$148 10.6% $14
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Toluca
$16 * 83.8% $84
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Toluca
$62 15.3% $8.2

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,237 in Montreal versus $705 in Toluca. 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 132% 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $43.00 in Toluca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $289 – making Toluca the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇲🇽 Toluca
🕒 Local time
23:14 11:14 PM
21:14 9:14 PM
2 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
223,876
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Toluca 3,770 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Toluca

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 Toluca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Toluca?
Montreal costs about 88% more than Toluca, 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 Toluca?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,089 per month in Montreal and $1,647 in Toluca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Toluca?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Toluca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Toluca?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $43.00 in Toluca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Toluca?
Groceries cost about 21% 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 Toluca?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Toluca, where all-in costs run around $1,098, than in Montreal at $2,059. In Toluca 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 Toluca?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Toluca costs $1,098 versus $2,059 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 Toluca?
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 Toluca?
If budget matters most, go with Toluca. 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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