Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Tunja

For one person, living is cheaper in Tunja: $1,294 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Tunja
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,294
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Tunja

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

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $1,294 in Tunja, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Tunja $1,294

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $1,992 in Tunja, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Tunja $1,992

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $2,689 in Tunja, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Tunja $2,689

Montreal costs about 56% more than Tunja, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Tunja is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$7.61 COP 24.1K
147.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$41.83 COP 132.6K
68.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$10.53 COP 33.4K
1.23%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$2.56 COP 8,122
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$1.38 COP 4,380
39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$0.84 COP 2,661
83.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$2.09 COP 6,614
198.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$3.81 COP 12.1K
86.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$1.60 COP 5,075
44.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$2.48 COP 7,874
26.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$1.63 COP 5,169
96.93%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$3.35 COP 10.6K
5.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$7.90 COP 25.0K
62.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$7.52 COP 23.9K
52.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$9.94 COP 31.5K
34.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$3.48 COP 11.0K
-9.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.76 COP 5,590
-18.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$1.90 COP 6,028
82.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$1.74 COP 5,527
76.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$1.47 COP 4,673
29.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$1.41 COP 4,471
25.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$1.31 COP 4,152
78.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$1.15 COP 3,654
34.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$4.36 COP 13.8K
161.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$12.70 COP 40.3K
-16.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$1.44 COP 4,559
57.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$2.93 COP 9,295
-3.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
$0.80 COP 2,541
232.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
$0.96 COP 3,042
233.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$2.32 COP 7,352
-36.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$9.59 COP 30.4K
242.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$1.28 COP 4,067
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$23.8K COP 75.4M
18.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$35.4K COP 112.4M
-44.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$123 COP 391.0K
-38.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$16.02 COP 50.8K
111.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$30.03 COP 95.2K
40.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$36.92 COP 117.0K
-19.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$7.75 COP 24.6K
43.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
$499 COP 1.6M
1.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
$7,621 COP 24.2M
110.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$83.2 COP 263.8K
-30.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$47.16 COP 149.5K
-20.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$145 COP 458.5K
-36.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$105 COP 334.4K
3.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$642 COP 2.0M
96.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$475 COP 1.5M
99.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$1,022 COP 3.2M
109.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$882 COP 2.8M
82.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$1,682 COP 5.3M
194.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$1,710 COP 5.4M
124.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Tunja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
12.81
-65.03%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Tunja: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Tunja
$475 49.9% $473
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Tunja
$261 24.7% $85
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Tunja
$150 47.9% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Tunja
$169 11.3% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Tunja
$171 28.3% $38
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Tunja
$16 * 84% $83
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Tunja
$52 0.7% $0.4

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 $642 in Tunja. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Montreal versus $42.00 in Tunja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $261 – making Tunja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇨🇴 Tunja
🕒 Local time
07:32 7:32 AM
06:32 6:32 AM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
200,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, 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).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Tunja 4,440 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Tunja

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 Tunja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Tunja?
Montreal costs about 56% more than Tunja, 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 Tunja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $1,942 in Tunja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Tunja?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tunja, 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 Tunja?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Montreal and $42.00 in Tunja. 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 Tunja?
Groceries cost about 33% 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 $1,000/month in Montreal or in Tunja?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tunja, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Tunja 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 Tunja?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tunja costs $1,294 versus $2,018 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 Tunja?
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 Tunja?
If budget matters most, go with Tunja. 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.

Montreal vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?