Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Charles, MO and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $2,184 in Saint Charles, MO, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint Charles, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,184
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saint Charles, MO and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saint Charles, MO and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Saint Charles, MO vs $2,059 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Saint Charles, MO $2,184
  • Montreal $2,059

A couple spends around $3,474 per month in Saint Charles, MO vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Saint Charles, MO $3,474
  • Montreal $3,123

A family of three spends $4,763 per month in Saint Charles, MO vs $4,187 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Saint Charles, MO $4,763
  • Montreal $4,187

Saint Charles, MO costs about 6% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Saint Charles, MO and Montreal sit above the global median – Saint Charles, MO by 61%, Montreal by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.80 $14.80
$18.84 CA$26.63
-21.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.0 $60.0
$73.2 CA$104
-18.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.83 $11.83
$10.54 CA$14.90
12.24%
Cappuccino
$4.84 $4.84
$3.97 CA$5.61
21.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.94 CA$2.74
34.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.57 CA$2.22
17.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$6.42 CA$9.08
-21.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 $6.15
$7.20 CA$10.19
-14.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$2.32 CA$3.28
-67.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 $2.60
$3.19 CA$4.51
-18.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.27 $6.27
$3.19 CA$4.50
96.55%
Eggs
$3.12 $3.12
$3.68 CA$5.20
-15.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.38 $9.38
$13.24 CA$18.72
-29.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 $6.51
$11.69 CA$16.53
-44.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.11 $24.11
$13.98 CA$19.76
72.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$3.14 CA$4.44
18.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.45 CA$2.05
48.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$10.18 $10.18
$3.38 CA$4.78
201.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$3.11 CA$4.40
64.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$1.93 CA$2.72
87.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$1.83 CA$2.58
102.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.36 CA$3.34
-10.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.50 CA$2.12
44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.14 $11.14
$11.12 CA$15.73
0.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.60 CA$14.98
13.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.22 CA$3.14
-14.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.84 CA$4.01
-9.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.62 CA$3.71
87.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.1 CA$112
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.23 CA$4.56
-5.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.48 CA$2.10
14.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.89 $49.89
$32.22 CA$45.55
54.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.36 CA$1.92
-33.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
-0.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$21.2K CA$30.0K
25.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$334 $334
$77.0 CA$109
334.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.0 $61.0
$34.14 CA$48.26
78.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.5 $75.5
$42.19 CA$59.7
79.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.26 $49.26
$30.81 CA$43.56
59.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.93 $11.93
$11.47 CA$16.22
4.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$980 $980
$506 CA$716
93.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.2K CA$23.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9 $68.9
$57.3 CA$81.0
20.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64 $42.64
$38.10 CA$53.9
11.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 $78.6
$91.9 CA$130
-14.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 $160
$110 CA$155
46.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$1,237 CA$1,748
19.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 $790
$977 CA$1,381
-19.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,970 $1,970
$2,180 CA$3,082
-9.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 $1,917
$1,608 CA$2,273
19.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,113 CA$7,228
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,744 CA$5,293
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Charles, MO
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,223 $4,223
$2,957 CA$4,180
42.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
4.48
46.87%

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

Last update for Saint Charles, MO: October 18, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint Charles, MO
$790
Montreal
$977 23.6% $186
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Charles, MO
$471
Montreal
$153 67.4% $318
Groceries & Markets
Saint Charles, MO
$393
Montreal
$351 10.7% $42
Eating Out
Saint Charles, MO
$267
Montreal
$290 8.6% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Saint Charles, MO
$158
Montreal
$134 15.3% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Saint Charles, MO
$73
Montreal
$54 26.5% $19
Getting Around
Saint Charles, MO
$31 *
Montreal
$100 222% $69

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,479 in Saint Charles, MO versus $1,237 in Montreal. 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 43% higher in Saint Charles, MO, 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 $60.0 in Saint Charles, MO versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $393 in Saint Charles, MO vs $351 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Saint Charles, MO
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
14:34 2:34 PM
15:34 3:34 PM
1 h ahead of Saint Charles, MO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
70,329
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint Charles, MO Montreal 1,580 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint Charles, MO
  • Montreal

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
Saint Charles, MO vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint Charles, MO or Montreal?
Saint Charles, MO costs about 6% 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 Saint Charles, MO and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,276 per month in Saint Charles, MO and $3,089 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Saint Charles, MO or Montreal?
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 do dining costs compare in Saint Charles, MO and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Saint Charles, MO and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Saint Charles, MO or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Saint Charles, MO, 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 Saint Charles, MO or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,059, than in Saint Charles, MO at $2,184. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Charles, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Saint Charles, MO or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,059 versus $2,184 in Saint Charles, MO. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Saint Charles, MO compared to Montreal?
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 Saint Charles, MO or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Charles, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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