Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Antonio, TX and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,003 a month against $2,418 in San Antonio, TX, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Antonio, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,418
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,003
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio, TX and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,418 per month in San Antonio, TX vs $2,003 in Montreal, rent included.

  • San Antonio, TX $2,418
  • Montreal $2,003

A couple spends around $3,672 per month in San Antonio, TX vs $3,048 in Montreal, rent included.

  • San Antonio, TX $3,672
  • Montreal $3,048

A family of three spends $4,926 per month in San Antonio, TX vs $4,092 in Montreal, rent included.

  • San Antonio, TX $4,926
  • Montreal $4,092

San Antonio, TX costs about 21% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both San Antonio, TX and Montreal sit above the global median – San Antonio, TX by 80%, Montreal by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.28 $18.28
$19.31 CA$27.52
-5.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$75.5 CA$108
-0.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.10 $10.10
$10.63 CA$15.15
-4.99%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$3.93 CA$5.60
31.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.92 CA$2.73
36.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.48 CA$2.11
14.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 $5.47
$6.30 CA$8.98
-13.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11 $6.11
$7.19 CA$10.24
-15.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$2.22 CA$3.17
-45.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.06 CA$4.36
10.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.94 CA$4.19
50.00%
Eggs
$3.82 $3.82
$3.53 CA$5.03
8.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.94 $11.94
$13.19 CA$18.79
-9.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.49 $11.49
$11.24 CA$16.02
2.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.96 $17.96
$13.81 CA$19.69
30.05%
Apples (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$3.40 CA$4.85
37.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.44 CA$2.06
12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$3.26 CA$4.65
31.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.88 CA$4.10
19.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.86 CA$2.65
36.02%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.82 CA$2.60
68.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.43 CA$3.46
-22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.52 CA$2.17
50.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.56 $9.56
$11.45 CA$16.32
-16.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$10.36 CA$14.76
42.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.22 CA$3.16
25.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$2.82 CA$4.02
23.40%
🚌 Getting Around
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 $1.26
$2.58 CA$3.67
-51.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.51 $37.51
$76.9 CA$110
-51.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.25 CA$4.64
6.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.48 CA$2.11
18.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.13 $24.13
$33.04 CA$47.09
-26.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.36 CA$1.94
-32.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$27.4K CA$39.1K
33.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$20.0K CA$28.5K
29.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$76.1 CA$109
184.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.3 $71.3
$34.68 CA$49.43
105.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.5 $78.5
$42.69 CA$60.9
83.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.92 $36.92
$28.94 CA$41.26
27.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.24 $21.24
$20.33 CA$28.97
4.48%
Cinema Ticket
$14.43 $14.43
$11.21 CA$15.98
28.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$505 CA$720
158.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K $19.2K
$16.0K CA$22.8K
20.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$58.5 CA$83.4
-10.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$38.00 CA$54.2
33.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 $135
$92.7 CA$132
45.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$106 CA$151
39.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 $1,460
$1,240 CA$1,768
17.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,054 $1,054
$986 CA$1,405
6.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,925 $2,925
$2,102 CA$2,996
39.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,021 $2,021
$1,615 CA$2,302
25.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,389 $4,389
$5,043 CA$7,188
-12.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,854 $1,854
$3,830 CA$5,459
-51.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Antonio, TX
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,095 $4,095
$2,920 CA$4,163
40.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
4.46
44.39%

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

Last update for San Antonio, TX: October 4, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Antonio, TX
$1.1K
Montreal
$986 6.4% $68
Groceries & Markets
San Antonio, TX
$393
Montreal
$344 12.5% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Antonio, TX
$366
Montreal
$154 58.1% $213
Eating Out
San Antonio, TX
$296
Montreal
$293 0.9% $2.7
Clothing & Footwear
San Antonio, TX
$173
Montreal
$133 23.4% $41
Sport & Entertainment
San Antonio, TX
$66
Montreal
$51 21.9% $14
Getting Around
San Antonio, TX
$55
Montreal
$98 78.6% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,460 in San Antonio, TX versus $1,240 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 40% higher in San Antonio, 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 $75.0 in San Antonio, TX versus $75.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $393 in San Antonio, TX vs $344 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 San Antonio, TX
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
05:47 5:47 AM
06:47 6:47 AM
1 h ahead of San Antonio, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,434,625
1,762,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Antonio, TX Montreal 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Antonio, TX
  • 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
San Antonio, TX vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Antonio, TX or Montreal?
San Antonio, TX costs about 21% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 San Antonio, TX and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,627 per month in San Antonio, TX and $3,005 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, San Antonio, TX 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.
Are groceries more expensive in San Antonio, TX or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 14% more in San Antonio, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in San Antonio, TX and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in San Antonio, TX and $75.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in San Antonio, TX or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,003, than in San Antonio, TX at $2,418. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Antonio, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, San Antonio, TX or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,003 versus $2,418 in San Antonio, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio, TX or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Antonio, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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