Cost of Living Comparison Between San Marcos, TX and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between San Marcos, TX and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,360 per month in San Marcos, TX vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,524 per month in San Marcos, TX vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,688 per month in San Marcos, TX vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

San Marcos, TX costs about 15% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Marcos, TX and Montreal sit above the global median – San Marcos, TX by 72%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.76 $14.76

$17.85 CA$24.62

-17.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 $59.5

$72.3 CA$99.7

-17.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 $10.43

$10.92 CA$15.06

-4.49%

Cappuccino

$4.73 $4.73

$3.97 CA$5.47

19.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.07 CA$2.86

37.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.55 CA$2.13

11.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.41 CA$8.85

-24.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$7.29 CA$10.05

-18.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$2.39 CA$3.29

-68.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.21 CA$4.42

3.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.07 CA$4.23

24.76%

Eggs

$2.81 $2.81

$3.68 CA$5.07

-23.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 $9.98

$13.57 CA$18.72

-26.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 $9.42

$11.63 CA$16.03

-19.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$13.97 CA$19.27

-5.44%

Apples (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$3.68 CA$5.08

70.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.56 CA$2.15

-27.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$3.41 CA$4.70

92.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$3.03 CA$4.17

56.77%

Potato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$1.98 CA$2.74

102.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.82 CA$2.52

64.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.56 CA$3.53

-30.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.39 CA$1.92

32.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.82 $8.82

$11.49 CA$15.85

-23.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 $13.89

$10.92 CA$15.06

27.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.26 CA$3.12

-22.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.01 CA$4.15

28.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.71

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.35 CA$4.62

37.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.50 CA$2.07

20.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.5 $59.5

$33.70 CA$46.47

76.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.29 CA$1.78

-37.98%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.5K $35.5K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

25.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

25.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$133 $133

$80.4 CA$111

65.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.60 $36.60

$34.23 CA$47.21

6.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.7 $52.7

$41.39 CA$57.1

27.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.1 $69.1

$29.24 CA$40.32

136.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.43

Cinema Ticket

$11.60 $11.60

$11.71 CA$16.15

-0.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$674 $674

$564 CA$778

19.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K $18.1K

$16.8K CA$23.2K

7.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$59.5 CA$82.1

-4.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.57 $37.57

$42.13 CA$58.1

-10.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 $82.2

$107 CA$148

-23.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$111 CA$153

10.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$1,284 CA$1,770

3.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 $1,251

$990 CA$1,365

26.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,825 $2,825

$2,260 CA$3,116

25.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,215 $2,215

$1,667 CA$2,299

32.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,399 $2,399

$5,287 CA$7,291

-54.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,853 $1,853

$3,813 CA$5,258

-51.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,101 $3,101

$3,019 CA$4,163

2.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

4.41

36.73%

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

Last update for San Marcos, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,328 in San Marcos, TX versus $1,284 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 3% higher in San Marcos, 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 $59.0 in San Marcos, TX versus $72.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in San Marcos, TX vs $356 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Marcos, TX vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Marcos, TX costs about 15% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,539 per month in San Marcos, TX and $3,084 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in San Marcos, TX and $72.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in San Marcos, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,056, than in San Marcos, TX at $2,360. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Marcos, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,056 versus $2,360 in San Marcos, TX. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Marcos, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.