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 $2,619 per month in San Marcos, TX vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,871 per month in San Marcos, TX vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,123 per month in San Marcos, TX vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

San Marcos, TX costs about 27% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Marcos, TX and Montreal sit above the global median – San Marcos, TX by 95%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.32 $19.32

$15.92 CA$22.05

21.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.5 $68.5

$73.1 CA$101

-6.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.94 $9.94

$11.15 CA$15.43

-10.85%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$3.80 CA$5.26

26.58%

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

$2.79 $2.79

$2.18 CA$3.01

27.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.46 CA$2.02

43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$6.12 CA$8.48

0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 $7.09

$6.78 CA$9.38

4.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$2.33 CA$3.22

-60.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.39 CA$4.69

-12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.73 CA$5.16

-8.04%

Eggs

$3.81 $3.81

$3.38 CA$4.68

12.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.95 $9.95

$16.25 CA$22.50

-38.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.54 CA$15.98

6.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.19 $17.19

$15.24 CA$21.10

12.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.74 CA$5.18

12.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.70 CA$2.36

-27.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.11 CA$5.68

-5.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$4.35 CA$6.02

-39.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.71 CA$3.75

3.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.62 CA$3.62

-9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.25 CA$3.12

-20.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.73 CA$2.39

25.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.10 $8.10

$13.31 CA$18.43

-39.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.75 $13.75

$10.78 CA$14.93

27.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.01 CA$4.17

-34.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.46 CA$4.80

10.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.74 CA$3.79

-25.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.63 CA$5.03

7.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.46 CA$2.02

29.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.20 $30.20

$33.44 CA$46.30

-9.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.21 CA$1.68

-39.67%

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

$32.9K $32.9K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

33.35%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

19.01%

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

$189 $189

$76.0 CA$105

148.37%

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

$62.1 $62.1

$35.72 CA$49.46

73.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$42.86 CA$59.4

54.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.3 $69.3

$42.92 CA$59.4

61.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$11.09 CA$15.35

33.09%

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

$675 $675

$620 CA$858

8.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K $18.9K

$5,834 CA$8,078

223.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.12 $47.12

$62.7 CA$86.8

-24.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.39 $44.39

$44.41 CA$61.5

-0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 $96.7

$101 CA$139

-4.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$119 CA$165

2.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 $1,325

$1,211 CA$1,677

9.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 $1,397

$960 CA$1,329

45.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,056 $3,056

$2,035 CA$2,818

50.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 $2,370

$1,589 CA$2,201

49.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,392 $2,392

$5,181 CA$7,173

-53.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,880 $1,880

$3,934 CA$5,446

-52.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,086 $3,086

$2,960 CA$4,098

4.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.01

28.54%

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

Last update for San Marcos, TX: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,325 in San Marcos, TX versus $1,211 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 4% 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 $68.0 in San Marcos, TX versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $392 – making San Marcos, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 27% 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 $3,928 per month in San Marcos, TX and $3,094 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 $68.0 in San Marcos, TX and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in San Marcos, TX – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in San Marcos, TX at $2,619. 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 $2,063 versus $2,619 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.