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Seattle vs Montreal

Montreal runs about 38% cheaper than Seattle for this household, a difference of 1,593 USD a month.

The Seattle skyline at dusk as viewed from the Jose Rizal Bridge. In the foreground is the Interstate 5 in Washington.
Seattle
$4,162/month · United States
Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0
The skyline of downtown Montreal, Quebec (pop. 1,762,000). It's the 2nd-largest city in Canada, and 8th-largest in North America.
Montreal
$2,569/month · Canada
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Seattle monthly
$4,162
Index 65 (NYC = 100)
Montreal monthly
$2,569
Index 40 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-38%
Montreal relative to Seattle
Rent gap
$720
Seattle costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

SeattleMontreal
  • Housing
    Housing: Seattle $2,020, Montreal $1,300. Cheaper in Montreal.
  • Food
    Food: Seattle $849, Montreal $674. Cheaper in Montreal.
  • Transport
    Transport: Seattle $189, Montreal $152. Cheaper in Montreal.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Seattle $227, Montreal $191. Cheaper in Montreal.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Seattle $537, Montreal $8.10. Cheaper in Montreal.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Seattle $181, Montreal $149. Cheaper in Montreal.
  • Other
    Other: Seattle $159, Montreal $94. Cheaper in Montreal.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricSeattleMontreal
Cost
Total monthly cost4,162 USD2,569 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)6540✓
Housing2,020 USD1,300 USD✓
Utilities227 USD191 USD✓
Food849 USD674 USD✓
Transport189 USD152 USD✓
Healthcare537 USD8 USD✓
Lifestyle181 USD149 USD✓
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,575 USD✓5,572 USD
Effective tax + social rate21.1%✓33.1%
Left over each month2,413 USD3,003 USD✓
Average local net salary5,800 USD✓2,900 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre2,020 USD1,300 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre3,856 USD2,200 USD✓
Buy price per m², centre8,000 USD5,200 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety58/10080/100✓
Healthcare86/100✓82/100
Air quality78/100✓76/100
Public transport68/10078/100✓
Walkability74/10082/100✓
English proficiency100/100✓72/100
Nightlife76/10084/100✓
Family friendliness70/10084/100✓
Median broadband260 Mbps✓200 Mbps
Climate
Average temperature12°C7°C✓
Summer high26°C26°C
Winter low2°C✓-14°C
Sunshine hours per year2,170 h✓2,050 h
Annual rainfall950 mm✓1000 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access25 min✓40 min
CurrencyUSDCAD
Time zoneAmerica/Los_AngelesAmerica/Toronto

Montreal runs about 38% cheaper than Seattle for this household, a difference of 1,593 USD a month.

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Go deeper

Cost of living in SeattleCost of living in MontrealConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Seattle vs ChicagoSeattle vs VancouverSeattle vs Toronto
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Seattle or Montreal cheaper?

Montreal runs about 38% cheaper than Seattle for this household, a difference of 1,593 USD a month.

What salary do you need in Montreal compared with Seattle?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,575 a month in Seattle and $5,572 in Montreal, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Seattle or Montreal?

Seattle scores 58/100 on safety and 86/100 on healthcare; Montreal scores 80 and 82. Seattle averages 12°C against 7°C in Montreal.