Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Montreal is 13% cheaper than Houston based on our cost of living index. Montreal has a COLI of 52.1, while Houston has a COLI of 60.2. 13% cheaper
Overall, Montreal is approximately 13% cheaper than Houston based on our cost of living index. Houston has a COLI of 60.2 (ranked #45 of 182 cities), while Montreal has a COLI of 52.1 (ranked #53).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Houston averages $1,600/month compared to $1,400/month in Montreal. That makes Montreal approximately 12% cheaper for rent alone.
Houston has lower total deductions (19.1%) compared to Montreal (36.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Houston. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn $75,000 in Houston, you would need approximately C$87,881 in Montreal to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 13% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Houston (USD) | Montreal (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | $108,360 | C$126,970 |
| Software Engineer | $51,170 | C$59,958 |
| Product Manager | $60,200 | C$70,539 |
| Lawyer | $60,200 | C$70,539 |
| Data Scientist | $57,190 | C$67,012 |
| Marketing Manager | $43,344 | C$50,788 |
| Teacher | $28,896 | C$33,859 |
| Nurse | $34,916 | C$40,913 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| River Oaks | 1.35x (+35%) |
| Tanglewood | 1.25x (+25%) |
| West University Place | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Downtown | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Memorial | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Westmount | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Old Montreal | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Outremont | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Plateau Mont-Royal | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Griffintown | 1.15x (+15%) |
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Open Salary ConverterHouston is more expensive overall. Houston has a COLI of 60.2 while Montreal has a COLI of 52.1, making Montreal approximately 13% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 in Houston, you would need approximately C$87,881 in Montreal.
Average one-bedroom rent in Houston is $1,600/month compared to $1,400/month in Montreal. Montreal has lower rent by approximately 12%.
Houston has lower total deductions (19.1%) compared to Montreal (36.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Houston.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.