Townleap

Cost of Living: Las Vegas vs Montreal (2026)

United States vs Canada — relocation comparison

Your passport:
53
Livability Score
🇺🇸 Las Vegas
United States
Full profile
78
Livability Score
🇨🇦 Montreal
Canada
Full profile
Las Vegas
Montreal
$1587/mo
Rent
$1309/mo
53/100
Livability
78/100
49/100
Safety
83/100
77/100
Healthcare
85/100
10 yr
PR path
3 yr
Internet
112 Mbps
Freelance setup
Self-employed / Sole Proprietor
  • No VAT exemption
  • 15.3% social
  • €1000/yr accountant
WiseStripe
Sole Proprietorship
  • VAT-free under €20k
  • 12% social
  • €800/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated April 2026

TL;DRMontreal is 18% cheaper on rent ($1309/mo vs $1587/mo). Canada gets you to permanent residency 7 years faster (3 vs 10 years). You can get by in English in both — your Duolingo streak can wait.
Montreal scores 78 to Las Vegas's 53 on livability — the gap is real. Las Vegas has its charms, but the numbers favor Montreal.
Household
Las Vegas
Metric
Montreal
$1587/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1309/mo
$747/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$616/mo
$6,076
🧳
Cost to land
$4,288
8.7 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
2.3 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
33 / 100
39°C
☀️
Summer high
25°C
5°C
❄️
Winter low
-10°C
Internet speed
112 Mbps
7.6 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
11 μg/m³
7.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
100/100
$86k
💼
GDP per capita
$65k
2.9% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.4% · Boringly steady
53 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
78 / 100
Grid reliability
92/100 — Reliable
🗽
Freedom House
97/100
10 years
📋
Time to PR
3 years
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated April 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Montreal
$278/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Montreal
2.3 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Montreal
8.7/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
39°C vs 25°C summers
🗣️
English
Las Vegas
higher proficiency score
📋
Residency
Montreal
PR in 3 years

Sun

How much sky you actually get

74% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
47% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
9.7h
Shortest day
Dec
8.7h
14.6h
Longest day
Jun
15.7h

Sun clocks out before 5pm in both cities come December. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
declining
improving
Inflation trend
improving
Industries
aigamingaerospacepharma
Startup ecosystem
hub
Grid reliability
92/100
10 yrs
Time to PR
3 yrs
Easy
🇺🇸 Your visa
Easy
Moderate
EU visa
Moderate
Suspended
RU visa
Complex
Moderate
UA visa
Moderate
Spouse works
Partner can work immediately
Not recognized
Partner pathway
Recognized (1+ yr)
common-law partner / conjoint de fait

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request

Post-Dobbs (2022): varies dramatically by state. Fully banned in ~14 states, protected in ~20 states.

No legal gestational limit. Fully decriminalized since 1988.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

68/100
Rainbow Index
78/100
Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Source: Rainbow Europe (ILGA-Europe)

The Short Version

  • Rent is 18% cheaper in Montreal ($1309/mo vs $1587/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are dramatically warmer in Las Vegas (39°C vs 25°C).
  • Montreal is safer by homicide rate (2.3 vs 8.7 per 100k).
  • Montreal scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 7.8 / 10 EIU).

Las Vegas vs Montreal — Common Questions

Is Las Vegas cheaper than Montreal?

Montreal is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1309/month in Montreal vs $1587/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Las Vegas or Montreal?

Montreal is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Las Vegas has a rate of 8.70 per 100,000 and Montreal has 2.27 per 100,000.

Should I move to Las Vegas or Montreal?

Montreal scores 78 to Las Vegas's 53 on livability — the gap is real. Las Vegas has its charms, but the numbers favor Montreal. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Las Vegas or Montreal?

Las Vegas: no specific remote work visa. Montreal: Canada Express Entry (complex process, Permanent residence). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Las Vegas or Montreal?

Las Vegas is warmer in summer (39°C vs 25°C). Montreal has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Las Vegas vs Montreal?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1309/month in Montreal, $1587/month in Las Vegas (Numbeo). That's 18% cheaper rent in Montreal.

Is Las Vegas or Montreal better for democracy and rule of law?

Montreal scores 8.7/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 7.8/10 for Las Vegas. That puts it in 'full democracy' territory — free press, independent courts, the works.

Is healthcare better in Las Vegas or Montreal?

Montreal scores higher on our composite healthcare index (85/100 vs 77/100 for Las Vegas). That score combines clinical outcomes (IHME), universal coverage (WHO), and resident perception (Numbeo) — not just whether hospitals exist but whether the system actually works for settlers.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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