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Mohamed Oun
Montreal
#53 of 124
North America

Montreal

Canada

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Montreal compare to Houston?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Montreal is 28% worse off vs in Houston

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Montreal compared to Houston, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$76,445
-$54K (-41%) vs Houston
Based on 691 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$53,512
-$36K (-40%) vs Houston
Tax Rate: 30%

Community Insights

New

Montreal offers a unique proposition for software engineers: a vibrant, culturally rich city with a booming AI and Gaming sector at a significantly lower cost of living than Toronto or Vancouver. However, this affordability comes at a price. The city ranks lower on Net Income due to high taxes, and the French language factor is a critical consideration—while many tech companies operate in English, recent legislation and the OIQ professional standards make French essential for long-term stability and integration. It is a city that prioritizes lifestyle and culture over raw financial accumulation.

Resident Sentiment

Mixed but Affectionate.

Most residents, especially transplants, express a deep love for the city's charm, food scene, and affordability. However, recent sentiment has shifted towards frustration regarding Bill 96 (language laws), which has made some Anglophone tech workers feel unwelcome or anxious about their future. There is also a common complaint about "golden handcuffs": loving the lifestyle and cheap rent, but feeling financially stuck due to the high tax/low salary ratio compared to opportunities elsewhere.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Houston.

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 23%

#28

of 124 cities

33.7/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 28%

#35

of 124 cities

67.2/100

Current value

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#44

of 124 cities

6 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Montreal compared to Houston?

Avg. Property Price
$4,782 / m²
110% more expensive than Houston
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Montreal to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
16% cheaper than Houston
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Montreal

Shopify logo
Shopify
Unity logo
Unity
National Bank of Canada logo
National Bank of Canada

The Good

  • Affordable Cost of Living compared to other major tech hubs like Toronto and Vancouver, particularly for rent and buying property.
  • Strong Tech Scene specifically in AI (Artificial Intelligence), Deep Learning, and Video Gaming (e.g., Ubisoft, EA, Mila).
  • Vibrant Culture & Lifestyle with a unique "European feel," walkable neighborhoods, and world-class festivals (Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs).
  • Safe Environment with a high safety index ranking (#35), making it comfortable for families and individuals.
  • Good Public Transit (Metro system) and bike-friendly infrastructure (BIXI, bike lanes), reducing the need for a car in central areas.

The Bad

  • High Taxes: Quebec has the highest income tax rates in Canada (Tax Rate rank #51), significantly reducing net take-home pay compared to other provinces.
  • Language Barrier: Knowledge of French is increasingly necessary for daily life and career growth; strict laws (Bill 96) and OIQ requirements for the "Engineer" title create hurdles for unilingual Anglophones.
  • Healthcare System Crisis: Residents report extremely long wait times for ERs and immense difficulty finding a family doctor.
  • Harsh Winters: Long, cold winters with temperatures dropping to -12.0°C or lower, which can be a shock for newcomers.
  • Infrastructure Issues: Constant road construction (the infamous "orange cones"), potholes, and traffic congestion.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

AI/Gaming Specialists and Francophiles.

Software engineers working in niche fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or game development will find a world-class ecosystem here. It is also ideal for those who value a walkable, culturally rich lifestyle and are willing to pay higher taxes in exchange for lower rent and a European city vibe. If you are open to learning French or already speak it, you will thrive.

Skip it if...

Unilingual Anglophones and FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) chasers.

If you have zero interest in learning French, you may find your career ceiling limited and daily life frustrating due to language laws. Additionally, engineers focused solely on maximizing net income and savings will be disappointed by the high tax burden and lower average salaries ($76k median) compared to US or Toronto standards. Those who cannot tolerate severe winters should also stay away.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather3.2/10-20% vs Houston
Safety67+83%
Pollution34-41%
Events60%
3.2/10TechCities weather score vs 4.0/10 in Houston

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
12°C(vs 27°C in Houston)
Average Low
4°C(vs 17°C in Houston)
Sunshine Hours
2,051h/yr-527h/yr(-20%)
Hottest Month High
26°C(vs 35°C in Houston)
Coldest Month Low
-12°C(vs 8°C in Houston)
Rainy Days
89/yr-16/yr(-15%)

Community & Quality

Montreal community pulse

Montreal has 6 Luma events listed.

Similar event volume to Houston.

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#48

of 124 cities

≈7.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#49

of 124 cities

46/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#49

of 124 cities

30%

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#53

of 124 cities

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#60

of 124 cities

$53,512/yr

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 25%

#94

of 124 cities

32/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
7.1 years
5.1 years longer than Houston
Muggy Days
15/yr-163/yr(-92%)
Cloud Cover
53%(vs 41% in Houston)