Montreal or San Jose

Based on 2026 cost of living data, Montreal is more affordable than San Jose. Montreal has a cost rating of 65/100, while San Jose has a cost rating of 84/100.

In terms of safety, Montreal ranks higher with a safety score of 85/100, compared to San Jose at 82/100. Montreal's safety score is 85/100 and San Jose's safety score is 82/100.

Average rent in Montreal is typically $1,800 CAD per month, whereas typical rent in San Jose averages $2,300 - $3,100 per month.

For Montreal, the visa process is rated as: Quebec Specific (Quebec has its own immigration selection (CSQ); French proficiency is often required.). For San Jose, the process is rated as: World Epicenter for H-1B, O-1 & EB-1 Sponsorship (Unrivaled employer sponsorship by Nvidia, Apple, Google, Adobe, Cisco, and thousands of AI startups.).