In Montreal, the cost of living is quite low compared to other similar areas of the world. The Institut assesses basic living costs at about $1000 a month, that is about $12,000 CA per year to cover expenses of housing, food, clothing, transportation and social and sports activities. This amount does not include tuition or registration fees. The typical budget shown below reflects the lifestyle of an average student, but amounts may be higher or lower, depending on the individual.

The unit of currency in Québec is the Canadian dollar ($ CA). The dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents, and 1 and 2 dollars, as well as bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 1000 dollars. The rate of exchange for the Canadian dollar is shown on many Internet money conversion sites; some examples are:
- www.xe.com/ucc
- http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/index.html
- www.oanda.com/convert/classic

When you arrive in Montreal, you should go to a Québec banking institution to obtain information regarding the transfer of funds from your country.

Various types of housing are available in Montreal. You may decide to:
- rent a room or studio in a university student residence.
- rent a room with a host family.
- rent or share an apartment or house.
- rent a room in a house.

The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) allows Institut students to rent rooms or studios in their university residences, which are located about a 10-minute walk away.

http://residences-uqam.qc.ca

To get a real sense of Montreal life, the international student may decide to live with a family. To find a host family:
- www.montrealnumber1homestay.com/1_English_Webpage/EnglishWebpage.htm 
- www.minervahomestay.com/

Note that the Institut does not in any way check the services offered by these agencies nor is it in any way responsible for this service.

You can also rent or share an apartment or house, furnished or unfurnished. For a listing of apartment rentals, consult the sites below:

hour
http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/apa/
http://montreal.kijiji.ca
www.moremontreal.com/apartments/

There is helpful information about housing and essentials for living in Montreal on these sites:

- http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/housing/index.html
- http://www.logement.info.gouv.qc.ca/en/