Cost of living in Montreal

In Montreal, Canada, a family of four typically needs around $4616 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $1954 monthly.

How expensive is Montreal compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Montreal is 37% more expensive overall.

How does Montreal compare to your city?

Montreal is 43% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Montreal is, on average, 28% lower than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Montreal?

Who is Montreal a good fit for?

Montreal tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Montreal so expensive?

The primary driver of high costs in Montreal is rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall living expenses.

Is food expensive in Montreal?

Yes, food costs in Montreal are 28% higher than the European benchmark.

Is public transport affordable in Montreal?

No, public transport is 154% higher than the European benchmark, making it quite costly.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1954 $
Without Rent
968 $
Rent & Utilities
986 $
Food
608 $
Transport
190 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
2805 $
GDP per Capita
53,372 $
Freedom Index
8.55
Lifespan
81 years
Speak English
82%
Population
1.8M

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 16.6 $
Dinner 76.2 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 11.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.72 $
Capuccino 3.94 $
Coke, 330ml 2.2 $

Compare Montreal with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 2.34 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.92 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.95 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.73 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 16.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.3 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.9 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.4 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.52 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.28 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.36 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.42 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.46 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.26 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.06 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.7 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.18 $
Cigarette pack 11.5 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.79 $
Monthly Pass 73.2 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.27 $
Taxi, 8 km 18.3 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 121 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 10.5 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.65 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.67 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 3.01 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 49 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 77 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 42.7 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 856 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,492 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,044 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,012 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 7,494 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 4,431 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 2,805 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.28%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 33.2 $
Cinema, 1 seat 11.3 $
Haircut 32.8 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 95.7 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 61.4 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 669 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 6,957 $

Compare Montreal with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Montreal vs George Town (George Town is 86% more expensive)
Bahamas
Montreal vs Nassau (Nassau is 41% more expensive) Montreal vs Freeport (Freeport is 12% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Montreal vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 20% more expensive) Montreal vs Luganville (Luganville is 56% more expensive)
United States
Montreal vs New York City (New York City is 107% more expensive) Montreal vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 63% more expensive) Montreal vs Chicago (Chicago is 36% more expensive) Montreal vs Houston (Houston is 15% more expensive) Montreal vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 21% more expensive) Montreal vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 30% more expensive) Montreal vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 12% more expensive) Montreal vs San Diego (San Diego is 71% more expensive) Montreal vs Dallas (Dallas is 31% more expensive) Montreal vs San Jose (San Jose is 88% more expensive)
Canada
Montreal vs Toronto (Toronto is 32% more expensive) Montreal vs Montreal (Montreal has similar costs) Montreal vs Calgary (Calgary is 10% more expensive) Montreal vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 14% more expensive) Montreal vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 9% less expensive) Montreal vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 10% less expensive) Montreal vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 27% more expensive) Montreal vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 36% more expensive) Montreal vs Brampton (Brampton is 9% more expensive) Montreal vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 10% more expensive)
Barbados
Montreal vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 30% less expensive) Montreal vs Holetown (Holetown is 29% less expensive)
Panama
Montreal vs Panama City (Panama City is 29% less expensive) Montreal vs Colon (Colon is 40% less expensive) Montreal vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 37% less expensive) Montreal vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 46% less expensive) Montreal vs David (David is 57% less expensive) Montreal vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 51% less expensive) Montreal vs Balboa (Balboa is 36% less expensive) Montreal vs Pacora (Pacora is 36% less expensive) Montreal vs Chitre (Chitre is 44% less expensive) Montreal vs Penonome (Penonome is 44% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Montreal vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 36% less expensive) Montreal vs Cayon (Cayon is 36% less expensive)
Cuba
Montreal vs Havana (Havana is 48% less expensive) Montreal vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 28% less expensive) Montreal vs Holguin (Holguin is 34% less expensive) Montreal vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 22% less expensive) Montreal vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 46% less expensive) Montreal vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 40% less expensive) Montreal vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 20% less expensive) Montreal vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 20% less expensive) Montreal vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 44% less expensive) Montreal vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 55% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Montreal vs San Jose (San Jose is 37% less expensive) Montreal vs Limon (Limon is 39% less expensive) Montreal vs Liberia (Liberia is 54% less expensive) Montreal vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 37% less expensive) Montreal vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 35% less expensive) Montreal vs Cartago (Cartago is 51% less expensive) Montreal vs Heredia (Heredia is 36% less expensive) Montreal vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 14% less expensive) Montreal vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 33% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Montreal vs Castries (Castries is 41% less expensive) Montreal vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 39% less expensive)
Jamaica
Montreal vs Kingston (Kingston is 32% less expensive) Montreal vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 60% less expensive) Montreal vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 48% less expensive) Montreal vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 40% less expensive) Montreal vs May Pen (May Pen is 58% less expensive) Montreal vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 50% less expensive) Montreal vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 57% less expensive) Montreal vs Linstead (Linstead is 46% less expensive) Montreal vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 43% less expensive) Montreal vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 42% less expensive)
El Salvador
Montreal vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 39% less expensive) Montreal vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 64% less expensive) Montreal vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 40% less expensive) Montreal vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 45% less expensive) Montreal vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 41% less expensive) Montreal vs Apopa (Apopa is 41% less expensive) Montreal vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 38% less expensive) Montreal vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 26% less expensive) Montreal vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 44% less expensive) Montreal vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 55% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Montreal vs St. John's (St. John's is 45% less expensive) Montreal vs All Saints (All Saints is 45% less expensive)
Grenada
Montreal vs St. George's (St. George's is 45% less expensive) Montreal vs Grenville (Grenville is 46% less expensive)
Dominica
Montreal vs Roseau (Roseau is 49% less expensive) Montreal vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 42% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Montreal vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 50% less expensive) Montreal vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 49% less expensive)
Belize
Montreal vs Belize City (Belize City is 55% less expensive) Montreal vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 44% less expensive) Montreal vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 63% less expensive) Montreal vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 32% less expensive) Montreal vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 19% less expensive)
Guatemala
Montreal vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 49% less expensive) Montreal vs Mixco (Mixco is 67% less expensive) Montreal vs Coban (Coban is 53% less expensive) Montreal vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 60% less expensive) Montreal vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 54% less expensive) Montreal vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 54% less expensive) Montreal vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 55% less expensive) Montreal vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 55% less expensive) Montreal vs Flores (Flores is 56% less expensive) Montreal vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 60% less expensive)
Honduras
Montreal vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 58% less expensive) Montreal vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 47% less expensive) Montreal vs Choloma (Choloma is 69% less expensive) Montreal vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 67% less expensive) Montreal vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 55% less expensive) Montreal vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 56% less expensive) Montreal vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 63% less expensive) Montreal vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 63% less expensive) Montreal vs Yoro (Yoro is 62% less expensive) Montreal vs La Lima (La Lima is 55% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Montreal vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 59% less expensive) Montreal vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 46% less expensive) Montreal vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 61% less expensive) Montreal vs Higuey (Higuey is 61% less expensive) Montreal vs La Vega (La Vega is 71% less expensive) Montreal vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 57% less expensive) Montreal vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 63% less expensive) Montreal vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 73% less expensive) Montreal vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 68% less expensive) Montreal vs Bonao (Bonao is 72% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Montreal vs Managua (Managua is 60% less expensive) Montreal vs Leon (Leon is 67% less expensive) Montreal vs Masaya (Masaya is 64% less expensive) Montreal vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 72% less expensive) Montreal vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 67% less expensive) Montreal vs Esteli (Esteli is 70% less expensive) Montreal vs Granada (Granada is 64% less expensive) Montreal vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 77% less expensive) Montreal vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 66% less expensive) Montreal vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 54% less expensive)