How Much Does It Cost to Live In Montreal?
When looking into how expensive a city is so as to decide whether to settle there or not, one can refer to its cost of living and find out about the prices that awaits him/her there.
You can find great opportunities in many places across Canada, but you should take into consideration Montreal as a great, popular city, with many things to offer, and at the same time pretty affordable for living.
Canada : Cost of Living by City
- Abbotsford
- Barrie
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Burnaby
- Calgary
- Coquitlam
- Edmonton
- Halifax
- Hamilton
- Kelowna
- Kingston
- Kitchener
- London
- Mississauga
- Moncton
- Montreal
- Nanaimo, BC
- Oshawa
- Ottawa
- Quebec City
- Red Deer
- Regina
- Saskatoon
- St. John’s, NL
- Surrey
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Windsor
- Winnipeg
RESTAURANTS
When it comes to restaurants, the price of meals can go up depending on the quality of prepared food and the prominence of the restaurant.
The price of meal can range from $12 in the least expensive ones, to more than $100 in the most posh restaurants.
MARKETS
A savvy person would try to find out which grocery stores are the least expensive in their area, so as to be able to buy food at lower prices and thus save some money for cinema, sports and other entertaining things.
Food takes the most money of your budget, and as little as you can save on it would be great on the monthly basis.
TRANSPORTATION
Spendings for transport can be lowered if you choose to travel anywhere in Montreal by bus and metro.
Paying monthly ticket would also save you pretty much money, than buying tickets daily.
Driving a vehicle here can only increase you monthly expenses.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
In general, utilities are not too expensive in Montreal.
The Internet is cheaper than in many other cities, as well as the basic services which cost less than $75 per month.
However, prepare yourself to spend more on heating during the winter months.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Your cost of entertainment will vary depending on your own lifestyle and habits.
Some people would spend much more on cinemas and restaurants, while other would enjoy doing sports at the gym.
Whatever you choose, you will have to devote more than 5% of your monthly budget for it.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Canadians in general do not spend much money on clothing, but make sure that you have enough money for cold winter months in Montreal, as you will need warm cloths.
If you cannot afford designer clothes, which are not a bargain here, you can shop in low-price stores.
RENT PER MONTH
Before coming to Montreal you will need to plan your accommodation fees and they would vary depending on apartment type, the chosen building and the location in the city.
If you prefer to live in an apartment away from the city’s hustle, you can find an affordable place to stay for $550 per month.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Montreal
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $11.35 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $4.54 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.19 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $5.90 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $2.20 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.45 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.46 |
| Monthly Pass | $64.31 |
| Gasoline | $3.80 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $73.67 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.23 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $48 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $30.26 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $12.54 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $9.84 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $52.50 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $33.73 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $75.65 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $790.30 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $548.40 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1455.53 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Montreal?
Taking into consideration the fact that food takes more than the third of monthly budget the majority of Montreal citizens shop at local supermarkets and try to keep it as thrifty as possible so as to be able to save some money for other expenses.
Rent is not a huge spending in comparison to some other cities in Canada, so there is more money left for restaurants and transportation.
Commuting via public transportation will make your life easier, besides the fact that it is more affordable than driving.
Average Costs Breakdown
Montreal: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Broadly speaking, you will need to think well before coming to Montreal whether your salary is high enough so that you can spend one third of your salary for food, and have enough money left for transportation, groceries, recreation, apparel and utilities.
When discussing the salary with your future employer, make sure not to accept less than the average amount, as it might not be enough to satisfy your monthly costs, especially if you are coming with your family, which will cause that the rent is higher for a bigger apartment and the expenses will increase.
Montreal Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Montreal Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Montreal
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Abbotsford | 58.95 |
| Barrie | 77.37 |
| Brampton | 68.79 |
| Burlington | 73.13 |
| Burnaby | 64.94 |
| Calgary | 68.93 |
| Coquitlam | 67.43 |
| Edmonton | 67.03 |
| Halifax | 70.88 |
| Hamilton | 60.75 |
| Kelowna | 66.6 |
| Kingston | 66.45 |
| Kitchener | 58.93 |
| London | 59.15 |
| Mississauga | 65.08 |
| Moncton | 61.15 |
| Nanaimo, BC | 65.28 |
| Oshawa | 65.44 |
| Ottawa | 62.88 |
| Quebec City | 66.1 |
| Red Deer | 67.42 |
| Regina | 68.46 |
| Saskatoon | 74.26 |
| St. John’s, NL | 74.05 |
| Surrey | 59.18 |
| Toronto | 70.19 |
| Vancouver | 69.63 |
| Victoria | 66.17 |
| Windsor | 64.42 |
| Winnipeg | 63.15 |
