Cost of Living in Montreal
Canada
Comfortable budget (single)
$3,313/month
Range $2,092–$3,313/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Montreal?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Montreal for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$4
flat white at cafe
Beer
$5.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$17.5
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$415
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$92
monthly pass
Gym
$44
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,569–$2,441 | ↓ -1% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $828–$1,308 | ↓ -1% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $65–$126 | ↓ -2% |
| Internet & Mobile | $26–$44 | • 0% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $331–$497 | ↓ -1% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $44–$78 | ↓ -2% |
| Coffee | $3–$5 | • 0% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $83–$100 | ↓ -1% |
| Gym membership | $31–$57 | • 0% |
| Cinema ticket | $12–$16 | • 0% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Montreal — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$1,569–$2,441/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$11,720
Buy outside (per m²)
$6,440
Price-to-rent ratio
22×
Avg mortgage rate
5.6%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Montreal center at ~$11,720/m² with a 25y loan at 5.6% would cost roughly $4,360/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Montreal. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $2,850 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $4,050 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $3,580 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $2,900 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $3,350 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Montreal.
Utilize the STM's Opus card for seamless public transit across the metro and bus network, which is very efficient for navigating the city.
Save on groceries by shopping at local markets like Jean-Talon Market for fresh produce or discount supermarkets such as Maxi and Super C.
Immerse yourself in local culture by exploring the vibrant streets and unique boutiques of the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,092–$3,313/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,441/mo
- Groceries: ~$497/mo
- Transport: ~$100/mo
Couple
$3,313–$5,056/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,441/mo
- Groceries: ~$497/mo
- Transport: ~$100/mo
Family
$4,795–$7,410/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,441/mo
- Groceries: ~$497/mo
- Transport: ~$100/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Montreal Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,961–$3,051/mo
Montreal Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,726–$2,685/mo
Montreal Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,255–$1,953/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Culture
- • Food
- • Affordable vs Toronto
❌ Cons
- • French required for some jobs
- • Winters
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Compare Montreal with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.