Cost of Living Comparison Between Acton, MA and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Acton, MA and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,667 per month in Acton, MA vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,976 per month in Acton, MA vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,286 per month in Acton, MA vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Acton, MA costs about 29% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Acton, MA and Montreal sit above the global median – Acton, MA by 99%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.06 $19.06

$15.92 CA$22.05

19.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$73.1 CA$101

35.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.37 $13.37

$11.15 CA$15.43

19.91%

Cappuccino

$4.54 $4.54

$3.80 CA$5.26

19.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.18 CA$3.01

27.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.46 CA$2.02

48.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.12 CA$8.48

-3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 $7.30

$6.78 CA$9.38

7.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$2.33 CA$3.22

-49.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.39 CA$4.69

-2.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.73 CA$5.16

-15.01%

Eggs

$6.63 $6.63

$3.38 CA$4.68

96.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 $10.94

$16.25 CA$22.50

-32.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$11.54 CA$15.98

-18.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.96 $20.96

$15.24 CA$21.10

37.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.74 CA$5.18

47.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.70 CA$2.36

25.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.11 CA$5.68

40.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$4.35 CA$6.02

36.32%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.71 CA$3.75

59.41%

Onion (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$2.62 CA$3.62

70.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.25 CA$3.12

45.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.73 CA$2.39

32.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.12 $11.12

$13.31 CA$18.43

-16.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 $10.66

$10.78 CA$14.93

-1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.01 CA$4.17

-27.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.46 CA$4.80

-57.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.74 CA$3.79

-28.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.63 CA$5.03

10.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.46 CA$2.02

16.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.87 $28.87

$33.44 CA$46.30

-13.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.21 CA$1.68

-28.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

21.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

21.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$316 $316

$76.0 CA$105

316.15%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$68.6 $68.6

$35.72 CA$49.46

92.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.0 $64.0

$42.86 CA$59.4

49.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.62 $24.62

$42.92 CA$59.4

-42.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$12.90 $12.90

$11.09 CA$15.35

16.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,492 $1,492

$620 CA$858

140.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$5,834 CA$8,078

304.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$62.7 CA$86.8

-17.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.96 $31.96

$44.41 CA$61.5

-28.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 $66.5

$101 CA$139

-34.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 $81.8

$119 CA$165

-31.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,465 $3,465

$1,211 CA$1,677

186.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 $1,377

$960 CA$1,329

43.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,677 $2,677

$2,035 CA$2,818

31.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,273 $4,273

$1,589 CA$2,201

168.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,066 $9,066

$2,960 CA$4,098

206.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

5.01

31.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Acton, MA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,465 in Acton, MA versus $1,211 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 206% higher in Acton, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Acton, MA versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $392 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Acton, MA vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acton, MA costs about 29% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,000 per month in Acton, MA and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,667 in Acton, MA and $2,063 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,492 per month in Acton, MA and $620 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Acton, MA at $2,667. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Acton, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,667 in Acton, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Acton, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.