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 $2,699 per month in Acton, MA vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,027 per month in Acton, MA vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,354 per month in Acton, MA vs $4,262 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 102%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.03 $19.03

$16.52 CA$23.16

15.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$74.0 CA$104

37.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.74 $13.74

$10.94 CA$15.34

25.59%

Cappuccino

$4.38 $4.38

$3.84 CA$5.39

14.06%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$2.14 CA$2.99

25.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.45 CA$2.03

44.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.13 CA$8.60

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 $7.47

$6.73 CA$9.44

11.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$2.35 CA$3.30

-50.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.34 CA$4.68

1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.74 CA$5.25

-18.45%

Eggs

$6.32 $6.32

$3.39 CA$4.76

86.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$16.30 CA$22.85

-35.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.68 $9.68

$11.81 CA$16.56

-18.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.51 $21.51

$15.64 CA$21.93

37.53%

Apples (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$3.69 CA$5.18

49.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.70 CA$2.39

26.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$4.11 CA$5.76

42.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.41 CA$6.18

35.60%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.79 CA$3.91

54.84%

Onion (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$2.64 CA$3.70

71.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.29 CA$3.21

39.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.78 CA$2.50

25.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 $10.89

$13.17 CA$18.47

-17.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.64 CA$14.92

0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.99 CA$4.19

-27.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.44 CA$4.82

-57.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.81 CA$3.94

-27.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.52 CA$4.93

16.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.45 CA$2.04

17.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.13 $29.13

$34.29 CA$48.08

-15.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.22 CA$1.72

-31.97%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

17.59%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

19.37%

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

$313 $313

$76.5 CA$107

309.18%

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

$69.1 $69.1

$35.60 CA$49.91

94.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$42.96 CA$60.2

53.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.91 $24.91

$43.39 CA$60.8

-42.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$12.81 $12.81

$11.09 CA$15.55

15.51%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$625 CA$876

144.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$5,896 CA$8,266

291.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$63.1 CA$88.5

-16.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.46 $32.46

$44.50 CA$62.4

-27.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 $66.7

$103 CA$144

-35.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 $82.1

$118 CA$166

-30.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,505 $3,505

$1,207 CA$1,692

190.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$965 CA$1,353

37.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,617 $2,617

$2,031 CA$2,848

28.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,177 $4,177

$1,577 CA$2,211

164.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,935 $8,935

$2,890 CA$4,051

209.21%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,505 in Acton, MA versus $1,207 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 209% 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 $102 in Acton, MA versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $395 – 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 $4,049 per month in Acton, MA and $3,127 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 $2,699 in Acton, MA and $2,085 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Acton, MA and $625 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 $2,085, than in Acton, MA at $2,699. 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 $2,085 versus $2,699 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.