Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,038 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,920 per month in Ajax, ON vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,802 per month in Ajax, ON vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Ajax, ON costs about 47% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ajax, ON and Montreal sit above the global median – Ajax, ON by 127%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.69 CA$20.41

$15.92 CA$22.12

-7.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 CA$104

$73.1 CA$102

2.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.46 CA$14.54

$11.15 CA$15.49

-6.19%

Cappuccino

$3.52 CA$4.89

$3.80 CA$5.28

-7.37%

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

$1.96 CA$2.73

$2.18 CA$3.03

-10.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.32

$1.46 CA$2.03

14.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.64 CA$5.06

$6.12 CA$8.51

-40.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.15

$6.78 CA$9.41

-13.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$2.33 CA$3.23

-24.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 CA$4.01

$3.39 CA$4.71

-15.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 CA$6.21

$3.73 CA$5.18

19.84%

Eggs

$3.27 CA$4.54

$3.38 CA$4.70

-3.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 CA$13.43

$16.25 CA$22.58

-40.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 CA$14.12

$11.54 CA$16.04

-11.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$15.24 CA$21.17

6.63%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.15

$3.74 CA$5.20

18.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.70 CA$2.37

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 CA$4.04

$4.11 CA$5.70

-29.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 CA$6.30

$4.35 CA$6.05

4.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.37

$2.71 CA$3.76

-10.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$2.62 CA$3.63

-2.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$2.25 CA$3.13

28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$1.73 CA$2.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.21 CA$19.74

$13.31 CA$18.49

6.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 CA$19.75

$10.78 CA$14.98

31.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CA$3.11

$3.01 CA$4.19

-25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$3.46 CA$4.81

-32.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.74 CA$3.81

-6.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.8 CA$91.4

$72.7 CA$101

-9.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$3.63 CA$5.05

-15.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 CA$3.88

$1.46 CA$2.03

91.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.44 CA$35.35

$33.44 CA$46.46

-23.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.62

$1.21 CA$1.68

-4.13%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$24.6K CA$34.2K

2.36%

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

$20.1K CA$28.0K

$21.7K CA$30.1K

-7.08%

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

$188 CA$262

$76.0 CA$106

147.68%

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

$33.41 CA$46.42

$35.72 CA$49.63

-6.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.9 CA$83.2

$42.86 CA$59.6

39.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.59 CA$46.67

$42.92 CA$59.6

-21.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.82 CA$15.04

$17.23 CA$23.94

-37.20%

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 CA$15.20

$11.09 CA$15.40

-1.35%

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

$905 CA$1,258

$620 CA$861

46.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.5K

$5,834 CA$8,106

214.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.88 CA$69.3

$62.7 CA$87.1

-20.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.21 CA$51.7

$44.41 CA$61.7

-16.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$101 CA$140

-13.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$119 CA$165

-5.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,809 CA$2,513

$1,211 CA$1,683

49.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,856 CA$2,578

$960 CA$1,333

93.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,480 CA$3,446

$2,035 CA$2,828

21.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 CA$3,096

$1,589 CA$2,208

40.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,081 CA$4,281

$2,960 CA$4,113

4.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.83

5.01

36.33%

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

Last update for Ajax, ON: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,809 in Ajax, ON 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 4% higher in Ajax, ON, 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 $75.0 in Ajax, ON versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Ajax, ON vs $392 in Montreal – so Ajax, ON wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Ajax, ON vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,558 per month in Ajax, ON 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 $3,038 in Ajax, ON and $2,063 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Ajax, ON at $3,038. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajax, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montreal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.