😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,332 in Arviat versus $2,065 in Montreal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,375 in Arviat versus $3,180 in Montreal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,417 in Arviat versus $4,296 in Montreal.
😐Living in Arviat is roughly 13% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arviat73% above, Montreal53% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.68CA$22.85
$16.08CA$22.03
3.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9CA$95.8
$73.8CA$101
-5.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01CA$15.08
$10.91CA$14.95
0.92%
Cappuccino
$3.70CA$5.07
$3.67CA$5.03
0.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.80
$2.06CA$2.83
-0.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.25
$1.44CA$1.97
14.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.57CA$7.63
$6.21CA$8.50
-10.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04CA$8.27
$6.44CA$8.82
-6.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CA$3.00
$2.34CA$3.21
-6.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68CA$3.67
$3.23CA$4.42
-17.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.51CA$4.81
$3.84CA$5.26
-8.59%
Eggs
$3.45CA$4.72
$3.32CA$4.54
3.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13CA$15.25
$16.35CA$22.40
-31.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.63CA$15.94
$11.92CA$16.33
-2.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.96CA$20.49
$15.10CA$20.69
-0.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98CA$5.45
$3.68CA$5.04
8.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37CA$1.88
$1.69CA$2.32
-18.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78CA$5.17
$4.12CA$5.64
-8.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87CA$5.30
$4.29CA$5.88
-9.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39CA$3.27
$2.79CA$3.82
-14.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47CA$3.39
$2.70CA$3.70
-8.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.54CA$3.48
$2.17CA$2.97
17.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72CA$2.35
$1.78CA$2.44
-3.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74CA$18.83
$13.22CA$18.12
3.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78CA$17.50
$11.04CA$15.12
15.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82CA$3.86
$2.97CA$4.07
-5.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05CA$4.17
$3.44CA$4.71
-11.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38CA$3.27
$2.80CA$3.84
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.3CA$86.7
$72.2CA$98.9
-12.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21CA$4.40
$3.67CA$5.03
-12.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44CA$1.97
$1.40CA$1.92
2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.22CA$35.92
$34.07CA$46.68
-23.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13CA$1.54
$1.21CA$1.66
-6.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KCA$34.9K
$25.3KCA$34.7K
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KCA$27.8K
$21.9KCA$30.0K
-7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144CA$197
$74.4CA$102
92.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.06CA$59.0
$36.64CA$50.2
17.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.5CA$84.3
$43.41CA$59.5
41.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.26CA$57.9
$43.20CA$59.2
-2.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18CA$23.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.29CA$15.46
$10.99CA$15.06
2.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$732CA$1,002
$614CA$842
19.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KCA$16.0K
$5,855CA$8,022
99.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8CA$73.7
$62.6CA$85.8
-14.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.12CA$53.6
$44.25CA$60.6
-11.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.2CA$117
$103CA$142
-17.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109CA$149
$122CA$167
-10.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,313CA$1,799
$1,190CA$1,631
10.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,178CA$1,614
$946CA$1,296
24.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,043CA$2,799
$2,037CA$2,791
0.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,835CA$2,515
$1,548CA$2,120
18.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,104CA$5,623
$5,398CA$7,395
-23.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,730CA$5,110
$4,014CA$5,499
-7.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arviat
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$3,013CA$4,128
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
5.01
28.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arviat: April 12, 2026
Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,313 in Arviat and $1,190 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70 in Arviat vs $74 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $392 per month, with Arviat cheaper across the board.
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
Arviat vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arviat and Montreal?
Arviat and Montreal differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,332 vs $2,065 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Arviat compared to Montreal?
You'd need roughly $3,499 in Arviat and $3,097 in Montreal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Arviat and Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,313 in Arviat versus $1,190 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arviat and Montreal?
Childcare runs $732 in Arviat versus $614 in Montreal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Arviat pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,065 in Montreal versus $2,332 in Arviat, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Arviat. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Arviat and Montreal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arviat or Montreal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arviat and Montreal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Arviat or Montreal?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Arviat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.