Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,270 per month in Bathurst vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,231 per month in Bathurst vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,193 per month in Bathurst vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Bathurst costs about 9% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bathurst and Montreal sit above the global median – Bathurst by 70%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 CA$20.84

$16.52 CA$23.24

-10.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.31 CA$60.9

$74.0 CA$104

-41.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 CA$12.52

$10.94 CA$15.40

-18.65%

Cappuccino

$3.54 CA$4.98

$3.84 CA$5.41

-7.81%

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

$1.70 CA$2.39

$2.14 CA$3.01

-20.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 CA$1.80

$1.45 CA$2.04

-11.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.25 CA$7.39

$6.13 CA$8.63

-14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 CA$7.18

$6.73 CA$9.47

-24.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.75

$2.35 CA$3.31

-17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CA$3.74

$3.34 CA$4.69

-20.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 CA$5.92

$3.74 CA$5.27

12.57%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.36

$3.39 CA$4.77

12.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 CA$17.83

$16.30 CA$22.93

-22.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.86 CA$13.87

$11.81 CA$16.62

-16.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.79 CA$9.56

$15.64 CA$22.01

-56.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.60

$3.69 CA$5.20

7.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$1.70 CA$2.39

-6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.32

$4.11 CA$5.79

-8.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$4.41 CA$6.20

-57.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 CA$2.98

$2.79 CA$3.93

-24.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.11

$2.64 CA$3.72

-16.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$2.29 CA$3.22

18.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$1.78 CA$2.51

7.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.51 CA$14.79

$13.17 CA$18.53

-20.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 CA$16.68

$10.64 CA$14.97

11.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$2.99 CA$4.20

13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.74

$3.44 CA$4.83

-2.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 CA$3.28

$2.81 CA$3.95

-17.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.9 CA$92.7

$72.8 CA$102

-9.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 CA$10.73

$3.52 CA$4.95

116.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 CA$2.45

$1.45 CA$2.05

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.42 CA$41.40

$34.29 CA$48.26

-14.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.64

$1.22 CA$1.72

-4.10%

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

$24.7K CA$34.7K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

-2.37%

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

$21.0K CA$29.5K

$22.1K CA$31.1K

-5.20%

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

$108 CA$152

$76.5 CA$108

41.46%

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

$38.11 CA$53.6

$35.60 CA$50.1

7.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CA$88.4

$42.96 CA$60.5

46.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.87 CA$61.7

$43.39 CA$61.1

1.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.96 CA$46.38

$16.83 CA$23.68

95.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.61

$11.09 CA$15.60

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

$167 CA$235

$625 CA$879

-73.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.8K

$5,896 CA$8,296

102.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.93 CA$57.6

$63.1 CA$88.8

-35.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.29 CA$49.66

$44.50 CA$62.6

-20.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 CA$104

$103 CA$145

-27.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 CA$195

$118 CA$166

17.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 CA$1,040

$1,207 CA$1,699

-38.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 CA$1,651

$965 CA$1,358

21.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 CA$2,790

$2,031 CA$2,858

-2.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 CA$2,566

$1,577 CA$2,219

15.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,010 CA$2,829

$2,890 CA$4,066

-30.43%

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 Bathurst: July 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $739 in Bathurst 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 44% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Bathurst versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $395 – making Bathurst 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

Bathurst vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 9%, 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 $3,405 per month in Bathurst 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 $2,270 in Bathurst and $2,085 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% 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 $2,085, than in Bathurst at $2,270. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst 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, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.