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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,755 per month in Bathurst vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,069 per month in Bathurst vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,384 per month in Bathurst vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Bathurst is about 15% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bathurst and Montreal sit above the global median – Bathurst by 28%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.27 CA$22.43

$17.85 CA$24.62

-8.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.04 CA$59.4

$72.3 CA$99.7

-40.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 CA$16.42

$10.92 CA$15.06

9.07%

Cappuccino

$3.45 CA$4.75

$3.97 CA$5.47

-13.10%

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

$2.03 CA$2.80

$2.07 CA$2.86

-1.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 CA$2.26

$1.55 CA$2.13

5.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 CA$7.08

$6.41 CA$8.85

-19.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 CA$6.77

$7.29 CA$10.05

-32.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.49

$2.39 CA$3.29

-24.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.71

$3.21 CA$4.42

-16.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.60

$3.07 CA$4.23

-14.98%

Eggs

$3.56 CA$4.91

$3.68 CA$5.07

-3.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.32 CA$15.61

$13.57 CA$18.72

-16.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.45 CA$13.04

$11.63 CA$16.03

-18.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.56 CA$9.05

$13.97 CA$19.27

-53.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 CA$6.47

$3.68 CA$5.08

27.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CA$2.25

$1.56 CA$2.15

4.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.85 CA$6.70

$3.41 CA$4.70

42.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.63

$3.03 CA$4.17

-36.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.53

$1.98 CA$2.74

29.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.82 CA$2.52

-17.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CA$3.06

$2.56 CA$3.53

-13.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CA$2.22

$1.39 CA$1.92

15.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 CA$13.85

$11.49 CA$15.85

-12.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.14 CA$16.74

$10.92 CA$15.06

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.31

$2.26 CA$3.12

38.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 CA$6.50

$3.01 CA$4.15

56.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 CA$4.96

$2.69 CA$3.71

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 CA$89.5

$75.3 CA$104

-13.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 CA$3.87

$3.35 CA$4.62

-16.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.91

$1.50 CA$2.07

-7.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.39 CA$29.49

$33.70 CA$46.47

-36.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.61

$1.29 CA$1.78

-9.30%

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

$28.2K CA$38.9K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

-0.20%

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

$19.7K CA$27.2K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

-1.07%

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

$103 CA$142

$80.4 CA$111

27.88%

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

$71.1 CA$98.1

$34.23 CA$47.21

107.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 CA$85.6

$41.39 CA$57.1

50.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.76 CA$63.1

$29.24 CA$40.32

56.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.25 CA$44.48

$19.89 CA$27.43

62.14%

Cinema Ticket

$9.64 CA$13.30

$11.71 CA$16.15

-17.68%

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

$602 CA$831

$564 CA$778

6.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,728 CA$2,383

$16.8K CA$23.2K

-89.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 CA$70.1

$59.5 CA$82.1

-14.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 CA$54.9

$42.13 CA$58.1

-5.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 CA$106

$107 CA$148

-28.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.4 CA$114

$111 CA$153

-25.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 CA$1,033

$1,284 CA$1,770

-41.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$714 CA$984

$990 CA$1,365

-27.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,116

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,299

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,291

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,258

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,046 CA$2,822

$3,019 CA$4,163

-32.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.77

4.41

8.16%

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

Last update for Bathurst: August 29, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $749 in Bathurst versus $1,284 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 48% higher in Montreal, 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 $43.00 in Bathurst versus $72.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $356 – 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 – Montreal is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,633 per month in Bathurst and $3,084 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, 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 $1,755 in Bathurst and $2,056 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 16% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $1,755, than in Montreal at $2,056. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – 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 Bathurst. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.