Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Bathurst: $1,735 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,735
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bathurst and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bathurst and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,735 per month in Bathurst vs $2,018 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Bathurst $1,735
  • Montreal $2,018

A couple spends around $2,012 per month in Bathurst vs $3,085 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Bathurst $2,012
  • Montreal $3,085

A family of three spends $2,289 per month in Bathurst vs $4,152 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Bathurst $2,289
  • Montreal $4,152

Bathurst is about 14% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Bathurst and Montreal sit above the global median – Bathurst by 29%, Montreal by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.04 CA$22.68
$18.82 CA$26.61
-14.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.48 CA$58.6
$70.3 CA$99.4
-40.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 CA$16.03
$10.66 CA$15.06
6.38%
Cappuccino
$3.36 CA$4.75
$3.84 CA$5.43
-12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 CA$2.68
$1.92 CA$2.71
-1.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.20
$1.54 CA$2.18
1.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 CA$7.10
$6.23 CA$8.81
-19.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 CA$7.10
$7.10 CA$10.03
-29.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 CA$2.48
$2.31 CA$3.27
-23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 CA$3.67
$3.14 CA$4.44
-17.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.47 CA$3.50
$3.21 CA$4.54
-23.05%
Eggs
$3.57 CA$5.05
$3.52 CA$4.97
1.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.86 CA$15.35
$12.81 CA$18.11
-15.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 CA$13.03
$11.46 CA$16.20
-19.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.33 CA$8.95
$13.39 CA$18.92
-52.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.36 CA$6.17
$3.14 CA$4.43
38.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 CA$2.23
$1.44 CA$2.03
9.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.57 CA$6.46
$3.47 CA$4.91
31.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 CA$2.66
$3.07 CA$4.34
-38.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 CA$3.57
$1.90 CA$2.69
33.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 CA$2.10
$1.77 CA$2.50
-15.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 CA$2.96
$2.34 CA$3.31
-10.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.29
$1.55 CA$2.19
4.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68 CA$13.69
$11.38 CA$16.09
-14.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.03 CA$17.00
$10.63 CA$15.03
13.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 CA$4.42
$2.27 CA$3.21
37.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 CA$6.20
$2.82 CA$3.99
55.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.43 CA$4.85
$2.66 CA$3.76
28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.8 CA$87.4
$77.3 CA$109
-20.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 CA$4.06
$3.20 CA$4.53
-10.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$1.48 CA$2.09
-8.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.81 CA$29.41
$32.88 CA$46.48
-36.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.69
$1.34 CA$1.90
-10.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.9K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
0.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K CA$26.5K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
-4.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 CA$142
$76.0 CA$107
32.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.9 CA$97.4
$33.95 CA$48.00
102.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0 CA$84.9
$42.31 CA$59.8
41.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.21 CA$62.5
$29.76 CA$42.07
48.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.92 CA$45.13
$20.28 CA$28.67
57.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03 CA$12.76
$11.15 CA$15.77
-19.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$565 CA$798
$507 CA$717
11.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,662 CA$2,350
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-89.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.48 CA$68.5
$57.6 CA$81.4
-15.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.24 CA$55.5
$37.58 CA$53.1
4.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 CA$107
$91.9 CA$130
-17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1 CA$112
$110 CA$155
-27.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 CA$1,024
$1,260 CA$1,782
-42.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$686 CA$970
$948 CA$1,340
-27.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,137 CA$3,021
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,614 CA$2,281
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,960 CA$7,011
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,838 CA$5,425
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bathurst
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,998 CA$2,825
$2,827 CA$3,997
-29.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.77
4.48
6.47%

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

Last update for Bathurst: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bathurst
$686
Montreal
$948 38.1% $261
Groceries & Markets
Bathurst
$311
Montreal
$346 11.4% $35
Eating Out
Bathurst
$252
Montreal
$288 14.4% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathurst
$230
Montreal
$152 33.7% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Bathurst
$109
Montreal
$133 22.3% $24
Getting Around
Bathurst
$85
Montreal
$99 15.7% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Bathurst
$62
Montreal
$52 16.4% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $724 in Bathurst versus $1,260 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 41% 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 $41.00 in Bathurst versus $70.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $346 – making Bathurst the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
14:48 2:48 PM
13:48 1:48 PM
1 h behind Bathurst
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,157
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bathurst Montreal 650 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bathurst
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Montreal cheaper than Bathurst?
Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 16%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,603 per month in Bathurst and $3,027 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Bathurst and in Montreal?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,735 in Bathurst and $2,018 in Montreal. That's a gap of about 16%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 25% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Bathurst or in Montreal?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $1,735, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bathurst or Montreal more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Bathurst or Montreal?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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