Cost of Living Comparison Between Brandon, MB and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Brandon, MB and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,702 per month in Brandon, MB vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,695 per month in Brandon, MB vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,687 per month in Brandon, MB vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Brandon, MB is about 17% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brandon, MB and Montreal sit above the global median – Brandon, MB by 27%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.23 CA$22.47

$15.92 CA$22.05

1.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.3 CA$91.8

$73.1 CA$101

-9.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.95 CA$11.00

$11.15 CA$15.43

-28.70%

Cappuccino

$3.58 CA$4.96

$3.80 CA$5.26

-5.79%

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

$1.66 CA$2.29

$2.18 CA$3.01

-23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 CA$2.24

$1.46 CA$2.02

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 CA$7.57

$6.12 CA$8.48

-10.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 CA$9.08

$6.78 CA$9.38

-3.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 CA$2.22

$2.33 CA$3.22

-31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 CA$3.15

$3.39 CA$4.69

-32.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.49 CA$4.83

$3.73 CA$5.16

-6.43%

Eggs

$3.06 CA$4.23

$3.38 CA$4.68

-9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.86 CA$15.04

$16.25 CA$22.50

-33.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.75 CA$13.50

$11.54 CA$15.98

-15.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.90 CA$20.63

$15.24 CA$21.10

-2.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.70 CA$2.36

-22.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.11 CA$4.30

$4.11 CA$5.68

-24.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$4.35 CA$6.02

-18.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 CA$3.84

$2.71 CA$3.75

2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.47

$2.62 CA$3.62

-4.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.25 CA$3.12

12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.73 CA$2.39

-13.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.33 CA$21.23

$13.31 CA$18.43

15.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$10.78 CA$14.93

20.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$3.01 CA$4.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 CA$4.88

$3.46 CA$4.80

2.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$2.74 CA$3.79

-54.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.9 CA$99.6

$72.7 CA$101

-1.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.42

$3.63 CA$5.03

-12.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.81

$1.46 CA$2.02

-10.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.37 CA$36.51

$33.44 CA$46.30

-21.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 CA$1.42

$1.21 CA$1.68

-14.88%

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

$23.5K CA$32.5K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

-4.79%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

1.65%

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

$157 CA$218

$76.0 CA$105

106.72%

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

$42.22 CA$58.5

$35.72 CA$49.46

18.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CA$83.9

$42.86 CA$59.4

41.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.24 CA$57.1

$42.92 CA$59.4

-3.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.76 CA$23.21

$17.23 CA$23.86

-2.73%

Cinema Ticket

$12.27 CA$16.99

$11.09 CA$15.35

10.64%

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

$964 CA$1,334

$620 CA$858

55.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K CA$16.9K

$5,834 CA$8,078

109.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.07 CA$65.2

$62.7 CA$86.8

-24.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.21 CA$57.1

$44.41 CA$61.5

-7.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 CA$109

$101 CA$139

-21.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 CA$120

$119 CA$165

-27.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$820 CA$1,135

$1,211 CA$1,677

-32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 CA$824

$960 CA$1,329

-37.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 CA$1,804

$2,035 CA$2,818

-36.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 CA$1,757

$1,589 CA$2,201

-20.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 CA$3,267

$5,181 CA$7,173

-54.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,359 CA$3,267

$3,934 CA$5,446

-40.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,472 CA$3,423

$2,960 CA$4,098

-16.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

5.01

20.16%

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

Last update for Brandon, MB: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $820 in Brandon, MB 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 20% 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 $66.0 in Brandon, MB versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $392 – making Brandon, MB 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

Brandon, MB vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 21%, 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 $2,553 per month in Brandon, MB 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 Brandon, MB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Brandon, MB and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brandon, MB, where all-in costs run around $1,702, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Brandon, MB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brandon, MB – 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 Brandon, MB. 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.