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 $1,728 per month in Brandon, MB vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,732 per month in Brandon, MB vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,735 per month in Brandon, MB vs $4,262 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 29%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 CA$22.55

$16.52 CA$23.16

-2.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 CA$92.3

$74.0 CA$104

-11.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 CA$11.13

$10.94 CA$15.34

-27.42%

Cappuccino

$3.60 CA$5.05

$3.84 CA$5.39

-6.25%

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

$1.58 CA$2.21

$2.14 CA$2.99

-26.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.31

$1.45 CA$2.03

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.43

$6.13 CA$8.60

-13.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 CA$2.24

$2.35 CA$3.30

-31.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 CA$3.09

$3.34 CA$4.68

-33.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.72

$3.74 CA$5.25

-9.89%

Eggs

$3.14 CA$4.40

$3.39 CA$4.76

-7.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 CA$15.37

$16.30 CA$22.85

-32.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.75 CA$13.67

$11.81 CA$16.56

-17.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.55

$15.64 CA$21.93

-6.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 CA$5.33

$3.69 CA$5.18

2.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.93

$1.70 CA$2.39

-18.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.25

$4.11 CA$5.76

-26.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$4.41 CA$6.18

-22.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 CA$3.86

$2.79 CA$3.91

-1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.42

$2.64 CA$3.70

-7.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 CA$3.38

$2.29 CA$3.21

5.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.19

$1.78 CA$2.50

-12.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.03 CA$21.07

$13.17 CA$18.47

14.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 CA$16.91

$10.64 CA$14.92

13.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 CA$4.04

$2.99 CA$4.19

-3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 CA$4.79

$3.44 CA$4.82

-0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 CA$1.85

$2.81 CA$3.94

-53.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 CA$101

$72.8 CA$102

-1.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.54

$3.52 CA$4.93

-7.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.45 CA$2.04

-13.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.31 CA$36.89

$34.29 CA$48.08

-23.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 CA$1.45

$1.22 CA$1.72

-15.57%

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

$23.1K CA$32.4K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-8.36%

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

$21.4K CA$30.0K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

-3.35%

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

$158 CA$222

$76.5 CA$107

106.54%

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

$42.44 CA$59.5

$35.60 CA$49.91

19.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 CA$85.2

$42.96 CA$60.2

41.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.92 CA$57.4

$43.39 CA$60.8

-5.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.60 CA$23.27

$16.83 CA$23.60

-1.37%

Cinema Ticket

$12.24 CA$17.17

$11.09 CA$15.55

10.37%

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

$975 CA$1,367

$625 CA$876

56.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K CA$17.3K

$5,896 CA$8,266

108.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.33 CA$67.8

$63.1 CA$88.5

-23.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.33 CA$59.4

$44.50 CA$62.4

-4.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 CA$112

$103 CA$144

-22.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 CA$123

$118 CA$166

-25.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 CA$1,114

$1,207 CA$1,692

-34.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 CA$839

$965 CA$1,353

-37.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 CA$1,776

$2,031 CA$2,848

-37.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,241 CA$1,739

$1,577 CA$2,211

-21.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,266 CA$3,177

$5,085 CA$7,129

-55.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,235 CA$3,133

$3,783 CA$5,304

-40.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,410 CA$3,379

$2,890 CA$4,051

-16.60%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Brandon, MB 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 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 $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $395 – 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 $2,592 per month in Brandon, MB 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 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 19% 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 $74.0 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 $1,728, than in Montreal at $2,085. 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.