😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,616 in Campbell River versus $2,063 in Montreal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,770 in Campbell River versus $3,159 in Montreal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,924 in Campbell River versus $4,255 in Montreal.
😐Living in Campbell River is roughly 27% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Campbell River95% above, Montreal54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.75CA$26.05
$15.92CA$22.12
17.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9CA$103
$73.1CA$102
1.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05CA$15.36
$11.15CA$15.49
-0.90%
Cappuccino
$3.97CA$5.52
$3.80CA$5.28
4.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38CA$3.31
$2.18CA$3.03
9.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09CA$1.51
$1.46CA$2.03
-25.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.09CA$7.07
$6.12CA$8.51
-16.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43CA$8.94
$6.78CA$9.41
-5.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.02CA$4.19
$2.33CA$3.23
29.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.23CA$4.48
$3.39CA$4.71
-4.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.18CA$7.20
$3.73CA$5.18
38.87%
Eggs
$4.32CA$6.01
$3.38CA$4.70
27.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.46CA$11.76
$16.25CA$22.58
-47.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.77CA$13.57
$11.54CA$16.04
-15.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.63CA$21.71
$15.24CA$21.17
2.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30CA$4.58
$3.74CA$5.20
-11.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59CA$2.21
$1.70CA$2.37
-6.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59CA$4.98
$4.11CA$5.70
-12.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.20
$4.35CA$6.05
-14.02%
Potato(1kg)
$3.84CA$5.34
$2.71CA$3.76
41.70%
Onion(1kg)
$3.01CA$4.19
$2.62CA$3.63
14.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78CA$3.86
$2.25CA$3.13
23.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74CA$3.81
$1.73CA$2.40
58.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40CA$21.40
$13.31CA$18.49
15.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.85CA$24.80
$10.78CA$14.98
65.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94CA$5.47
$3.01CA$4.19
30.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45CA$6.18
$3.46CA$4.81
28.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.45CA$2.02
$2.74CA$3.81
-47.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.9CA$86.0
$72.7CA$101
-14.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.83CA$3.93
$3.63CA$5.05
-22.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39CA$1.93
$1.46CA$2.03
-4.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.26CA$46.21
$33.44CA$46.46
-0.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35CA$1.88
$1.21CA$1.68
11.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.3K
$24.6KCA$34.2K
3.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCA$29.6K
$21.7KCA$30.1K
-1.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.4CA$75.6
$76.0CA$106
-28.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5CA$74.3
$35.72CA$49.63
49.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.7CA$102
$42.86CA$59.6
71.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.56CA$67.5
$42.92CA$59.6
13.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.23CA$23.94
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.91CA$15.16
$11.09CA$15.40
-1.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$634CA$881
$620CA$861
2.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0KCA$19.5K
$5,834CA$8,106
140.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58CA$63.3
$62.7CA$87.1
-27.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85CA$62.3
$44.41CA$61.7
0.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3CA$105
$101CA$140
-25.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2CA$131
$119CA$165
-20.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,552CA$2,157
$1,211CA$1,683
28.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,507CA$2,094
$960CA$1,333
57.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,511CA$3,489
$2,035CA$2,828
23.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,289CA$3,181
$1,589CA$2,208
44.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,181CA$7,198
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,934CA$5,465
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campbell River
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,365CA$3,286
$2,960CA$4,113
-20.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.38
5.01
27.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Campbell River: June 1, 2026
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,552 in Campbell River and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Montreal pays 25% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Campbell River vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $392 per month, with Montreal cheaper across the board.
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
Campbell River vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Campbell River or Montreal?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Campbell River. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Campbell River or Montreal?
On paper, Montreal earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Campbell River vs Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,552 in Campbell River versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Campbell River vs Montreal?
A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 17% less than in Campbell River. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Campbell River and Montreal?
Childcare runs $634 in Campbell River versus $620 in Montreal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Campbell River or Montreal?
At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,616 in Campbell River, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Campbell River. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Campbell River or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,063 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Campbell River compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Campbell River and Montreal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Campbell River. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Campbell River vs other spots: cost of living compared