πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,064 in Canmore versus $2,063 in Montreal.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,853 in Canmore versus $3,159 in Montreal.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,642 in Canmore versus $4,255 in Montreal.
πLiving in Canmore is roughly 49% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Canmore129% above, Montreal54% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.36CA$25.43
$15.92CA$22.05
15.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3CA$103
$73.1CA$101
1.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.86CA$16.42
$11.15CA$15.43
6.37%
Cappuccino
$4.43CA$6.13
$3.80CA$5.26
16.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62CA$2.25
$2.18CA$3.01
-25.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95CA$2.70
$1.46CA$2.02
33.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.30CA$11.49
$6.12CA$8.48
35.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.44CA$8.91
$6.78CA$9.38
-5.01%
π Groceries & Markets
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20CA$3.04
$2.33CA$3.22
-5.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34CA$3.24
$3.39CA$4.69
-30.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.31CA$7.35
$3.73CA$5.16
42.36%
Eggs
$3.67CA$5.08
$3.38CA$4.68
8.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61CA$16.07
$16.25CA$22.50
-28.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.98CA$20.74
$11.54CA$15.98
29.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.50CA$17.31
$15.24CA$21.10
-17.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.12CA$5.70
$3.74CA$5.18
10.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52CA$2.11
$1.70CA$2.36
-10.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32CA$5.98
$4.11CA$5.68
5.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04CA$6.98
$4.35CA$6.02
15.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.92CA$4.04
$2.71CA$3.75
7.75%
Onion(1kg)
$3.29CA$4.56
$2.62CA$3.62
25.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.92CA$4.04
$2.25CA$3.12
29.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58CA$3.58
$1.73CA$2.39
49.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.96CA$20.72
$13.31CA$18.43
12.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.16CA$18.22
$10.78CA$14.93
22.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86CA$3.96
$3.01CA$4.17
-4.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52CA$6.26
$3.46CA$4.80
30.64%
π Getting Around
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49CA$2.06
$2.74CA$3.79
-45.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.80CA$42.65
$72.7CA$101
-57.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48CA$7.59
$3.63CA$5.03
50.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74CA$3.80
$1.46CA$2.02
87.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.40CA$35.17
$33.44CA$46.30
-24.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02CA$1.42
$1.21CA$1.68
-15.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.8K
$24.6KCA$34.1K
1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCA$29.5K
$21.7KCA$30.0K
-1.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206CA$285
$76.0CA$105
171.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4CA$82.2
$35.72CA$49.46
66.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.3CA$104
$42.86CA$59.4
75.69%
π Sport & Entertainment
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.3CA$96.0
$42.92CA$59.4
61.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.66CA$29.99
$17.23CA$23.86
25.71%
Cinema Ticket
$14.58CA$20.18
$11.09CA$15.35
31.47%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,034CA$1,431
$620CA$858
66.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KCA$16.6K
$5,834CA$8,078
105.03%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9CA$73.3
$62.7CA$86.8
-15.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.62CA$64.6
$44.41CA$61.5
4.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8CA$127
$101CA$139
-8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101CA$140
$119CA$165
-14.91%
π Accommodation & Living
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,589CA$2,200
$1,211CA$1,677
31.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,677CA$2,321
$960CA$1,329
74.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,033CA$2,815
$2,035CA$2,818
-0.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,611CA$5,000
$1,589CA$2,201
127.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,462CA$8,947
$5,181CA$7,173
24.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,244CA$8,646
$3,934CA$5,446
58.74%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Canmore
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,258CA$4,511
$2,960CA$4,098
10.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.96
5.01
18.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Canmore: June 1, 2026
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Canmore and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Canmore pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $74.0 in Canmore vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 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
Canmore vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Canmore or Montreal?
Montreal wins on cost β living expenses run 49% lower than in Canmore. 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 Canmore or Montreal?
Canmore pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Canmore vs Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Canmore versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Canmore compared to Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $3,064 per month in Canmore versus $2,063 in Montreal β a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Canmore vs Montreal?
A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 136% less than in Canmore. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Canmore or Montreal?
At $2,063 in Montreal versus $3,064 in Canmore, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Canmore. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Canmore or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value β 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 Canmore compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Canmore 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 β expenses run 49% less than in Canmore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.