Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquitlam and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquitlam and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,949 in Coquitlam versus $2,063 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,123 in Coquitlam versus $3,159 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,297 in Coquitlam versus $4,255 in Montreal.

Living in Coquitlam is roughly 43% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Coquitlam 120% above, Montreal 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.48 CA$20.14

$15.92 CA$22.14

-9.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.3 CA$71.3

$73.1 CA$102

-29.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.39 CA$14.45

$11.15 CA$15.50

-6.82%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.14

$3.80 CA$5.29

-2.89%

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

$1.97 CA$2.74

$2.18 CA$3.03

-9.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 CA$2.92

$1.46 CA$2.03

43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.26

$6.12 CA$8.51

-14.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 CA$8.06

$6.78 CA$9.42

-14.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 CA$2.00

$2.33 CA$3.24

-38.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 CA$4.16

$3.39 CA$4.72

-11.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$3.73 CA$5.19

-39.68%

Eggs

$3.98 CA$5.53

$3.38 CA$4.70

17.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CA$14.62

$16.25 CA$22.60

-35.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.67

$11.54 CA$16.05

41.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 CA$20.08

$15.24 CA$21.19

-5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 CA$6.32

$3.74 CA$5.20

21.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.70 CA$2.37

-15.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.07

$4.11 CA$5.71

23.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 CA$6.35

$4.35 CA$6.05

4.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 CA$2.23

$2.71 CA$3.76

-40.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 CA$2.46

$2.62 CA$3.64

-32.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 CA$4.14

$2.25 CA$3.13

32.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 CA$1.51

$1.73 CA$2.40

-36.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.11 CA$19.62

$13.31 CA$18.51

6.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 CA$17.29

$10.78 CA$15.00

15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.90 CA$5.42

$3.01 CA$4.19

29.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.26

$3.46 CA$4.82

-32.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.25

$2.74 CA$3.81

-14.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 CA$108

$72.7 CA$101

7.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$3.63 CA$5.05

-23.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 CA$2.19

$1.46 CA$2.03

7.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.93 CA$34.67

$33.44 CA$46.50

-25.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.21 CA$1.69

13.22%

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

$24.5K CA$34.1K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

-0.45%

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

$20.1K CA$27.9K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

-7.37%

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

$132 CA$184

$76.0 CA$106

74.22%

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

$36.68 CA$51.0

$35.72 CA$49.68

2.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 CA$84.7

$42.86 CA$59.6

42.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.85 CA$38.73

$42.92 CA$59.7

-35.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$17.23 CA$23.97

-35.29%

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 CA$15.58

$11.09 CA$15.42

0.99%

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

$1,230 CA$1,710

$620 CA$862

98.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K CA$17.2K

$5,834 CA$8,114

112.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.7 CA$98.3

$62.7 CA$87.1

12.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 CA$63.5

$44.41 CA$61.8

2.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.1 CA$132

$101 CA$140

-5.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$159

$119 CA$166

-3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 CA$2,859

$1,211 CA$1,684

69.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,817 CA$2,527

$960 CA$1,334

89.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,665 CA$5,097

$2,035 CA$2,831

80.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 CA$3,727

$1,589 CA$2,210

68.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,103 CA$8,487

$5,181 CA$7,205

17.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,152 CA$7,165

$3,934 CA$5,470

30.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,140 CA$4,367

$2,960 CA$4,116

6.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

5.01

31.94%

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

Last update for Coquitlam: May 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,055 in Coquitlam and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coquitlam pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Coquitlam vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $392 per month, with Coquitlam 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

Coquitlam vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Coquitlam pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,055 in Coquitlam versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,949 per month in Coquitlam versus $2,063 in Montreal – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 7% less than in Coquitlam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,949 in Coquitlam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Coquitlam. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coquitlam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Coquitlam 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.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.