Cost of Living Comparison Between Cornwall, ON and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Cornwall, ON and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,026 per month in Cornwall, ON vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,995 per month in Cornwall, ON vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,963 per month in Cornwall, ON vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Cornwall, ON is about 2% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cornwall, ON and Montreal sit above the global median – Cornwall, ON by 51%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.89 CA$20.71

$15.92 CA$22.14

-6.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.4 CA$93.7

$73.1 CA$102

-7.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 CA$16.74

$11.15 CA$15.50

7.98%

Cappuccino

$4.36 CA$6.06

$3.80 CA$5.29

14.74%

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

$2.07 CA$2.88

$2.18 CA$3.03

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.46 CA$2.03

-2.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 CA$8.28

$6.12 CA$8.51

-2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.60 CA$7.79

$6.78 CA$9.42

-17.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.33 CA$3.24

10.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 CA$3.30

$3.39 CA$4.72

-29.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.78

$3.73 CA$5.19

-27.08%

Eggs

$2.67 CA$3.72

$3.38 CA$4.70

-21.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 CA$7.12

$16.25 CA$22.60

-68.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.51 CA$14.61

$11.54 CA$16.05

-8.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.22 CA$21.17

$15.24 CA$21.19

-0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 CA$8.30

$3.74 CA$5.20

59.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 CA$2.44

$1.70 CA$2.37

2.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$4.11 CA$5.71

-17.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.25

$4.35 CA$6.05

-13.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.71 CA$3.76

-7.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 CA$4.61

$2.62 CA$3.64

26.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 CA$1.77

$2.25 CA$3.13

-43.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 CA$1.65

$1.73 CA$2.40

-31.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.62 CA$14.77

$13.31 CA$18.51

-20.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.45 CA$17.31

$10.78 CA$15.00

15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 CA$4.57

$3.01 CA$4.19

9.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 CA$5.11

$3.46 CA$4.82

6.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 CA$3.12

$2.74 CA$3.81

-18.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.04 CA$66.8

$72.7 CA$101

-33.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 CA$4.15

$3.63 CA$5.05

-17.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 CA$1.42

$1.46 CA$2.03

-30.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.11 CA$36.31

$33.44 CA$46.50

-21.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.57

$1.21 CA$1.69

-6.61%

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

$22.1K CA$30.7K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

-10.49%

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

$20.1K CA$28.0K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

-7.23%

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

$93.5 CA$130

$76.0 CA$106

23.02%

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

$44.67 CA$62.1

$35.72 CA$49.68

25.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.81 CA$65.1

$42.86 CA$59.6

9.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.87 CA$44.32

$42.92 CA$59.7

-25.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 CA$18.02

$17.23 CA$23.97

-24.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 CA$15.59

$11.09 CA$15.42

1.08%

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

$506 CA$703

$620 CA$862

-18.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.4K

$5,834 CA$8,114

102.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 CA$76.8

$62.7 CA$87.1

-11.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.8 CA$80.4

$44.41 CA$61.8

30.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$141

$101 CA$140

0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.1 CA$130

$119 CA$166

-21.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 CA$1,518

$1,211 CA$1,684

-9.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$963 CA$1,340

$960 CA$1,334

0.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,110 CA$2,934

$2,035 CA$2,831

3.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 CA$2,194

$1,589 CA$2,210

-0.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,544 CA$3,538

$5,181 CA$7,205

-50.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,143 CA$2,980

$3,934 CA$5,470

-45.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,063 CA$4,259

$2,960 CA$4,116

3.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

5.01

30.34%

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

Last update for Cornwall, ON: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,091 in Cornwall, ON 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 3% higher in Cornwall, ON, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Cornwall, ON versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $392 – making Cornwall, ON 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

Cornwall, ON vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,026 in Cornwall, ON, $2,063 in Montreal – roughly 2% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,039 per month in Cornwall, ON 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 Cornwall, ON, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,026 in Cornwall, ON and $2,063 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Cornwall, ON. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cornwall, ON, where all-in costs run around $2,026, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Cornwall, ON it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,026 in Cornwall, ON to $2,063 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cornwall, ON. 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.