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 $1,906 per month in Cornwall, ON vs $2,108 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,891 per month in Cornwall, ON vs $3,226 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,875 per month in Cornwall, ON vs $4,344 in Montreal, rent included.

Cornwall, ON is about 10% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cornwall, ON and Montreal sit above the global median – Cornwall, ON by 38%, Montreal by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.21 CA$21.10

$17.83 CA$24.73

-14.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.5 CA$89.5

$73.6 CA$102

-12.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.67 CA$16.19

$10.81 CA$15.00

7.96%

Cappuccino

$3.55 CA$4.92

$3.92 CA$5.44

-9.44%

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

$2.15 CA$2.98

$2.04 CA$2.84

5.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 CA$1.91

$1.52 CA$2.11

-9.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.79 CA$6.64

$6.59 CA$9.14

-27.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 CA$8.25

$7.14 CA$9.90

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 CA$2.91

$2.37 CA$3.28

-11.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 CA$2.98

$3.23 CA$4.48

-33.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.69

$2.95 CA$4.10

-9.83%

Eggs

$3.08 CA$4.27

$3.69 CA$5.12

-16.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.60 CA$7.77

$13.65 CA$18.93

-58.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.67 CA$14.80

$11.94 CA$16.56

-10.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.84 CA$13.65

$14.07 CA$19.52

-30.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$3.61 CA$5.01

-16.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 CA$1.35

$1.55 CA$2.15

-37.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.90

$3.29 CA$4.56

7.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$3.07 CA$4.26

17.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$2.00 CA$2.78

30.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$1.90 CA$2.64

26.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$2.64 CA$3.66

-53.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$1.39 CA$1.93

18.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.71 CA$14.85

$11.80 CA$16.36

-9.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 CA$17.16

$10.80 CA$14.98

14.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.14

$2.37 CA$3.29

-4.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 CA$3.43

$2.90 CA$4.02

-14.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$2.74 CA$3.79

-20.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.35 CA$67.1

$77.1 CA$107

-37.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.98

$3.31 CA$4.59

-13.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 CA$1.73

$1.46 CA$2.02

-15.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.56 CA$35.46

$32.98 CA$45.74

-22.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 CA$1.47

$1.31 CA$1.82

-19.08%

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

$26.1K CA$36.2K

$28.7K CA$39.8K

-9.08%

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

$19.3K CA$26.7K

$20.4K CA$28.4K

-5.69%

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

$122 CA$169

$79.9 CA$111

52.34%

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

$39.30 CA$54.5

$34.79 CA$48.25

12.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 CA$90.1

$42.55 CA$59.0

52.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.98 CA$27.71

$29.20 CA$40.50

-31.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.63 CA$17.51

$20.33 CA$28.20

-37.88%

Cinema Ticket

$10.69 CA$14.83

$11.48 CA$15.93

-6.88%

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

$507 CA$703

$565 CA$784

-10.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K CA$15.9K

$16.6K CA$23.0K

-30.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 CA$75.0

$60.2 CA$83.5

-10.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.60 CA$46.60

$41.87 CA$58.1

-19.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 CA$115

$104 CA$144

-20.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.4 CA$121

$113 CA$156

-22.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 CA$1,476

$1,294 CA$1,795

-17.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$929 CA$1,289

$1,014 CA$1,407

-8.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,111 CA$2,928

$2,271 CA$3,149

-7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 CA$2,116

$1,683 CA$2,334

-9.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,575 CA$3,572

$5,156 CA$7,151

-50.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,117 CA$2,936

$3,842 CA$5,328

-44.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,056 CA$4,238

$3,032 CA$4,205

0.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

4.44

3.15%

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

Last update for Cornwall, ON: September 6, 2026

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,065 in Cornwall, ON versus $1,294 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 1% 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 $65.0 in Cornwall, ON versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $358 – 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: $1,906 in Cornwall, ON, $2,108 in Montreal – roughly 11% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,860 per month in Cornwall, ON and $3,163 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 $1,906 in Cornwall, ON and $2,108 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 59% 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 $1,906, than in Montreal at $2,108. 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 $1,906 in Cornwall, ON to $2,108 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.