😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,333 in Cranbrook versus $2,046 in Montreal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,177 in Cranbrook versus $3,169 in Montreal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,022 in Cranbrook versus $4,292 in Montreal.
😐Living in Cranbrook is roughly 14% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cranbrook75% above, Montreal54% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.03CA$18.24
$16.35CA$22.89
-20.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3CA$101
$73.4CA$103
-1.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38CA$14.52
$11.11CA$15.56
-6.57%
Cappuccino
$3.59CA$5.02
$3.81CA$5.33
-5.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61CA$2.25
$2.06CA$2.89
-21.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89CA$2.65
$1.45CA$2.03
30.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03CA$7.05
$6.01CA$8.42
-16.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96CA$8.34
$6.51CA$9.12
-8.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74CA$2.43
$2.32CA$3.24
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23CA$3.12
$3.22CA$4.51
-30.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.34CA$7.48
$3.79CA$5.31
40.90%
Eggs
$3.70CA$5.18
$3.30CA$4.62
12.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.66CA$17.72
$16.14CA$22.59
-21.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.97CA$20.96
$11.50CA$16.10
30.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70CA$17.78
$15.69CA$21.96
-19.06%
Apples(1kg)
$4.26CA$5.96
$3.68CA$5.14
15.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52CA$2.12
$1.63CA$2.27
-6.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.33CA$6.06
$4.06CA$5.69
6.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.30CA$7.42
$4.29CA$6.00
23.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91CA$4.07
$2.64CA$3.70
10.23%
Onion(1kg)
$3.29CA$4.61
$2.67CA$3.74
23.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.46CA$4.85
$2.19CA$3.06
57.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.80CA$3.92
$1.72CA$2.41
62.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.60CA$20.44
$13.17CA$18.44
10.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.76CA$17.86
$10.66CA$14.93
19.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27CA$3.17
$3.08CA$4.31
-26.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06CA$4.29
$3.56CA$4.98
-14.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.51CA$3.52
$2.80CA$3.91
-10.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.7CA$89.1
$73.5CA$103
-13.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08CA$4.31
$3.62CA$5.07
-14.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50CA$2.10
$1.38CA$1.93
8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.08CA$36.50
$33.30CA$46.60
-21.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03CA$1.44
$1.17CA$1.64
-11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.5K
$25.2KCA$35.3K
0.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KCA$29.6K
$22.0KCA$30.8K
-3.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CA$181
$73.9CA$103
75.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.13CA$25.38
$35.79CA$50.1
-49.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2CA$75.9
$43.99CA$61.6
23.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.39CA$59.3
$42.72CA$59.8
-0.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.95CA$23.72
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.70CA$16.38
$11.00CA$15.40
6.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$723CA$1,012
$608CA$851
18.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KCA$16.4K
$5,898CA$8,254
98.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.52CA$60.9
$61.1CA$85.5
-28.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.27CA$66.2
$44.70CA$62.6
5.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7CA$133
$103CA$144
-7.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112CA$157
$121CA$170
-7.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,109CA$1,552
$1,186CA$1,660
-6.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,159CA$1,623
$949CA$1,328
22.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,710CA$2,393
$2,076CA$2,905
-17.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,487CA$2,081
$1,581CA$2,213
-5.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,063CA$7,086
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,826CA$5,355
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,903CA$4,063
$2,904CA$4,065
-0.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
5.01
34.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cranbrook: June 13, 2026
Last update for Montreal: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,109 in Cranbrook and $1,186 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Montreal pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Cranbrook vs $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 vs $389, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cranbrook vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cranbrook or Montreal?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Cranbrook. 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 Cranbrook or Montreal?
On paper, Montreal earns 0% 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 Cranbrook vs Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,109 in Cranbrook versus $1,186 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cranbrook or Montreal?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Cranbrook. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Cranbrook vs Montreal?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $72.0 in Cranbrook. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Cranbrook or Montreal?
At $2,046 in Montreal versus $2,333 in Cranbrook, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Cranbrook. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cranbrook or Montreal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,046 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Cranbrook compared to Montreal?
Safety-wise, Cranbrook 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 14% less than in Cranbrook. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.