😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,318 in Cranbrook versus $2,088 in Montreal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,207 in Cranbrook versus $3,123 in Montreal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,095 in Cranbrook versus $4,157 in Montreal.
😐Living in Cranbrook is roughly 11% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cranbrook73% above, Montreal56% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.09CA$17.93
$15.89CA$21.77
-17.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8CA$102
$74.7CA$102
0.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.12CA$13.87
$10.83CA$14.83
-6.56%
Cappuccino
$3.60CA$4.93
$3.80CA$5.21
-5.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68CA$2.31
$2.10CA$2.88
-20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85CA$2.54
$1.51CA$2.08
22.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.20CA$7.12
$6.09CA$8.34
-14.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88CA$8.05
$6.48CA$8.88
-9.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72CA$2.36
$2.32CA$3.18
-25.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16CA$2.95
$3.26CA$4.47
-33.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.31CA$7.28
$3.79CA$5.19
40.11%
Eggs
$3.75CA$5.14
$3.46CA$4.73
8.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.27CA$16.81
$16.07CA$22.02
-23.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.97CA$20.51
$11.78CA$16.14
27.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.45CA$17.06
$15.13CA$20.73
-17.71%
Apples(1kg)
$4.12CA$5.65
$3.74CA$5.12
10.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58CA$2.17
$1.71CA$2.34
-7.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.36CA$5.98
$3.92CA$5.37
11.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.06CA$6.94
$4.28CA$5.87
18.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.98CA$4.08
$2.74CA$3.75
8.76%
Onion(1kg)
$3.25CA$4.45
$2.64CA$3.62
23.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.58CA$4.91
$2.28CA$3.13
57.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78CA$3.81
$1.71CA$2.34
62.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.81CA$20.30
$13.39CA$18.35
10.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.29CA$18.21
$10.95CA$15.00
21.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15CA$2.94
$3.00CA$4.11
-28.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11CA$4.26
$3.60CA$4.94
-13.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.61CA$3.57
$2.82CA$3.86
-7.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.2CA$85.2
$75.1CA$103
-17.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.22CA$4.42
$3.52CA$4.82
-8.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48CA$2.02
$1.46CA$2.00
1.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.27CA$34.62
$34.29CA$46.97
-26.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05CA$1.44
$1.19CA$1.63
-11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.4K
$25.1KCA$34.3K
0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KCA$28.3K
$21.9KCA$30.0K
-5.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128CA$175
$74.7CA$102
71.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.06CA$24.75
$35.83CA$49.09
-49.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6CA$73.5
$43.53CA$59.6
23.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.57CA$58.3
$43.06CA$59.0
-1.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.90CA$23.15
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.62CA$15.91
$11.10CA$15.21
4.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$743CA$1,018
$609CA$834
22.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KCA$16.2K
$5,925CA$8,117
99.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.14CA$59.1
$62.8CA$86.0
-31.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46CA$63.7
$44.85CA$61.5
3.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5CA$128
$101CA$138
-7.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111CA$152
$118CA$162
-5.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,089CA$1,491
$1,221CA$1,673
-10.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,175CA$1,610
$955CA$1,308
23.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,709CA$2,342
$2,105CA$2,883
-18.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,520CA$2,082
$1,600CA$2,192
-5.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,308CA$7,272
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,045CA$5,542
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cranbrook
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,070CA$4,206
$3,031CA$4,152
1.29%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,089 in Cranbrook and $1,221 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cranbrook pays 1% 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: $75.0 in Cranbrook vs $75.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $404 vs $391, 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 11% 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?
Cranbrook pays 1% 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 Cranbrook vs Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,089 in Cranbrook versus $1,221 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 3% 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 $75.0 versus $75.0 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 $2,088 in Montreal versus $2,318 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 $2,088 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 11% less than in Cranbrook. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.