Cost of Living Comparison Between Dawson City and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Dawson City and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,988 per month in Dawson City vs $2,088 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,402 per month in Dawson City vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,817 per month in Dawson City vs $4,157 in Montreal, rent included.

Dawson City is about 5% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dawson City and Montreal sit above the global median – Dawson City by 48%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.60 CA$35.07

$15.89 CA$21.77

61.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$106 CA$145

$74.7 CA$102

41.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$14.85

$10.83 CA$14.83

0.09%

Cappuccino

$4.11 CA$5.63

$3.80 CA$5.21

8.16%

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

$1.81 CA$2.49

$2.10 CA$2.88

-13.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$1.51 CA$2.08

9.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.50 CA$7.54

$6.09 CA$8.34

-9.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 CA$7.95

$6.48 CA$8.88

-10.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.77 CA$3.80

$2.32 CA$3.18

19.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 CA$5.72

$3.26 CA$4.47

28.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 CA$4.97

$3.79 CA$5.19

-4.22%

Eggs

$5.30 CA$7.26

$3.46 CA$4.73

53.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 CA$15.32

$16.07 CA$22.02

-30.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 CA$21.01

$11.78 CA$16.14

30.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 CA$19.99

$15.13 CA$20.73

-3.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 CA$5.99

$3.74 CA$5.12

16.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.88

$1.71 CA$2.34

-19.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$5.97

$3.92 CA$5.37

11.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 CA$5.97

$4.28 CA$5.87

1.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.32

$2.74 CA$3.75

-11.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.48

$2.64 CA$3.62

-3.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$2.28 CA$3.13

14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.35

$1.71 CA$2.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.75 CA$18.84

$13.39 CA$18.35

2.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.99 CA$17.80

$10.95 CA$15.00

18.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 CA$3.91

$3.00 CA$4.11

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 CA$4.14

$3.60 CA$4.94

-16.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.32 CA$3.17

$2.82 CA$3.86

-17.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 CA$86.5

$75.1 CA$103

-15.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 CA$4.43

$3.52 CA$4.82

-8.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.96

$1.46 CA$2.00

-2.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 CA$34.82

$34.29 CA$46.97

-25.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.60

$1.19 CA$1.63

-2.52%

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

$25.5K CA$34.9K

$25.1K CA$34.3K

1.66%

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

$20.4K CA$28.0K

$21.9K CA$30.0K

-6.70%

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

$142 CA$195

$74.7 CA$102

90.44%

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

$44.06 CA$60.4

$35.83 CA$49.09

22.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 CA$85.6

$43.53 CA$59.6

43.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.38 CA$56.7

$43.06 CA$59.0

-3.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.90 CA$23.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.37 CA$15.57

$11.10 CA$15.21

2.43%

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

$722 CA$989

$609 CA$834

18.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.2K

$5,925 CA$8,117

100.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 CA$90.0

$62.8 CA$86.0

4.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.13 CA$53.6

$44.85 CA$61.5

-12.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 CA$97.7

$101 CA$138

-29.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$148

$118 CA$162

-8.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,320 CA$1,808

$1,221 CA$1,673

8.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 CA$966

$955 CA$1,308

-26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,005 CA$2,747

$2,105 CA$2,883

-4.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,835 CA$2,514

$1,600 CA$2,192

14.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,923 CA$6,744

$5,308 CA$7,272

-7.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,389 CA$4,643

$4,045 CA$5,542

-16.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,136

$3,031 CA$4,152

-0.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.01

28.94%

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

Last update for Dawson City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,320 in Dawson City versus $1,221 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 0% higher in Montreal, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $106 in Dawson City versus $75.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $391 – making Montreal 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

Dawson City vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,981 per month in Dawson City and $3,132 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dawson City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $722 per month in Dawson City and $609 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Montreal – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Dawson City, where all-in costs run around $1,988, than in Montreal at $2,088. In Dawson City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dawson City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Dawson City. 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.