😐A single person spends $2,245 per month in Estevan vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,283 per month in Estevan vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,322 per month in Estevan vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.
😐Estevan costs about 9% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Estevan and Montreal sit above the global median – Estevan by 68%, Montreal by 54%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.34CA$31.07
$15.92CA$22.14
40.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9CA$103
$73.1CA$102
1.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.75CA$8.00
$11.15CA$15.50
-48.43%
Cappuccino
$2.24CA$3.12
$3.80CA$5.29
-41.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34CA$3.25
$2.18CA$3.03
7.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85CA$2.58
$1.46CA$2.03
26.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77CA$8.02
$6.12CA$8.51
-5.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75CA$7.99
$6.78CA$9.42
-15.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02CA$1.42
$2.33CA$3.24
-56.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17CA$1.62
$3.39CA$4.72
-65.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16CA$4.40
$3.73CA$5.19
-15.28%
Eggs
$1.99CA$2.77
$3.38CA$4.70
-41.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.62CA$16.15
$16.25CA$22.60
-28.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35CA$8.83
$11.54CA$16.05
-44.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.32CA$24.08
$15.24CA$21.19
13.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.76CA$5.23
$3.74CA$5.20
0.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24CA$1.72
$1.70CA$2.37
-27.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.36CA$6.07
$4.11CA$5.71
6.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62CA$5.03
$4.35CA$6.05
-16.78%
Potato(1kg)
$3.23CA$4.50
$2.71CA$3.76
19.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81CA$3.91
$2.62CA$3.64
7.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45CA$2.02
$2.25CA$3.13
-35.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44CA$0.62
$1.73CA$2.40
-74.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.56CA$20.25
$13.31CA$18.51
9.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.36CA$18.59
$10.78CA$15.00
23.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.76CA$5.24
$3.01CA$4.19
24.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97CA$4.13
$3.46CA$4.82
-14.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.39CA$3.33
$2.74CA$3.81
-12.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.9CA$86.1
$72.7CA$101
-14.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40CA$4.73
$3.63CA$5.05
-6.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63CA$0.88
$1.46CA$2.03
-56.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.13CA$40.52
$33.44CA$46.50
-12.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06CA$1.47
$1.21CA$1.69
-12.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.9K
$24.6KCA$34.3K
1.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KCA$27.1K
$21.7KCA$30.2K
-10.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136CA$189
$76.0CA$106
78.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.7CA$71.9
$35.72CA$49.68
44.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.85CA$69.3
$42.86CA$59.6
16.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.23CA$58.7
$42.92CA$59.7
-1.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.23CA$23.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.48CA$13.18
$11.09CA$15.42
-14.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$497CA$691
$620CA$862
-19.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3KCA$15.7K
$5,834CA$8,114
93.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1CA$85.0
$62.7CA$87.1
-2.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.95CA$45.82
$44.41CA$61.8
-25.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4CA$119
$101CA$140
-15.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113CA$156
$119CA$166
-5.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316CA$1,831
$1,211CA$1,684
8.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,191CA$1,656
$960CA$1,334
24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034CA$2,829
$2,035CA$2,831
-0.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,794CA$2,494
$1,589CA$2,210
12.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,057CA$5,642
$5,181CA$7,205
-21.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,280CA$4,561
$3,934CA$5,470
-16.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,345CA$6,042
$2,960CA$4,116
46.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.47
5.01
29.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Estevan: June 1, 2026
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,316 in Estevan 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 47% higher in Estevan, 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 $74.0 in Estevan versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $301 in Estevan vs $392 in Montreal – so Estevan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Estevan vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Estevan and Montreal compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,245 in Estevan, $2,063 in Montreal – roughly 9% apart. Estevan costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Estevan compared to Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,368 per month in Estevan and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Estevan and Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Estevan and Montreal?
Kindergarten costs $497 per month in Estevan and $620 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Estevan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Estevan at $2,245. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Estevan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Estevan and Montreal?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,063 in Montreal to $2,245 in Estevan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Estevan or Montreal safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Estevan and Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Estevan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.