Cost of Living Comparison Between Estevan and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Estevan and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,250 per month in Estevan vs $2,065 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,286 per month in Estevan vs $3,180 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,323 per month in Estevan vs $4,296 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 โ€“ Estevan by 67%, Montreal by 53%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.47 CA$30.79
$16.08 CA$22.03
39.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 CA$103
$73.8 CA$101
1.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.92 CA$8.11
$10.91 CA$14.95
-45.74%
Cappuccino
$2.20 CA$3.01
$3.67 CA$5.03
-40.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 CA$3.17
$2.06 CA$2.83
12.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 CA$2.59
$1.44 CA$1.97
31.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 CA$8.14
$6.21 CA$8.50
-4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 CA$8.12
$6.44 CA$8.82
-7.92%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 CA$1.32
$2.34 CA$3.21
-58.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 CA$1.66
$3.23 CA$4.42
-62.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 CA$4.33
$3.84 CA$5.26
-17.71%
Eggs
$1.96 CA$2.68
$3.32 CA$4.54
-40.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 CA$15.89
$16.35 CA$22.40
-29.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.32 CA$8.66
$11.92 CA$16.33
-46.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.98 CA$24.64
$15.10 CA$20.69
19.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 CA$4.96
$3.68 CA$5.04
-1.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 CA$1.74
$1.69 CA$2.32
-24.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 CA$5.85
$4.12 CA$5.64
3.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.52 CA$4.82
$4.29 CA$5.88
-17.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.31 CA$4.54
$2.79 CA$3.82
18.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 CA$3.87
$2.70 CA$3.70
4.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 CA$2.07
$2.17 CA$2.97
-30.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 CA$0.56
$1.78 CA$2.44
-76.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.91 CA$20.43
$13.22 CA$18.12
12.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 CA$18.29
$11.04 CA$15.12
20.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68 CA$5.04
$2.97 CA$4.07
23.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 CA$4.03
$3.44 CA$4.71
-14.53%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.27
$2.80 CA$3.84
-14.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.4 CA$86.8
$72.2 CA$98.9
-12.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 CA$4.43
$3.67 CA$5.03
-11.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 CA$0.92
$1.40 CA$1.92
-52.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.53 CA$40.45
$34.07 CA$46.68
-13.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.51
$1.21 CA$1.66
-8.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$34.8K
$25.3K CA$34.7K
0.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$27.4K
$21.9K CA$30.0K
-8.52%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 CA$186
$74.4 CA$102
83.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 CA$70.0
$36.64 CA$50.2
39.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 CA$69.0
$43.41 CA$59.5
16.08%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.65 CA$57.1
$43.20 CA$59.2
-3.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18 CA$23.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.27 CA$12.69
$10.99 CA$15.06
-15.65%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 CA$672
$614 CA$842
-20.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K CA$15.2K
$5,855 CA$8,022
89.22%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7 CA$86.0
$62.6 CA$85.8
0.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.61 CA$44.67
$44.25 CA$60.6
-26.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 CA$117
$103 CA$142
-17.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$148
$122 CA$167
-10.98%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 CA$1,791
$1,190 CA$1,631
9.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,172 CA$1,606
$946 CA$1,296
23.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,998 CA$2,737
$2,037 CA$2,791
-1.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,810 CA$2,479
$1,548 CA$2,120
16.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,835 CA$5,254
$5,398 CA$7,395
-28.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,112 CA$4,264
$4,014 CA$5,499
-22.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Estevan
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,353 CA$5,964
$3,013 CA$4,128
44.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
5.01
29.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Estevan: April 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,307 in Estevan versus $1,190 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 44% 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 $75 in Estevan versus $74 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story โ€“ $300 in Estevan vs $392 in Montreal โ€“ 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: $2,250 in Estevan, $2,065 in Montreal โ€“ 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 $3,375 per month in Estevan and $3,097 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ 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 $490 per month in Estevan and $614 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 31% cheaper in Estevan โ€“ 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 $2,065, than in Estevan at $2,250. 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 $2,065 in Montreal to $2,250 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 โ€“ 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.

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