Cost of Living Comparison Between Gatineau and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Gatineau and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,127 per month in Gatineau vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,222 per month in Gatineau vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,316 per month in Gatineau vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Gatineau costs about 3% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gatineau and Montreal sit above the global median – Gatineau by 59%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.10 CA$18.21

$15.92 CA$22.12

-17.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.9 CA$121

$73.1 CA$102

18.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.21

$11.15 CA$15.49

-1.79%

Cappuccino

$3.40 CA$4.73

$3.80 CA$5.28

-10.53%

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

$1.49 CA$2.07

$2.18 CA$3.03

-31.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.94

$1.46 CA$2.03

-4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 CA$5.97

$6.12 CA$8.51

-29.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.19 CA$8.60

$6.78 CA$9.41

-8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 CA$2.87

$2.33 CA$3.23

-11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.96 CA$4.11

$3.39 CA$4.71

-12.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.86 CA$6.75

$3.73 CA$5.18

30.29%

Eggs

$3.57 CA$4.97

$3.38 CA$4.70

5.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.03 CA$16.72

$16.25 CA$22.58

-25.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.44 CA$14.50

$11.54 CA$16.04

-9.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 CA$15.42

$15.24 CA$21.17

-27.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 CA$6.40

$3.74 CA$5.20

23.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.70 CA$2.37

-19.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.84 CA$6.72

$4.11 CA$5.70

17.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 CA$5.04

$4.35 CA$6.05

-16.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.71 CA$3.76

-24.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$2.62 CA$3.63

-14.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 CA$2.91

$2.25 CA$3.13

-7.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 CA$3.84

$1.73 CA$2.40

60.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.99 CA$16.66

$13.31 CA$18.49

-9.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 CA$17.27

$10.78 CA$14.98

15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 CA$3.43

$3.01 CA$4.19

-17.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.04

$3.46 CA$4.81

-15.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.23 CA$4.49

$2.74 CA$3.81

17.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 CA$114

$72.7 CA$101

12.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.86 CA$5.36

$3.63 CA$5.05

6.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 CA$2.05

$1.46 CA$2.03

0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.65 CA$46.76

$33.44 CA$46.46

0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$1.21 CA$1.68

-4.13%

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

$24.8K CA$34.4K

$24.6K CA$34.2K

0.48%

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

$20.5K CA$28.5K

$21.7K CA$30.1K

-5.35%

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

$111 CA$154

$76.0 CA$106

45.63%

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

$39.98 CA$55.6

$35.72 CA$49.63

11.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.08 CA$68.2

$42.86 CA$59.6

14.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.54 CA$59.1

$42.92 CA$59.6

-0.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.89 CA$42.91

$17.23 CA$23.94

79.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 CA$15.54

$11.09 CA$15.40

0.81%

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

$575 CA$799

$620 CA$861

-7.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.6K

$5,834 CA$8,106

104.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 CA$89.9

$62.7 CA$87.1

3.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.48 CA$61.8

$44.41 CA$61.7

0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 CA$109

$101 CA$140

-22.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$169

$119 CA$165

2.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 CA$1,554

$1,211 CA$1,683

-7.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$975 CA$1,355

$960 CA$1,333

1.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 CA$2,259

$2,035 CA$2,828

-20.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,607 CA$2,232

$1,589 CA$2,208

1.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,304 CA$7,370

$5,181 CA$7,198

2.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,116 CA$8,498

$3,934 CA$5,465

55.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,631 CA$3,656

$2,960 CA$4,113

-11.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.01

29.74%

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

Last update for Gatineau: May 30, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,119 in Gatineau 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 12% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Gatineau versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $369 in Gatineau vs $392 in Montreal – so Gatineau 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

Gatineau vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gatineau costs about 3% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,190 per month in Gatineau and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,127 in Gatineau and $2,063 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Gatineau at $2,127. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gatineau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,127 in Gatineau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gatineau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.