😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,511 in Grimsby versus $2,085 in Montreal.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,494 in Grimsby versus $3,174 in Montreal.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,477 in Grimsby versus $4,262 in Montreal.
🌍Living in Grimsby is roughly 20% more expensive than in Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimsby88% above, Montreal56% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.52CA$25.97
$16.52CA$23.16
12.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.9CA$109
$74.0CA$104
5.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.85CA$15.21
$10.94CA$15.34
-0.82%
Cappuccino
$3.56CA$4.99
$3.84CA$5.39
-7.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.87
$2.14CA$2.99
-4.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49CA$2.08
$1.45CA$2.03
2.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84CA$8.19
$6.13CA$8.60
-4.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73CA$9.44
$6.73CA$9.44
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.93CA$4.11
$2.35CA$3.30
24.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85CA$4.00
$3.34CA$4.68
-14.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.34CA$6.09
$3.74CA$5.25
16.04%
Eggs
$3.27CA$4.59
$3.39CA$4.76
-3.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.59CA$19.05
$16.30CA$22.85
-16.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.71CA$13.61
$11.81CA$16.56
-17.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.16CA$15.65
$15.64CA$21.93
-28.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91CA$4.08
$3.69CA$5.18
-21.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06CA$2.89
$1.70CA$2.39
21.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.56CA$4.99
$4.11CA$5.76
-13.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64CA$5.10
$4.41CA$6.18
-17.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92CA$2.69
$2.79CA$3.91
-31.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92CA$4.09
$2.64CA$3.70
10.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.74CA$2.44
$2.29CA$3.21
-24.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16CA$3.03
$1.78CA$2.50
21.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.76CA$19.29
$13.17CA$18.47
4.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.27CA$17.20
$10.64CA$14.92
15.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21CA$3.10
$2.99CA$4.19
-26.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29CA$3.22
$3.44CA$4.82
-33.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42CA$3.39
$2.81CA$3.94
-13.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.7CA$86.6
$72.8CA$102
-15.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06CA$4.28
$3.52CA$4.93
-13.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22CA$1.71
$1.45CA$2.04
-15.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.47CA$31.51
$34.29CA$48.08
-34.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11CA$1.56
$1.22CA$1.72
-9.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCA$34.7K
$25.3KCA$35.4K
-2.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCA$29.8K
$22.1KCA$31.0K
-3.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154CA$216
$76.5CA$107
100.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.3CA$76.2
$35.60CA$49.91
52.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1CA$98.2
$42.96CA$60.2
63.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.69CA$58.5
$43.39CA$60.8
-3.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.83CA$23.60
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.75CA$12.26
$11.09CA$15.55
-21.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$739CA$1,036
$625CA$876
18.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4KCA$25.8K
$5,896CA$8,266
212.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6CA$100
$63.1CA$88.5
13.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.28CA$57.9
$44.50CA$62.4
-7.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113CA$158
$103CA$144
9.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113CA$158
$118CA$166
-4.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,290CA$1,808
$1,207CA$1,692
6.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,321CA$1,852
$965CA$1,353
36.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,871CA$2,623
$2,031CA$2,848
-7.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,806CA$2,532
$1,577CA$2,211
14.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,085CA$7,129
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,783CA$5,304
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,398CA$6,166
$2,890CA$4,051
52.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
5.01
27.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grimsby: July 12, 2026
Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,290 in Grimsby and $1,207 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimsby pays 52% 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: $78.0 in Grimsby vs $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $355 vs $395, with Grimsby 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
Grimsby vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Grimsby and in Montreal?
Grimsby and Montreal differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($2,511 vs $2,085 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Grimsby or Montreal?
Average pay runs 52% higher in Grimsby, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Grimsby and in Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,290 in Grimsby versus $1,207 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $78.0 in Grimsby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Grimsby or Montreal?
All in, you'll spend $2,511 per month in Grimsby versus $2,085 in Montreal – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,085 in Montreal versus $2,511 in Grimsby, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Grimsby. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Grimsby and Montreal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Grimsby or Montreal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Grimsby 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.
Where should expats move: Grimsby or Montreal?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Grimsby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.