Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Grimsby and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,018 a month against $2,254 in Grimsby, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Grimsby outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Grimsby
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,254
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Grimsby and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Grimsby and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,254 in Grimsby versus $2,018 in Montreal.

  • Grimsby $2,254
  • Montreal $2,018

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,321 in Grimsby versus $3,085 in Montreal.

  • Grimsby $3,321
  • Montreal $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,388 in Grimsby versus $4,152 in Montreal.

  • Grimsby $4,388
  • Montreal $4,152

Living in Grimsby is roughly 12% more expensive than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimsby 67% above, Montreal 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 CA$24.85
$18.82 CA$26.61
-6.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 CA$99.8
$70.3 CA$99.4
0.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 CA$14.71
$10.66 CA$15.06
-2.35%
Cappuccino
$3.35 CA$4.73
$3.84 CA$5.43
-12.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 CA$2.66
$1.92 CA$2.71
-2.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.14
$1.54 CA$2.18
-1.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 CA$7.97
$6.23 CA$8.81
-9.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 CA$8.73
$7.10 CA$10.03
-13.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.56 CA$3.62
$2.31 CA$3.27
10.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 CA$4.01
$3.14 CA$4.44
-9.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 CA$4.70
$3.21 CA$4.54
3.43%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$3.52 CA$4.97
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.19 CA$13.00
$12.81 CA$18.11
-28.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.23 CA$14.46
$11.46 CA$16.20
-10.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.44 CA$18.99
$13.39 CA$18.92
0.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.82
$3.14 CA$4.43
8.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.44 CA$2.03
0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 CA$3.74
$3.47 CA$4.91
-23.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.90 CA$4.09
$3.07 CA$4.34
-5.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 CA$2.64
$1.90 CA$2.69
-1.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 CA$2.66
$1.77 CA$2.50
6.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 CA$2.90
$2.34 CA$3.31
-12.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 CA$2.07
$1.55 CA$2.19
-5.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.37 CA$18.91
$11.38 CA$16.09
17.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.42 CA$14.73
$10.63 CA$15.03
-1.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 CA$3.91
$2.27 CA$3.21
22.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 CA$3.72
$2.82 CA$3.99
-6.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 CA$3.46
$2.66 CA$3.76
-7.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 CA$78.0
$77.3 CA$109
-28.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 CA$6.88
$3.20 CA$4.53
52.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 CA$3.55
$1.48 CA$2.09
69.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.39 CA$58.5
$32.88 CA$46.48
25.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.63
$1.34 CA$1.90
-14.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$39.6K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-0.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K CA$26.0K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
-6.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 CA$203
$76.0 CA$107
88.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.19 CA$61.1
$33.95 CA$48.00
27.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 CA$94.5
$42.31 CA$59.8
58.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.73 CA$56.2
$29.76 CA$42.07
33.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 CA$26.65
$20.28 CA$28.67
-7.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.86 CA$12.52
$11.15 CA$15.77
-20.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,022 CA$1,445
$507 CA$717
101.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K CA$24.0K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
5.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.4 CA$98.1
$57.6 CA$81.4
20.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.37 CA$54.2
$37.58 CA$53.1
2.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 CA$137
$91.9 CA$130
5.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4 CA$136
$110 CA$155
-12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 CA$1,653
$1,260 CA$1,782
-7.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,133 CA$1,602
$948 CA$1,340
19.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 CA$2,710
$2,137 CA$3,021
-10.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,848 CA$2,613
$1,614 CA$2,281
14.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,532 CA$6,406
$4,960 CA$7,011
-8.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,743 CA$5,292
$3,838 CA$5,425
-2.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimsby
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,334 CA$6,127
$2,827 CA$3,997
53.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
4.48
0.89%

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

Last update for Grimsby: October 10, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Grimsby
$1.1K
Montreal
$948 16.4% $186
Groceries & Markets
Grimsby
$326
Montreal
$346 6.2% $20
Eating Out
Grimsby
$266
Montreal
$288 8.1% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimsby
$254
Montreal
$152 40% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Grimsby
$135
Montreal
$133 1.4% $1.9
Getting Around
Grimsby
$82
Montreal
$99 19.5% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Grimsby
$57
Montreal
$52 9.4% $5.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,169 in Grimsby and $1,260 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grimsby pays 53% 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: $71.0 in Grimsby vs $70.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $326 vs $346, with Grimsby cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Grimsby
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
10:47 10:47 AM
10:47 10:47 AM
Same time as Grimsby
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,883
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Grimsby Montreal 540 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Grimsby
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 12% in total monthly costs ($2,254 vs $2,018 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 53% 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: $1,169 in Grimsby versus $1,260 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 $70.0 versus $71.0 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 $2,254 per month in Grimsby versus $2,018 in Montreal – a 12% 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 $2,018 in Montreal versus $2,254 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 12% less than in Grimsby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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