Cost of Living Comparison Between Halifax and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Halifax and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,450 per month in Halifax vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,580 per month in Halifax vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,710 per month in Halifax vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Halifax costs about 19% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Halifax and Montreal sit above the global median – Halifax by 83%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 CA$25.36

$15.92 CA$22.05

15.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.4 CA$91.9

$73.1 CA$101

-9.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.47 CA$14.50

$11.15 CA$15.43

-6.10%

Cappuccino

$3.75 CA$5.19

$3.80 CA$5.26

-1.32%

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

$2.20 CA$3.04

$2.18 CA$3.01

0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.26

$1.46 CA$2.02

11.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.76 CA$7.98

$6.12 CA$8.48

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 CA$9.20

$6.78 CA$9.38

-2.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.11

$2.33 CA$3.22

-3.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$3.39 CA$4.69

-13.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.68

$3.73 CA$5.16

29.49%

Eggs

$4.00 CA$5.54

$3.38 CA$4.68

18.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.73 CA$13.47

$16.25 CA$22.50

-40.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.29 CA$18.40

$11.54 CA$15.98

15.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.02

$15.24 CA$21.10

-9.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 CA$6.84

$3.74 CA$5.18

32.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.32

$1.70 CA$2.36

-1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.13

$4.11 CA$5.68

7.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.88

$4.35 CA$6.02

-2.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.15

$2.71 CA$3.75

10.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.57

$2.62 CA$3.62

-1.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.59

$2.25 CA$3.12

15.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.05

$1.73 CA$2.39

27.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.25 CA$21.12

$13.31 CA$18.43

14.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.00 CA$22.16

$10.78 CA$14.93

48.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.88 CA$5.37

$3.01 CA$4.17

28.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 CA$6.19

$3.46 CA$4.80

29.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.15 CA$2.97

$2.74 CA$3.79

-21.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 CA$93.2

$72.7 CA$101

-7.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 CA$5.14

$3.63 CA$5.03

2.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$1.46 CA$2.02

-19.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.21 CA$30.75

$33.44 CA$46.30

-33.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.21 CA$1.68

-0.83%

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

$25.5K CA$35.3K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

3.47%

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

$22.2K CA$30.8K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

2.56%

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

$154 CA$213

$76.0 CA$105

102.47%

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

$50.3 CA$69.6

$35.72 CA$49.46

40.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 CA$97.6

$42.86 CA$59.4

64.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 CA$72.4

$42.92 CA$59.4

21.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.78 CA$16.31

$17.23 CA$23.86

-31.63%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 CA$15.48

$11.09 CA$15.35

0.81%

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

$921 CA$1,275

$620 CA$858

48.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CA$20.6K

$5,834 CA$8,078

155.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 CA$90.0

$62.7 CA$86.8

3.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.58 CA$47.88

$44.41 CA$61.5

-22.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 CA$139

$101 CA$139

-0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$157

$119 CA$165

-4.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,526 CA$2,113

$1,211 CA$1,677

26.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 CA$1,716

$960 CA$1,329

29.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 CA$3,280

$2,035 CA$2,818

16.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 CA$2,774

$1,589 CA$2,201

26.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,284 CA$4,547

$5,181 CA$7,173

-36.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,748 CA$3,805

$3,934 CA$5,446

-30.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,703 CA$3,743

$2,960 CA$4,098

-8.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

5.01

22.16%

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

Last update for Halifax: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,526 in Halifax 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 10% 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 $66.0 in Halifax versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $409 in Halifax vs $392 in Montreal – so Montreal 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

Halifax vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,450 in Halifax, $2,063 in Montreal – roughly 19% apart. Halifax costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,675 per month in Halifax 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.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $921 per month in Halifax and $620 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Halifax at $2,450. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Halifax it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Halifax has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,063 in Montreal to $2,450 in Halifax. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Halifax makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.