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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,537 per month in Halifax vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,643 per month in Halifax vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,749 per month in Halifax vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Halifax costs about 23% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Halifax and Montreal sit above the global median – Halifax by 85%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.97 CA$24.97

$17.85 CA$24.81

0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$72.3 CA$100

1.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 CA$14.88

$10.92 CA$15.18

-1.92%

Cappuccino

$4.53 CA$6.29

$3.97 CA$5.51

14.11%

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

$2.45 CA$3.40

$2.07 CA$2.88

18.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 CA$2.56

$1.55 CA$2.15

18.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.81 CA$8.08

$6.41 CA$8.91

-9.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.34 CA$8.81

$7.29 CA$10.13

-13.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.12

$2.39 CA$3.31

-6.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$3.21 CA$4.45

-12.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.57

$3.07 CA$4.26

30.62%

Eggs

$3.80 CA$5.28

$3.68 CA$5.11

3.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.09 CA$12.63

$13.57 CA$18.86

-33.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.13 CA$18.24

$11.63 CA$16.16

12.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 CA$20.68

$13.97 CA$19.41

6.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$3.68 CA$5.12

37.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 CA$2.63

$1.56 CA$2.16

21.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 CA$6.27

$3.41 CA$4.74

32.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 CA$7.08

$3.03 CA$4.21

67.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$1.98 CA$2.76

36.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.21

$1.82 CA$2.54

66.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CA$3.62

$2.56 CA$3.56

1.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 CA$2.80

$1.39 CA$1.93

45.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.14 CA$23.82

$11.49 CA$15.97

49.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.91 CA$23.50

$10.92 CA$15.18

54.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.52 CA$6.29

$2.26 CA$3.14

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.28 CA$7.34

$3.01 CA$4.18

75.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.04

$2.69 CA$3.74

-18.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.9 CA$90.2

$75.3 CA$105

-13.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.50 CA$2.09

-18.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.97 CA$30.53

$33.70 CA$46.83

-34.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.81

$1.29 CA$1.80

1.55%

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

$28.6K CA$39.8K

$28.3K CA$39.3K

1.24%

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

$22.5K CA$31.3K

$20.0K CA$27.7K

12.77%

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

$146 CA$202

$80.4 CA$112

81.28%

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

$44.67 CA$62.1

$34.23 CA$47.57

30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 CA$96.2

$41.39 CA$57.5

67.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.62 CA$57.8

$29.24 CA$40.63

42.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.38 CA$25.54

$19.89 CA$27.64

-7.59%

Cinema Ticket

$11.45 CA$15.91

$11.71 CA$16.27

-2.22%

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

$977 CA$1,358

$564 CA$784

73.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K CA$21.2K

$16.8K CA$23.4K

-9.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 CA$84.1

$59.5 CA$82.7

1.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.10 CA$48.77

$42.13 CA$58.6

-16.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$107 CA$149

-3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$111 CA$154

2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,484 CA$2,063

$1,284 CA$1,784

15.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 CA$1,764

$990 CA$1,376

28.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,486 CA$3,454

$2,260 CA$3,140

10.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,976 CA$2,746

$1,667 CA$2,317

18.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,233 CA$4,493

$5,287 CA$7,347

-38.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,807 CA$3,901

$3,813 CA$5,298

-26.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,807 CA$3,901

$3,019 CA$4,195

-7.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.98

4.41

12.93%

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

Last update for Halifax: August 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,484 in Halifax versus $1,284 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 8% 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 $74.0 in Halifax versus $72.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $356 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $2,537 in Halifax, $2,056 in Montreal – roughly 23% apart. Halifax costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,806 per month in Halifax and $3,084 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 16% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $977 per month in Halifax and $564 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 $2,056, than in Halifax at $2,537. 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 $2,056 in Montreal to $2,537 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.