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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,514 per month in Halifax vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,626 per month in Halifax vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,737 per month in Halifax vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Halifax costs about 21% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Halifax and Montreal sit above the global median – Halifax by 88%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.05 CA$25.30

$16.52 CA$23.15

9.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 CA$92.6

$74.0 CA$104

-10.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.34 CA$14.49

$10.94 CA$15.34

-5.48%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.45

$3.84 CA$5.39

1.30%

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

$2.28 CA$3.20

$2.14 CA$2.99

6.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.43

$1.45 CA$2.03

19.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.73 CA$8.03

$6.13 CA$8.60

-6.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 CA$9.57

$6.73 CA$9.44

1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.35 CA$3.30

-4.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 CA$4.06

$3.34 CA$4.68

-13.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 CA$6.69

$3.74 CA$5.25

27.54%

Eggs

$3.92 CA$5.49

$3.39 CA$4.75

15.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 CA$13.84

$16.30 CA$22.84

-39.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.23 CA$18.54

$11.81 CA$16.56

12.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.80 CA$19.34

$15.64 CA$21.93

-11.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 CA$7.11

$3.69 CA$5.18

37.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$1.70 CA$2.38

-1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.97

$4.11 CA$5.76

3.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.12

$4.41 CA$6.18

-1.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.15

$2.79 CA$3.91

6.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.74

$2.64 CA$3.70

1.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.59

$2.29 CA$3.21

11.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.11

$1.78 CA$2.50

24.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.28 CA$21.42

$13.17 CA$18.46

16.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.66 CA$21.95

$10.64 CA$14.92

47.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.80 CA$5.33

$2.99 CA$4.18

27.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 CA$6.42

$3.44 CA$4.82

33.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 CA$3.11

$2.81 CA$3.94

-21.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.9 CA$93.7

$72.8 CA$102

-8.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.61 CA$5.06

$3.52 CA$4.93

2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 CA$1.68

$1.45 CA$2.04

-17.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.26 CA$31.20

$34.29 CA$48.07

-35.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.76

$1.22 CA$1.72

3.28%

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

$25.1K CA$35.1K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-0.80%

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

$21.9K CA$30.7K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

-1.11%

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

$158 CA$221

$76.5 CA$107

105.92%

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

$49.40 CA$69.3

$35.60 CA$49.90

38.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.0 CA$98.2

$42.96 CA$60.2

63.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.2 CA$74.6

$43.39 CA$60.8

22.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.78 CA$16.51

$16.83 CA$23.59

-30.01%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 CA$15.78

$11.09 CA$15.54

1.53%

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

$919 CA$1,289

$625 CA$876

47.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K CA$21.5K

$5,896 CA$8,264

160.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 CA$92.5

$63.1 CA$88.5

4.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.87 CA$47.48

$44.50 CA$62.4

-23.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 CA$137

$103 CA$144

-4.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$155

$118 CA$166

-6.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,524 CA$2,136

$1,207 CA$1,692

26.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,231 CA$1,725

$965 CA$1,353

27.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,380 CA$3,337

$2,031 CA$2,848

17.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,943 CA$2,724

$1,577 CA$2,210

23.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,167 CA$4,440

$5,085 CA$7,128

-37.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,741 CA$3,843

$3,783 CA$5,304

-27.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,790 CA$3,911

$2,890 CA$4,051

-3.46%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,524 in Halifax versus $1,207 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 4% 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 $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $408 in Halifax vs $395 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: $2,514 in Halifax, $2,085 in Montreal – roughly 21% apart. Halifax costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,772 per month in Halifax and $3,127 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 9% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $919 per month in Halifax and $625 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 $2,085, than in Halifax at $2,514. 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 $2,085 in Montreal to $2,514 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.