Cost of Living Comparison Between Hay River, NT and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Hay River, NT and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,312 per month in Hay River, NT vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,325 per month in Hay River, NT vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,338 per month in Hay River, NT vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Hay River, NT costs about 11% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hay River, NT and Montreal sit above the global median – Hay River, NT by 73%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.22 CA$24.22

$16.52 CA$23.24

4.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 CA$96.7

$74.0 CA$104

-7.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 CA$15.78

$10.94 CA$15.40

2.47%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.47

$3.84 CA$5.41

1.30%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$2.14 CA$3.01

-8.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.45 CA$2.04

16.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.44 CA$7.65

$6.13 CA$8.63

-11.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.24

$6.73 CA$9.47

-12.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.08

$2.35 CA$3.31

-6.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.82

$3.34 CA$4.69

-18.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 CA$5.17

$3.74 CA$5.27

-1.87%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.75

$3.39 CA$4.77

-0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 CA$15.43

$16.30 CA$22.93

-32.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 CA$16.29

$11.81 CA$16.62

-1.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 CA$21.07

$15.64 CA$22.01

-4.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.62

$3.69 CA$5.20

8.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.92

$1.70 CA$2.39

-19.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.24

$4.11 CA$5.79

-9.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.81 CA$5.36

$4.41 CA$6.20

-13.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.50

$2.79 CA$3.93

-10.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.50

$2.64 CA$3.72

-5.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.71

$2.29 CA$3.22

15.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.49

$1.78 CA$2.51

-0.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.87 CA$19.52

$13.17 CA$18.53

5.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.56 CA$17.67

$10.64 CA$14.97

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 CA$4.06

$2.99 CA$4.20

-3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.33

$3.44 CA$4.83

-10.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.30

$2.81 CA$3.95

-16.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 CA$88.0

$72.8 CA$102

-14.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.55

$3.52 CA$4.95

-7.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.10

$1.45 CA$2.05

2.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.32 CA$35.62

$34.29 CA$48.26

-26.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.59

$1.22 CA$1.72

-7.38%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

-0.26%

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

$20.5K CA$28.8K

$22.1K CA$31.1K

-7.51%

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

$144 CA$203

$76.5 CA$108

88.17%

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

$43.97 CA$61.9

$35.60 CA$50.1

23.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$88.7

$42.96 CA$60.5

46.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.88 CA$58.9

$43.39 CA$61.1

-3.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$11.27 CA$15.86

$11.09 CA$15.60

1.62%

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

$731 CA$1,028

$625 CA$879

16.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.5K

$5,896 CA$8,296

99.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 CA$76.8

$63.1 CA$88.8

-13.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.11 CA$56.4

$44.50 CA$62.6

-9.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 CA$122

$103 CA$145

-15.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$149

$118 CA$166

-10.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 CA$1,850

$1,207 CA$1,699

8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 CA$1,672

$965 CA$1,358

23.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,015 CA$2,835

$2,031 CA$2,858

-0.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,831 CA$2,576

$1,577 CA$2,219

16.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,892 CA$6,884

$5,085 CA$7,155

-3.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,207 CA$4,513

$3,783 CA$5,324

-15.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,282 CA$6,026

$2,890 CA$4,066

48.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.01

28.94%

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

Last update for Hay River, NT: July 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,315 in Hay River, NT 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 48% higher in Hay River, NT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Hay River, NT versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $395 – making Hay River, NT 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

Hay River, NT vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hay River, NT costs about 11% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,468 per month in Hay River, NT 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,312 in Hay River, NT and $2,085 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 16% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Hay River, NT at $2,312. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hay River, NT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,085 versus $2,312 in Hay River, NT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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