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 $2,296 per month in Hay River, NT vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,340 per month in Hay River, NT vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,383 per month in Hay River, NT vs $4,255 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 71%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.77 CA$23.32

$15.92 CA$22.14

5.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$96.9

$73.1 CA$102

-4.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 CA$15.39

$11.15 CA$15.50

-0.72%

Cappuccino

$3.68 CA$5.11

$3.80 CA$5.29

-3.16%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.18 CA$3.03

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.46 CA$2.03

17.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 CA$7.62

$6.12 CA$8.51

-10.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 CA$8.36

$6.78 CA$9.42

-11.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.33 CA$3.24

-5.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.76

$3.39 CA$4.72

-20.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$3.73 CA$5.19

-3.22%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.73

$3.38 CA$4.70

0.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.07 CA$15.39

$16.25 CA$22.60

-31.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.43 CA$20.07

$15.24 CA$21.19

-5.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.51

$3.74 CA$5.20

5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.70 CA$2.37

-15.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.03

$4.11 CA$5.71

-12.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.12

$4.35 CA$6.05

-15.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.31

$2.71 CA$3.76

-12.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.53

$2.62 CA$3.64

-3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CA$3.52

$2.25 CA$3.13

12.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.48

$1.73 CA$2.40

3.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.20 CA$19.75

$13.31 CA$18.51

6.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 CA$17.87

$10.78 CA$15.00

19.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$3.01 CA$4.19

-4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 CA$4.39

$3.46 CA$4.82

-8.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.38

$2.74 CA$3.81

-11.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 CA$86.8

$72.7 CA$101

-14.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 CA$4.35

$3.63 CA$5.05

-13.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.46 CA$2.03

-2.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.90 CA$36.01

$33.44 CA$46.50

-22.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.63

$1.21 CA$1.69

-3.31%

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

$24.8K CA$34.5K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

0.69%

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

$20.7K CA$28.7K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

-4.77%

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

$142 CA$197

$76.0 CA$106

86.70%

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

$44.25 CA$61.5

$35.72 CA$49.68

23.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$87.6

$42.86 CA$59.6

46.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 CA$58.7

$42.92 CA$59.7

-1.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.97

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 CA$15.82

$11.09 CA$15.42

2.61%

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

$727 CA$1,012

$620 CA$862

17.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.6K

$5,834 CA$8,114

104.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 CA$74.6

$62.7 CA$87.1

-14.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.98 CA$55.6

$44.41 CA$61.8

-9.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 CA$122

$101 CA$140

-12.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$119 CA$166

-9.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 CA$1,846

$1,211 CA$1,684

9.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 CA$1,610

$960 CA$1,334

20.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,046 CA$2,845

$2,035 CA$2,831

0.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 CA$2,495

$1,589 CA$2,210

12.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,755 CA$6,613

$5,181 CA$7,205

-8.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,160 CA$5,786

$3,934 CA$5,470

5.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,369 CA$6,076

$2,960 CA$4,116

47.61%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,327 in Hay River, NT 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 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 $70.0 in Hay River, NT versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $392 – 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 $3,444 per month in Hay River, NT 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,296 in Hay River, NT and $2,063 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 $2,063, than in Hay River, NT at $2,296. 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 $2,063 versus $2,296 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.