Cost of Living Comparison Between High Level and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between High Level and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,363 in High Level versus $2,063 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,362 in High Level versus $3,159 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,361 in High Level versus $4,255 in Montreal.

Living in High Level is roughly 15% more expensive than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: High Level 76% above, Montreal 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.89 CA$23.39

$15.92 CA$22.05

6.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 CA$97.9

$73.1 CA$101

-3.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.14

$11.15 CA$15.43

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$3.76 CA$5.21

$3.80 CA$5.26

-1.05%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$2.18 CA$3.01

-8.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.31

$1.46 CA$2.02

14.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.60 CA$7.75

$6.12 CA$8.48

-8.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 CA$8.10

$6.78 CA$9.38

-13.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 CA$2.90

$2.33 CA$3.22

-10.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 CA$3.62

$3.39 CA$4.69

-23.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 CA$5.03

$3.73 CA$5.16

-2.41%

Eggs

$3.48 CA$4.82

$3.38 CA$4.68

2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 CA$15.22

$16.25 CA$22.50

-32.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.64 CA$16.12

$11.54 CA$15.98

0.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$15.24 CA$21.10

-3.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 CA$5.47

$3.74 CA$5.18

5.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$1.70 CA$2.36

-17.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.07

$4.11 CA$5.68

-10.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.31

$4.35 CA$6.02

-11.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 CA$3.47

$2.71 CA$3.75

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.46

$2.62 CA$3.62

-4.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.25 CA$3.12

16.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.45

$1.73 CA$2.39

2.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.78 CA$19.08

$13.31 CA$18.43

3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.82 CA$16.37

$10.78 CA$14.93

9.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.87

$3.01 CA$4.17

-6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 CA$4.21

$3.46 CA$4.80

-12.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.32

$2.74 CA$3.79

-12.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.9 CA$85.8

$72.7 CA$101

-14.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.49

$3.63 CA$5.03

-10.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.05

$1.46 CA$2.02

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.67 CA$35.54

$33.44 CA$46.30

-23.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.60

$1.21 CA$1.68

-4.96%

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

$25.3K CA$35.0K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

2.64%

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

$21.0K CA$29.1K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

-3.11%

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

$140 CA$194

$76.0 CA$105

84.65%

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

$43.21 CA$59.8

$35.72 CA$49.46

20.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.1 CA$87.4

$42.86 CA$59.4

47.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.85 CA$57.9

$42.92 CA$59.4

-2.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.57 CA$16.02

$11.09 CA$15.35

4.33%

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

$723 CA$1,002

$620 CA$858

16.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.3K

$5,834 CA$8,078

101.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 CA$76.2

$62.7 CA$86.8

-12.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 CA$54.6

$44.41 CA$61.5

-11.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 CA$119

$101 CA$139

-14.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$119 CA$165

-9.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,327 CA$1,837

$1,211 CA$1,677

9.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 CA$1,640

$960 CA$1,329

23.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,025 CA$2,804

$2,035 CA$2,818

-0.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,805 CA$2,500

$1,589 CA$2,201

13.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,894 CA$6,776

$5,181 CA$7,173

-5.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,084 CA$5,654

$3,934 CA$5,446

3.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

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 High Level: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,327 in High Level and $1,211 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in High Level vs $73.0 in Montreal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 vs $392 per month, with High Level cheaper across the board.

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

High Level vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

High Level and Montreal differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,363 vs $2,063 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,545 in High Level and $3,094 in Montreal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,327 in High Level versus $1,211 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,363 per month in High Level versus $2,063 in Montreal – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 17% less than in High Level. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,363 in High Level, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in High Level. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, High Level and Montreal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in High Level. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.