😐A single person spends $2,454 per month in Ilford vs $2,073 in Gatineau, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,903 per month in Ilford vs $3,126 in Gatineau, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,353 per month in Ilford vs $4,179 in Gatineau, rent included.
😐Ilford costs about 18% more than Gatineau, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ilford and Gatineau sit above the global median – Ilford by 79%, Gatineau by 51%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.21£16.41
$11.79CA$16.25
88.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.5£69.9
$87.3CA$120
8.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.69£7.91
$10.95CA$15.09
-2.37%
Cappuccino
$4.76£3.52
$3.21CA$4.43
48.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88£2.13
$1.40CA$1.93
105.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97£1.46
$1.59CA$2.20
23.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.26£6.10
$5.01CA$6.90
64.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51£5.55
$6.38CA$8.79
17.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67£1.23
$1.96CA$2.70
-14.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83£1.35
$2.97CA$4.09
-38.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48£1.83
$5.39CA$7.44
-53.99%
Eggs
$4.66£3.45
$3.36CA$4.63
38.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.93£7.34
$12.16CA$16.77
-18.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49£7.01
$10.05CA$13.86
-5.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.04£11.86
$10.96CA$15.11
46.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01£2.22
$4.17CA$5.75
-27.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48£1.09
$1.88CA$2.59
-21.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81£2.08
$4.72CA$6.51
-40.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59£2.65
$4.78CA$6.59
-24.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75£1.29
$2.11CA$2.91
-17.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85£1.37
$2.46CA$3.39
-24.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29£0.95
$2.12CA$2.93
-39.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85£1.37
$2.67CA$3.69
-30.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.97£16.98
$12.21CA$16.83
88.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.39£8.42
$12.46CA$17.19
-8.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20£2.36
$2.81CA$3.87
13.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27£3.16
$3.37CA$4.64
26.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.52£2.60
$3.33CA$4.60
5.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.3£69.7
$81.9CA$113
15.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.61£4.14
$4.98CA$6.87
12.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67£1.98
$2.40CA$3.31
11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.50£18.11
$33.40CA$46.05
-26.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08£1.53
$1.18CA$1.62
76.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2K£29.7K
$28.5KCA$39.4K
40.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K£30.3K
$19.4KCA$26.8K
111.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$348£257
$116CA$161
198.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48£13.66
$36.85CA$50.8
-49.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.02£31.06
$49.40CA$68.1
-14.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.26£35.67
$48.45CA$66.8
-0.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.49CA$40.67
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.34£12.82
$10.76CA$14.83
61.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,583£1,909
$569CA$784
354.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.5K£22.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8£67.9
$72.4CA$99.8
26.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.09£35.55
$44.13CA$60.9
8.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.9£68.7
$89.4CA$123
3.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8£73.8
$118CA$163
-15.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,428£1,056
$1,107CA$1,526
29.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,030£761
$979CA$1,350
5.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,093£2,286
$1,850CA$2,552
67.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,141£1,582
$1,527CA$2,106
40.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,242£3,875
$5,279CA$7,280
-0.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,595£2,657
$6,252CA$8,622
-42.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilford
Gatineau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,694£2,730
$2,622CA$3,616
40.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.04
4.64
8.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilford: August 30, 2026
Last update for Gatineau: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,428 in Ilford versus $1,107 in Gatineau. 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 41% higher in Ilford, 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 $95.0 in Ilford versus $87.0 in Gatineau. Groceries tell a different story – $326 in Ilford vs $376 in Gatineau – so Ilford 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
Ilford vs Gatineau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ilford or Gatineau?
Ilford costs about 18% more than Gatineau, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ilford and in Gatineau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,681 per month in Ilford and $3,109 in Gatineau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ilford or Gatineau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gatineau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ilford compared to Gatineau?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,454 in Ilford and $2,073 in Gatineau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Ilford compared to Gatineau?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Gatineau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ilford or in Gatineau?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gatineau, where all-in costs run around $2,073, than in Ilford at $2,454. In Gatineau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Gatineau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Ilford compared to Gatineau?
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.
Should I move to Ilford or to Gatineau?
If budget matters most, go with Gatineau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ilford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.