Cost of Living Comparison Between Ithaca, NY and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Ithaca, NY and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,256 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,448 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,640 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Ithaca, NY costs about 8% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ithaca, NY and Montreal sit above the global median – Ithaca, NY by 69%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.77 $19.77

$16.52 CA$23.16

19.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 $70.9

$74.0 CA$104

-4.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$10.94 CA$15.34

0.82%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$3.84 CA$5.39

29.17%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$2.14 CA$2.99

33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.45 CA$2.03

32.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$6.13 CA$8.60

-19.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.73 CA$9.44

-12.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$2.35 CA$3.30

-57.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.34 CA$4.68

20.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$3.74 CA$5.25

45.45%

Eggs

$4.08 $4.08

$3.39 CA$4.76

20.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.87 $13.87

$16.30 CA$22.85

-14.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 $6.50

$11.81 CA$16.56

-44.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$15.64 CA$21.93

-1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$3.69 CA$5.18

23.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.70 CA$2.39

-6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.11 CA$5.76

12.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$4.41 CA$6.18

7.71%

Potato (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.79 CA$3.91

155.20%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.64 CA$3.70

29.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.29 CA$3.21

23.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.78 CA$2.50

-1.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.16 $9.16

$13.17 CA$18.47

-30.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 $14.22

$10.64 CA$14.92

33.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.99 CA$4.19

-37.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.44 CA$4.82

14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.81 CA$3.94

-48.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.80 $44.80

$72.8 CA$102

-38.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.52 CA$4.93

41.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.45 CA$2.04

-6.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.29 $27.29

$34.29 CA$48.08

-20.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.22 CA$1.72

-22.95%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

19.40%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

15.37%

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

$139 $139

$76.5 CA$107

81.97%

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

$46.49 $46.49

$35.60 CA$49.91

30.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$42.96 CA$60.2

52.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.00 $43.00

$43.39 CA$60.8

-0.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 $10.94

$11.09 CA$15.55

-1.35%

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

$1,564 $1,564

$625 CA$876

150.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.2K $28.2K

$5,896 CA$8,266

378.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.01 $44.01

$63.1 CA$88.5

-30.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.25 $39.25

$44.50 CA$62.4

-11.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 $80.9

$103 CA$144

-21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$118 CA$166

-14.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 $1,649

$1,207 CA$1,692

36.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 $1,058

$965 CA$1,353

9.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$2,031 CA$2,848

30.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,866 $1,866

$1,577 CA$2,211

18.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,200 $2,200

$5,085 CA$7,129

-56.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,150 $2,150

$3,783 CA$5,304

-43.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,399 $3,399

$2,890 CA$4,051

17.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

5.01

25.35%

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

Last update for Ithaca, NY: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,649 in Ithaca, NY 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 18% higher in Ithaca, NY, 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 $71.0 in Ithaca, NY versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 vs $395 – making Ithaca, NY 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

Ithaca, NY vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,256 in Ithaca, NY, $2,085 in Montreal – roughly 8% apart. Ithaca, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,384 per month in Ithaca, NY 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Ithaca, NY and $74.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,256 in Ithaca, NY and $2,085 in Montreal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Ithaca, NY at $2,256. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ithaca, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,085 in Montreal to $2,256 in Ithaca, NY. 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, Ithaca, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.