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 $2,218 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,397 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,576 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $4,255 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 66%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.08 $20.08

$15.92 CA$22.12

26.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 $68.7

$73.1 CA$102

-5.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 $10.97

$11.15 CA$15.49

-1.61%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$3.80 CA$5.28

31.84%

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

$2.84 $2.84

$2.18 CA$3.03

30.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.46 CA$2.03

28.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.12 CA$8.51

-18.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.78 CA$9.41

-11.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.33 CA$3.23

-57.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.39 CA$4.71

15.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.73 CA$5.18

50.13%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$3.38 CA$4.70

21.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$16.25 CA$22.58

-14.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.62 $6.62

$11.54 CA$16.04

-42.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$15.24 CA$21.17

-1.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$3.74 CA$5.20

22.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.70 CA$2.37

-6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.11 CA$5.70

11.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$4.35 CA$6.05

15.17%

Potato (1kg)

$7.04 $7.04

$2.71 CA$3.76

159.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.62 CA$3.63

35.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.25 CA$3.13

28.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.73 CA$2.40

2.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$13.31 CA$18.49

-33.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.79 $13.79

$10.78 CA$14.98

27.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$3.01 CA$4.19

-38.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.46 CA$4.81

17.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.74 CA$3.81

-45.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 $45.56

$72.7 CA$101

-37.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.63 CA$5.05

34.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.46 CA$2.03

-6.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.98 $26.98

$33.44 CA$46.46

-19.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.21 CA$1.68

-25.62%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$24.6K CA$34.2K

20.76%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$21.7K CA$30.1K

20.26%

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

$137 $137

$76.0 CA$106

80.02%

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

$47.48 $47.48

$35.72 CA$49.63

32.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$42.86 CA$59.6

53.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.94 $42.94

$42.92 CA$59.6

0.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.94 $10.94

$11.09 CA$15.40

-1.35%

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

$1,559 $1,559

$620 CA$861

151.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.3K $28.3K

$5,834 CA$8,106

384.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.80 $43.80

$62.7 CA$87.1

-30.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.88 $39.88

$44.41 CA$61.7

-10.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$101 CA$140

-21.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$119 CA$165

-13.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,647 $1,647

$1,211 CA$1,683

35.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 $1,059

$960 CA$1,333

10.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,035 CA$2,828

28.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 $1,860

$1,589 CA$2,208

17.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,182 $2,182

$5,181 CA$7,198

-57.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,137 $2,137

$3,934 CA$5,465

-45.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,366 $3,366

$2,960 CA$4,113

13.73%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,647 in Ithaca, NY 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 14% 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 $69.0 in Ithaca, NY versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $392 – 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: $2,218 in Ithaca, NY, $2,063 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 $3,327 per month in Ithaca, NY 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Ithaca, NY and $73.0 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 $2,218 in Ithaca, NY and $2,063 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 $2,063, than in Ithaca, NY at $2,218. 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 $2,063 in Montreal to $2,218 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.