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 $2,868 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,727 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,587 per month in Ithaca, NY vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Ithaca, NY costs about 39% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ithaca, NY and Montreal sit above the global median – Ithaca, NY by 109%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.21 $22.21

$17.85 CA$24.81

24.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$72.3 CA$100

11.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 $10.86

$10.92 CA$15.18

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$3.97 CA$5.51

25.69%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$2.07 CA$2.88

25.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.55 CA$2.15

25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$6.41 CA$8.91

-22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.42 $9.42

$7.29 CA$10.13

29.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.39 CA$3.31

-59.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.21 CA$4.45

3.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.07 CA$4.26

71.01%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$3.68 CA$5.11

11.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$13.57 CA$18.86

6.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$11.63 CA$16.16

-43.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.97 CA$19.41

6.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$3.68 CA$5.12

28.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.56 CA$2.16

8.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.41 CA$4.74

60.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.03 CA$4.21

52.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.98 CA$2.76

59.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.82 CA$2.54

94.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.56 CA$3.56

-9.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.39 CA$1.93

48.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.49 CA$15.97

-22.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.75 $13.75

$10.92 CA$15.18

25.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.26 CA$3.14

-17.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.01 CA$4.18

33.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.69 CA$3.74

-33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.16 $44.16

$75.3 CA$105

-41.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.35 CA$4.65

48.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.50 CA$2.09

-10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 $30.39

$33.70 CA$46.83

-9.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.29 CA$1.80

-22.48%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$28.3K CA$39.3K

26.05%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$20.0K CA$27.7K

28.26%

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

$166 $166

$80.4 CA$112

106.19%

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

$47.65 $47.65

$34.23 CA$47.57

39.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.21 $49.21

$41.39 CA$57.5

18.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.33 $34.33

$29.24 CA$40.63

17.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.64

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 $11.12

$11.71 CA$16.27

-5.04%

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

$1,474 $1,474

$564 CA$784

161.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K $17.3K

$16.8K CA$23.4K

2.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.13 $47.13

$59.5 CA$82.7

-20.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.55 $40.55

$42.13 CA$58.6

-3.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 $79.6

$107 CA$149

-25.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$111 CA$154

-2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,185 $2,185

$1,284 CA$1,784

70.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,717 $1,717

$990 CA$1,376

73.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 $2,673

$2,260 CA$3,140

18.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,891 $1,891

$1,667 CA$2,317

13.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,188 $2,188

$5,287 CA$7,347

-58.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,137 $2,137

$3,813 CA$5,298

-43.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,415 $3,415

$3,019 CA$4,195

13.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

4.41

38.78%

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

Last update for Ithaca, NY: August 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,185 in Ithaca, NY versus $1,284 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 13% 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 $81.0 in Ithaca, NY versus $72.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $356 – making Montreal 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: $2,868 in Ithaca, NY, $2,056 in Montreal – roughly 39% apart. Ithaca, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,301 per month in Ithaca, NY and $3,084 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 $81.0 in Ithaca, NY and $72.0 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 $2,868 in Ithaca, NY and $2,056 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 $2,056, than in Ithaca, NY at $2,868. 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 $2,056 in Montreal to $2,868 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.