Cost of Living Comparison Between Joliette and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Joliette and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,789 per month in Joliette vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,697 per month in Joliette vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,606 per month in Joliette vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Joliette is about 14% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Joliette and Montreal sit above the global median – Joliette by 34%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.17 CA$25.57

$16.52 CA$23.24

9.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.6 CA$78.3

$74.0 CA$104

-24.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 CA$15.79

$10.94 CA$15.40

2.56%

Cappuccino

$2.60 CA$3.66

$3.84 CA$5.41

-32.29%

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

$2.16 CA$3.03

$2.14 CA$3.01

0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.40

$1.45 CA$2.04

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 CA$6.08

$6.13 CA$8.63

-29.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.59 CA$9.27

$6.73 CA$9.47

-2.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.34

$2.35 CA$3.31

0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$3.34 CA$4.69

-23.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.47

$3.74 CA$5.27

-14.97%

Eggs

$2.54 CA$3.57

$3.39 CA$4.77

-25.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 CA$15.75

$16.30 CA$22.93

-31.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.82 CA$18.04

$11.81 CA$16.62

8.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.76 CA$22.18

$15.64 CA$22.01

0.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 CA$6.18

$3.69 CA$5.20

18.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.99

$1.70 CA$2.39

-16.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.72

$4.11 CA$5.79

-18.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.24

$4.41 CA$6.20

-15.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.52

$2.79 CA$3.93

-10.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.34

$2.64 CA$3.72

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 CA$2.43

$2.29 CA$3.22

-24.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.18

$1.78 CA$2.51

-12.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.16 CA$19.92

$13.17 CA$18.53

7.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.23 CA$15.80

$10.64 CA$14.97

5.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.43

$2.99 CA$4.20

-18.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 CA$4.50

$3.44 CA$4.83

-6.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.35

$2.81 CA$3.95

-15.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.9 CA$87.2

$72.8 CA$102

-14.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 CA$3.86

$3.52 CA$4.95

-22.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.10

$1.45 CA$2.05

2.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.07 CA$28.24

$34.29 CA$48.26

-41.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 CA$1.37

$1.22 CA$1.72

-19.67%

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

$24.6K CA$34.7K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

-2.44%

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

$21.8K CA$30.7K

$22.1K CA$31.1K

-1.30%

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

$164 CA$230

$76.5 CA$108

113.87%

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

$43.19 CA$60.8

$35.60 CA$50.1

21.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$72.8

$42.96 CA$60.5

20.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.80 CA$58.8

$43.39 CA$61.1

-3.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$11.11 CA$15.63

$11.09 CA$15.60

0.18%

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

$895 CA$1,259

$625 CA$879

43.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.7K

$5,896 CA$8,296

173.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 CA$71.9

$63.1 CA$88.8

-19.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.24 CA$58.0

$44.50 CA$62.6

-7.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 CA$125

$103 CA$145

-13.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 CA$135

$118 CA$166

-18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$691 CA$973

$1,207 CA$1,699

-42.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 CA$876

$965 CA$1,358

-35.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 CA$1,861

$2,031 CA$2,858

-34.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 CA$1,559

$1,577 CA$2,219

-29.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,836 CA$5,398

$5,085 CA$7,155

-24.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,523 CA$4,958

$3,783 CA$5,324

-6.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,710 CA$3,813

$2,890 CA$4,066

-6.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.48

5.01

9.38%

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

Last update for Joliette: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $691 in Joliette 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 7% higher in Montreal, 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 $56.0 in Joliette versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $395 – making Joliette 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

Joliette vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,683 per month in Joliette 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 Joliette, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $895 per month in Joliette and $625 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Joliette, where all-in costs run around $1,789, than in Montreal at $2,085. In Joliette it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Joliette – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Joliette. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.