Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanata and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanata and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,793 per month in Kanata vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,801 per month in Kanata vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,809 per month in Kanata vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Kanata costs about 35% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Kanata and Montreal sit above the global median – Kanata by 108%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.46 CA$25.67

$15.92 CA$22.14

15.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$97.2

$73.1 CA$102

-4.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 CA$15.05

$11.15 CA$15.50

-2.96%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.14

$3.80 CA$5.29

-2.63%

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

$2.04 CA$2.83

$2.18 CA$3.03

-6.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.46 CA$2.03

16.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 CA$7.62

$6.12 CA$8.51

-10.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 CA$8.24

$6.78 CA$9.42

-12.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.33 CA$3.24

-5.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 CA$3.35

$3.39 CA$4.72

-28.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.14

$3.73 CA$5.19

-0.80%

Eggs

$2.78 CA$3.86

$3.38 CA$4.70

-17.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 CA$15.63

$16.25 CA$22.60

-30.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.70 CA$14.88

$11.54 CA$16.05

-7.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.31 CA$28.24

$15.24 CA$21.19

33.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.96 CA$5.50

$3.74 CA$5.20

5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.92

$1.70 CA$2.37

-18.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.50

$4.11 CA$5.71

-21.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.35 CA$6.05

-14.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$2.71 CA$3.76

-8.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 CA$3.96

$2.62 CA$3.64

8.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 CA$3.49

$2.25 CA$3.13

11.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$1.73 CA$2.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.15 CA$16.89

$13.31 CA$18.51

-8.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.74 CA$30.23

$10.78 CA$15.00

101.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 CA$4.02

$3.01 CA$4.19

-3.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 CA$5.00

$3.46 CA$4.82

3.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.74 CA$3.81

0.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.5 CA$109

$72.7 CA$101

7.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 CA$4.51

$3.63 CA$5.05

-10.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.46 CA$2.03

-2.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.83 CA$35.92

$33.44 CA$46.50

-22.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.49

$1.21 CA$1.69

-11.57%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

0.98%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

-3.85%

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

$141 CA$196

$76.0 CA$106

85.81%

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

$43.99 CA$61.2

$35.72 CA$49.68

23.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.43 CA$66.0

$42.86 CA$59.6

10.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 CA$89.8

$42.92 CA$59.7

50.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.97

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 CA$16.52

$11.09 CA$15.42

7.12%

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

$723 CA$1,006

$620 CA$862

16.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$5,834 CA$8,114

100.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 CA$76.7

$62.7 CA$87.1

-12.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.72 CA$55.2

$44.41 CA$61.8

-10.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 CA$122

$101 CA$140

-12.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$119 CA$166

-9.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 CA$2,154

$1,211 CA$1,684

27.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 CA$2,152

$960 CA$1,334

61.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 CA$2,849

$2,035 CA$2,831

0.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 CA$2,885

$1,589 CA$2,210

30.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,554 CA$6,333

$5,181 CA$7,205

-12.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,900 CA$5,423

$3,934 CA$5,470

-0.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,220 CA$4,479

$2,960 CA$4,116

8.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

5.01

20.36%

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

Last update for Kanata: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,549 in Kanata 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 9% higher in Kanata, 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 $70.0 in Kanata versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $392 – making Kanata 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

Kanata vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kanata is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,189 per month in Kanata 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.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $723 per month in Kanata and $620 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Kanata at $2,793. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kanata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montreal – 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 Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kanata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.