Cost of Living Comparison Between Meadow Lake, SK and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Meadow Lake, SK and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,485 per month in Meadow Lake, SK vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,527 per month in Meadow Lake, SK vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,568 per month in Meadow Lake, SK vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Meadow Lake, SK costs about 19% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Meadow Lake, SK and Montreal sit above the global median – Meadow Lake, SK by 86%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.01 CA$22.53

$16.52 CA$23.24

-3.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.1 CA$124

$74.0 CA$104

19.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.26 CA$14.43

$10.94 CA$15.40

-6.22%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.20

$3.84 CA$5.41

-3.91%

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

$2.51 CA$3.53

$2.14 CA$3.01

17.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 CA$2.84

$1.45 CA$2.04

39.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 CA$5.85

$6.13 CA$8.63

-32.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 CA$8.40

$6.73 CA$9.47

-11.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.75

$2.35 CA$3.31

-47.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.97

$3.34 CA$4.69

-15.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.41 CA$7.62

$3.74 CA$5.27

44.65%

Eggs

$3.57 CA$5.02

$3.39 CA$4.77

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.79 CA$12.37

$16.30 CA$22.93

-46.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 CA$17.28

$11.81 CA$16.62

3.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.36 CA$23.02

$15.64 CA$22.01

4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.24

$3.69 CA$5.20

1.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$1.70 CA$2.39

-0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.82 CA$6.78

$4.11 CA$5.79

17.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$4.41 CA$6.20

-26.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.19

$2.79 CA$3.93

6.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 CA$2.40

$2.64 CA$3.72

-35.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 CA$2.55

$2.29 CA$3.22

-20.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.78 CA$2.51

-31.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.56 CA$20.48

$13.17 CA$18.53

10.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.60 CA$19.13

$10.64 CA$14.97

27.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 CA$4.77

$2.99 CA$4.20

13.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 CA$4.73

$3.44 CA$4.83

-2.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.41

$2.81 CA$3.95

-13.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.5 CA$87.9

$72.8 CA$102

-14.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 CA$4.97

$3.52 CA$4.95

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 CA$1.79

$1.45 CA$2.05

-12.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.13 CA$15.66

$34.29 CA$48.26

-67.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.64

$1.22 CA$1.72

-4.92%

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

$24.8K CA$34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

-1.70%

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

$20.2K CA$28.4K

$22.1K CA$31.1K

-8.79%

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

$216 CA$305

$76.5 CA$108

182.89%

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

$59.6 CA$83.9

$35.60 CA$50.1

67.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 CA$99.3

$42.96 CA$60.5

64.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.42 CA$58.3

$43.39 CA$61.1

-4.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$14.69 CA$20.67

$11.09 CA$15.60

32.46%

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

$528 CA$743

$625 CA$879

-15.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K CA$21.4K

$5,896 CA$8,296

157.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 CA$107

$63.1 CA$88.8

20.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 CA$82.2

$44.50 CA$62.6

31.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 CA$129

$103 CA$145

-10.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$159

$118 CA$166

-4.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 CA$1,822

$1,207 CA$1,699

7.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 CA$1,640

$965 CA$1,358

20.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,806

$2,031 CA$2,858

-1.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 CA$2,558

$1,577 CA$2,219

15.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,863 CA$6,842

$5,085 CA$7,155

-4.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,730 CA$5,249

$3,783 CA$5,324

-1.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,885 CA$4,059

$2,890 CA$4,066

-0.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

5.01

32.73%

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

Last update for Meadow Lake, SK: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,295 in Meadow Lake, SK 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 0% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Meadow Lake, SK versus $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $363 in Meadow Lake, SK vs $395 in Montreal – so Meadow Lake, SK wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Meadow Lake, SK vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Meadow Lake, SK is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,728 per month in Meadow Lake, SK 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.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $528 per month in Meadow Lake, SK and $625 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 $2,085, than in Meadow Lake, SK at $2,485. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Meadow Lake, SK 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, Meadow Lake, SK makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.