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 $2,314 per month in Meadow Lake, SK vs $2,108 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,332 per month in Meadow Lake, SK vs $3,226 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,350 per month in Meadow Lake, SK vs $4,344 in Montreal, rent included.

Meadow Lake, SK costs about 10% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Meadow Lake, SK and Montreal sit above the global median – Meadow Lake, SK by 68%, Montreal by 53%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.14 CA$22.39
$17.83 CA$24.73
-9.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1 CA$101
$73.6 CA$102
-0.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.36 CA$12.98
$10.81 CA$15.00
-13.41%
Cappuccino
$3.64 CA$5.05
$3.92 CA$5.44
-7.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 CA$2.89
$2.04 CA$2.84
2.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 CA$2.50
$1.52 CA$2.11
18.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 CA$5.65
$6.59 CA$9.14
-38.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.78 CA$8.02
$7.14 CA$9.90
-19.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 CA$1.73
$2.37 CA$3.28
-47.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 CA$3.18
$3.23 CA$4.48
-29.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.91 CA$6.81
$2.95 CA$4.10
66.44%
Eggs
$3.61 CA$5.01
$3.69 CA$5.12
-2.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.47 CA$11.75
$13.65 CA$18.93
-37.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.05 CA$16.71
$11.94 CA$16.56
0.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.35 CA$22.68
$14.07 CA$19.52
16.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.93
$3.61 CA$5.01
-1.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.01
$1.55 CA$2.15
-6.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.30 CA$5.96
$3.29 CA$4.56
30.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.31 CA$4.60
$3.07 CA$4.26
7.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 CA$3.91
$2.00 CA$2.78
41.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 CA$2.25
$1.90 CA$2.64
-14.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.75 CA$2.43
$2.64 CA$3.66
-33.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 CA$2.03
$1.39 CA$1.93
5.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.85 CA$20.59
$11.80 CA$16.36
25.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.29 CA$19.82
$10.80 CA$14.98
32.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 CA$3.92
$2.37 CA$3.29
19.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 CA$4.76
$2.90 CA$4.02
18.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.35
$2.74 CA$3.79
-11.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.0 CA$87.4
$77.1 CA$107
-18.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.34 CA$6.02
$3.31 CA$4.59
31.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 CA$1.06
$1.46 CA$2.02
-47.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.72 CA$14.86
$32.98 CA$45.74
-67.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.52
$1.31 CA$1.82
-16.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K CA$38.8K
$28.7K CA$39.8K
-2.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.2K
$20.4K CA$28.4K
3.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 CA$291
$79.9 CA$111
162.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.3 CA$69.7
$34.79 CA$48.25
44.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0 CA$84.6
$42.55 CA$59.0
43.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.79 CA$58.0
$29.20 CA$40.50
43.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 CA$25.81
$20.33 CA$28.20
-8.46%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 CA$16.43
$11.48 CA$15.93
3.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$513 CA$712
$565 CA$784
-9.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K CA$20.8K
$16.6K CA$23.0K
-9.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2 CA$90.4
$60.2 CA$83.5
8.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 CA$62.4
$41.87 CA$58.1
7.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.3 CA$120
$104 CA$144
-17.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 CA$154
$113 CA$156
-1.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,287 CA$1,784
$1,294 CA$1,795
-0.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 CA$1,601
$1,014 CA$1,407
13.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 CA$2,765
$2,271 CA$3,149
-12.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,739 CA$2,412
$1,683 CA$2,334
3.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,363 CA$6,052
$5,156 CA$7,151
-15.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,662 CA$5,079
$3,842 CA$5,328
-4.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meadow Lake, SK
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,990 CA$4,147
$3,032 CA$4,205
-1.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.44
8.11%

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

Last update for Meadow Lake, SK: September 5, 2026

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,287 in Meadow Lake, SK versus $1,294 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 1% 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 $73.0 in Meadow Lake, SK versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $358 – making Meadow Lake, SK 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
Meadow Lake, SK vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montreal cheaper than Meadow Lake, SK?
Yes – Meadow Lake, SK is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,471 per month in Meadow Lake, SK and $3,163 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 22% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $513 per month in Meadow Lake, SK and $565 in Montreal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Meadow Lake, SK or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,108, than in Meadow Lake, SK at $2,314. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Meadow Lake, SK it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Meadow Lake, SK or Montreal more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Meadow Lake, SK or Montreal?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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