Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,064 a month against $2,718 in Milton, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Milton, Canada
Montreal, Canada
Milton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,718
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,064
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Milton and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Milton and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,718 in Milton versus $2,064 in Montreal.

  • Milton $2,718
  • Montreal $2,064

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,861 in Milton versus $3,156 in Montreal.

  • Milton $3,861
  • Montreal $3,156

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,004 in Milton versus $4,247 in Montreal.

  • Milton $5,004
  • Montreal $4,247

Living in Milton is roughly 32% more expensive than in Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milton 100% above, Montreal 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.04 CA$19.61
$18.98 CA$26.52
-26.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 CA$99.2
$73.0 CA$102
-2.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.73 CA$12.20
$10.88 CA$15.20
-19.76%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.19
$3.81 CA$5.33
-2.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 CA$4.12
$1.94 CA$2.71
52.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 CA$3.30
$1.58 CA$2.21
49.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 CA$6.91
$6.37 CA$8.90
-22.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.08 CA$8.50
$7.26 CA$10.15
-16.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.82
$2.23 CA$3.11
-9.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 CA$3.16
$3.17 CA$4.43
-28.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 CA$3.58
$3.31 CA$4.62
-22.66%
Eggs
$3.20 CA$4.47
$3.63 CA$5.07
-11.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.04 CA$12.63
$13.16 CA$18.38
-31.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$22.57 CA$31.53
$11.56 CA$16.15
95.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.80 CA$31.85
$13.71 CA$19.16
66.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.96 CA$6.93
$3.29 CA$4.60
50.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 CA$1.53
$1.46 CA$2.04
-25.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 CA$4.01
$3.37 CA$4.70
-14.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.61
$3.15 CA$4.40
27.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.39
$1.89 CA$2.64
28.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 CA$3.10
$1.79 CA$2.50
24.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 CA$3.06
$2.47 CA$3.45
-11.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 CA$2.69
$1.58 CA$2.21
22.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.43 CA$15.98
$11.28 CA$15.77
1.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.37 CA$18.67
$10.49 CA$14.66
27.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 CA$2.91
$2.34 CA$3.26
-10.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 CA$3.69
$2.91 CA$4.07
-9.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Milton
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.77 CA$3.86
$2.61 CA$3.65
6.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.5 CA$79.0
$79.1 CA$111
-28.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 CA$4.59
$3.26 CA$4.55
0.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 CA$2.18
$1.44 CA$2.01
8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.41 CA$39.69
$33.43 CA$46.71
-15.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.51
$1.33 CA$1.86
-18.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K CA$33.2K
$28.6K CA$40.0K
-16.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K CA$26.3K
$21.1K CA$29.5K
-10.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 CA$321
$80.1 CA$112
187.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.1 CA$77.0
$34.30 CA$47.92
60.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.4 CA$74.6
$42.85 CA$59.9
24.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.90 CA$59.9
$31.14 CA$43.51
37.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.76 CA$29.00
$19.41 CA$27.11
6.96%
Cinema Ticket
$14.47 CA$20.22
$11.23 CA$15.69
28.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$401 CA$560
$525 CA$734
-23.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K CA$15.1K
$16.3K CA$22.8K
-33.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 CA$97.2
$58.0 CA$81.0
20.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 CA$64.9
$38.11 CA$53.2
21.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 CA$127
$93.4 CA$131
-2.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 CA$202
$110 CA$154
31.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milton
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,529 CA$2,136
$1,285 CA$1,795
18.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 CA$1,965
$977 CA$1,364
44.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 CA$3,561
$2,271 CA$3,173
12.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,110 CA$2,947
$1,665 CA$2,326
26.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,836 CA$6,757
$5,139 CA$7,180
-5.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,132 CA$5,772
$3,834 CA$5,357
7.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,138 CA$4,384
$3,002 CA$4,194
4.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.69
4.48
27.01%

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

Last update for Milton: October 24, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Milton
$1.4K
Montreal
$977 30.6% $430
Groceries & Markets
Milton
$423
Montreal
$351 17% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton
$338
Montreal
$157 53.6% $181
Eating Out
Milton
$241
Montreal
$291 20.5% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Milton
$158
Montreal
$135 14.8% $23
Getting Around
Milton
$79
Montreal
$100 27.1% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Milton
$72
Montreal
$54 25.4% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,529 in Milton and $1,285 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Milton pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71 in Milton vs $73 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $423 vs $351, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Milton
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
06:09 6:09 AM
06:09 6:09 AM
Same time as Milton
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
110,128
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Milton Montreal 550 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Milton
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Milton vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Milton and in Montreal?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,718 in Milton and $2,064 in Montreal, so Montreal is about 24% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Milton or Montreal?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Milton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Milton and in Montreal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,529 in Milton versus $1,285 in Montreal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Milton and in Montreal?
A monthly transit pass in Milton runs roughly 29% less than in Montreal. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Milton and Montreal?
Childcare runs $401 in Milton versus $525 in Montreal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Montreal is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Milton and Montreal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Milton or Montreal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Milton and Montreal are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Milton and Montreal?
It comes down to priorities – Montreal wins on affordability, Milton on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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