Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Milton and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,763 in Milton versus $2,108 in Montreal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,925 in Milton versus $3,226 in Montreal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,086 in Milton versus $4,344 in Montreal.

Living in Milton is roughly 31% more expensive than in Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Milton 100% above, Montreal 53% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.44 CA$20.02
$17.83 CA$24.72
-19.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 CA$101
$73.6 CA$102
-0.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.94 CA$12.40
$10.81 CA$15.00
-17.30%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.16
$3.92 CA$5.44
-5.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 CA$4.29
$2.04 CA$2.84
51.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 CA$3.19
$1.52 CA$2.11
51.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.76 CA$6.61
$6.59 CA$9.13
-27.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 CA$8.78
$7.14 CA$9.90
-11.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 CA$2.88
$2.37 CA$3.28
-12.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 CA$3.19
$3.23 CA$4.48
-28.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.64
$2.95 CA$4.10
-11.19%
Eggs
$3.21 CA$4.46
$3.69 CA$5.12
-13.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.95 CA$12.42
$13.65 CA$18.93
-34.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$22.58 CA$31.32
$11.94 CA$16.56
89.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.56 CA$32.67
$14.07 CA$19.52
67.45%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 CA$7.17
$3.61 CA$5.01
43.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 CA$1.61
$1.55 CA$2.15
-25.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.88 CA$3.99
$3.29 CA$4.56
-12.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 CA$5.59
$3.07 CA$4.26
31.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 CA$3.33
$2.00 CA$2.78
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 CA$3.02
$1.90 CA$2.64
14.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 CA$3.11
$2.64 CA$3.66
-15.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.74
$1.39 CA$1.93
41.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.41 CA$15.82
$11.80 CA$16.36
-3.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.98 CA$19.38
$10.80 CA$14.98
29.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.87
$2.37 CA$3.29
-12.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 CA$3.90
$2.90 CA$4.02
-3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Milton
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 CA$4.04
$2.74 CA$3.79
6.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.0 CA$79.0
$77.1 CA$107
-26.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 CA$4.57
$3.31 CA$4.59
-0.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 CA$2.11
$1.46 CA$2.02
4.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.67 CA$39.76
$32.98 CA$45.74
-13.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 CA$1.48
$1.31 CA$1.82
-18.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K CA$33.6K
$28.7K CA$39.8K
-15.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K CA$26.6K
$20.4K CA$28.4K
-6.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 CA$322
$79.9 CA$111
191.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 CA$73.3
$34.79 CA$48.25
51.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.6 CA$92.4
$42.55 CA$59.0
56.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.76 CA$67.6
$29.20 CA$40.49
66.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.18 CA$29.38
$20.33 CA$28.20
4.18%
Cinema Ticket
$14.69 CA$20.38
$11.48 CA$15.92
27.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 CA$583
$565 CA$784
-25.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K CA$15.3K
$16.6K CA$23.0K
-33.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0 CA$98.4
$60.2 CA$83.5
17.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.26 CA$65.5
$41.87 CA$58.1
12.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.0 CA$128
$104 CA$144
-11.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 CA$197
$113 CA$156
26.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milton
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,524 CA$2,113
$1,294 CA$1,795
17.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 CA$1,986
$1,014 CA$1,406
41.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 CA$3,557
$2,271 CA$3,149
12.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,088 CA$2,896
$1,683 CA$2,334
24.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,846 CA$6,721
$5,156 CA$7,150
-6.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,285 CA$5,943
$3,842 CA$5,328
11.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milton
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,242 CA$4,496
$3,032 CA$4,205
6.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.69
4.44
28.15%

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

Last update for Milton: September 5, 2026

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Milton and $1,294 in Montreal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Milton pays 7% 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: $73.0 in Milton vs $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries flip the comparison at $430 vs $358, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

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?
Milton and Montreal differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,763 vs $2,108 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Milton or Montreal?
Average pay runs 7% 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: $1,524 in Milton versus $1,294 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 Montreal runs roughly 35% less than in Milton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Milton and Montreal?
Childcare runs $421 in Milton versus $565 in Montreal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,108 in Montreal versus $2,763 in Milton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Milton. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Milton or Montreal?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Milton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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