Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Abbotsford Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Abbotsford

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,309 in Abbotsford, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,274 in Abbotsford, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,239 in Abbotsford, rent included.

Montreal is about 11% cheaper than Abbotsford, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montreal and Abbotsford sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Abbotsford by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$14.76 CA$20.44

7.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$58.6 CA$81.2

24.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$9.41 CA$13.03

18.49%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$3.85 CA$5.33

-1.30%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$1.94 CA$2.68

12.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.45 CA$2.01

0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$5.95 CA$8.23

2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$6.05 CA$8.37

12.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$2.32 CA$3.21

0.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$2.78 CA$3.85

21.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$3.71 CA$5.14

0.54%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$3.60 CA$4.98

-6.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$12.66 CA$17.53

28.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$13.88 CA$19.21

-16.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$15.83 CA$21.92

-3.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$4.23 CA$5.85

-11.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.26 CA$1.74

34.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$3.95 CA$5.47

4.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$3.77 CA$5.22

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$3.02 CA$4.18

-10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.99 CA$4.14

-12.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.73 CA$3.79

-17.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$1.90 CA$2.64

-8.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$15.55 CA$21.52

-14.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$10.89 CA$15.08

-1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$3.07 CA$4.25

-1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$3.63 CA$5.02

-4.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$3.46 CA$4.79

-20.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$48.02 CA$66.5

51.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$3.62 CA$5.01

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.43 CA$1.98

2.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$26.24 CA$36.33

27.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.28 CA$1.77

-5.47%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$24.8K CA$34.3K

-0.49%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$20.0K CA$27.7K

8.27%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$89.4 CA$124

-14.98%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$40.51 CA$56.1

-11.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$61.4 CA$85.0

-30.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$25.13 CA$34.80

70.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

$18.45 CA$25.55

-6.61%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$11.34 CA$15.70

-2.20%

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

$620 CA$858

$542 CA$751

14.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$8,175 CA$11.3K

-28.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$47.18 CA$65.3

32.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$35.94 CA$49.76

23.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$81.6 CA$113

23.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$104 CA$144

14.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$1,384 CA$1,916

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$1,195 CA$1,655

-19.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$2,054 CA$2,844

-0.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$1,785 CA$2,472

-10.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

$4,706 CA$6,515

10.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

$2,896 CA$4,010

35.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

$3,194 CA$4,422

-7.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

5.61

-10.70%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Abbotsford: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,384 in Abbotsford. 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 8% higher in Abbotsford, 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $59.0 in Abbotsford. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $392 in Abbotsford – so Montreal 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

Montreal vs Abbotsford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,063 in Montreal, $2,309 in Abbotsford – roughly 12% apart. Abbotsford costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,463 in Abbotsford. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $59.0 in Abbotsford. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,063 in Montreal and $2,309 in Abbotsford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Abbotsford at $2,309. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abbotsford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,063 in Montreal to $2,309 in Abbotsford. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Abbotsford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.