Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Acton, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Acton, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $3,187 in Acton, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $4,765 in Acton, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $6,344 in Acton, MA, rent included.

Montreal is about 35% cheaper than Acton, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and Acton, MA sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, Acton, MA by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.72

$17.65 $17.65

1.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$100

$94.3 $94.3

-23.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$13.60 $13.60

-19.71%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.49

$5.53 $5.53

-28.21%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.91 $2.91

-28.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$2.74 $2.74

-43.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.88

$5.03 $5.03

27.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.10

$8.22 $8.22

-11.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$0.95 $0.95

151.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.44

$2.40 $2.40

33.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$5.42 $5.42

-43.36%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.09

$4.71 $4.71

-21.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.79

$11.09 $11.09

22.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.10

$14.54 $14.54

-20.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.34

$17.95 $17.95

-22.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.10

$4.40 $4.40

-16.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.81 $1.81

-13.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.72

$2.81 $2.81

21.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.19

$4.02 $4.02

-24.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.75

$1.94 $1.94

2.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.53

$2.73 $2.73

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$1.84 $1.84

39.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.91

$13.18 $13.18

-12.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$9.03 $9.03

20.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$2.07 $2.07

9.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$4.28 $4.28

-29.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.63

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.79

$0.89 $0.89

44.94%

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

$28.3K CA$39.2K

$37.0K $37.0K

-23.58%

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

$20.0K CA$27.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

-22.36%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$314 $314

-74.38%

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

$34.23 CA$47.40

$62.5 $62.5

-45.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.3

$72.2 $72.2

-42.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.49

$25.15 $25.15

16.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.54

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.21

$13.14 $13.14

-10.88%

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

$564 CA$781

$1,861 $1,861

-69.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

$30.5K $30.5K

-44.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.4

$57.5 $57.5

3.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.3

$38.95 $38.95

8.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$80.3 $80.3

33.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$99.0 $99.0

11.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,778

$2,707 $2,707

-52.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,371

$1,846 $1,846

-46.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,129

$2,922 $2,922

-22.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,308

$3,564 $3,564

-53.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,321

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,279

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,180

$9,105 $9,105

-66.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

6.04

-26.99%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Acton, MA: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $2,707 in Acton, MA. 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 202% higher in Acton, MA, 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $94.0 in Acton, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Montreal vs $354 in Acton, MA – so Acton, MA 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 Acton, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acton, MA costs about 55% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,084 per month in Montreal and $4,781 in Acton, MA. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,056 in Montreal and $3,187 in Acton, MA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $564 per month in Montreal and $1,861 in Acton, MA. 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 $2,056, than in Acton, MA at $3,187. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Acton, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,056 versus $3,187 in Acton, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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