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 $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,699 in Acton, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $5,027 in Acton, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $7,354 in Acton, MA, rent included.

Montreal is about 23% cheaper than Acton, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and Acton, MA sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Acton, MA by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$19.03 $19.03

-13.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$102 $102

-27.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$13.74 $13.74

-20.38%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$4.38 $4.38

-12.33%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$2.68 $2.68

-20.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$2.09 $2.09

-30.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$6.09 $6.09

0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$7.47 $7.47

-9.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$1.17 $1.17

100.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$3.38 $3.38

-1.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$3.05 $3.05

22.62%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$6.32 $6.32

-46.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$10.55 $10.55

54.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$9.68 $9.68

22.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$21.51 $21.51

-27.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$5.50 $5.50

-32.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$2.15 $2.15

-20.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$5.87 $5.87

-29.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$5.98 $5.98

-26.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$4.32 $4.32

-35.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$4.52 $4.52

-41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$3.19 $3.19

-28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$2.24 $2.24

-20.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$10.89 $10.89

20.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$10.68 $10.68

-0.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$2.16 $2.16

38.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$1.47 $1.47

134.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.05 $2.05

37.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$4.10 $4.10

-14.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.70 $1.70

-14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$29.13 $29.13

17.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$0.83 $0.83

46.99%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

-14.96%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$26.4K $26.4K

-16.23%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$313 $313

-75.56%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$69.1 $69.1

-48.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$66.0 $66.0

-34.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$24.91 $24.91

74.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$12.81 $12.81

-13.43%

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

$625 CA$876

$1,526 $1,526

-59.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$23.1K $23.1K

-74.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$52.6 $52.6

20.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$32.46 $32.46

37.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$66.7 $66.7

54.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$82.1 $82.1

43.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$3,505 $3,505

-65.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$1,329 $1,329

-27.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$2,617 $2,617

-22.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$4,177 $4,177

-62.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$8,935 $8,935

-67.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.61

-24.21%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Acton, MA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $3,505 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 209% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $102 in Acton, MA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $418 – making Montreal 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

Montreal vs Acton, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acton, MA costs about 29% 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 $3,127 per month in Montreal and $4,049 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 $2,085 in Montreal and $2,699 in Acton, MA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $625 per month in Montreal and $1,526 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 $2,085, than in Acton, MA at $2,699. 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 $2,085 versus $2,699 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.