Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Airdrie Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Airdrie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,470 in Airdrie, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,433 in Airdrie, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,395 in Airdrie, rent included.

Montreal is about 16% cheaper than Airdrie, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Montreal and Airdrie sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Airdrie by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.14

$18.05 CA$25.11

-11.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$70.4 CA$97.9

3.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$10.86 CA$15.10

2.67%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.29

$3.71 CA$5.16

2.43%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$2.06 CA$2.86

5.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.66 CA$2.31

-12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.85 CA$8.13

4.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.42

$5.98 CA$8.31

13.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.24

$2.03 CA$2.83

14.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.72

$2.64 CA$3.67

28.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.09 CA$4.30

20.71%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.77 CA$5.24

-10.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.60

$12.48 CA$17.36

30.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$12.48 CA$17.35

-7.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.19

$16.00 CA$22.25

-4.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.29 CA$5.96

-12.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.30 CA$1.81

30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.71

$3.83 CA$5.33

7.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.77 CA$5.24

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.36 CA$3.28

14.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.64

$2.19 CA$3.04

19.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$2.64 CA$3.67

-14.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.85 CA$2.58

-6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.51

$14.69 CA$20.43

-9.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$15.00

$12.16 CA$16.92

-11.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.81 CA$3.90

7.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.82

$3.13 CA$4.36

10.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.42 CA$3.37

13.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$64.0 CA$89.0

13.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.10 CA$4.31

17.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.35 CA$1.88

8.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.50

$23.47 CA$32.64

42.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.69

$1.08 CA$1.50

12.04%

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

$24.6K CA$34.3K

$24.7K CA$34.3K

-0.13%

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

$21.7K CA$30.2K

$21.8K CA$30.3K

-0.45%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$207 CA$288

-63.30%

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

$35.72 CA$49.68

$40.66 CA$56.6

-12.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$58.7 CA$81.6

-26.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.7

$88.4 CA$123

-51.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.97

$58.2 CA$80.9

-70.37%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.42

$13.20 CA$18.36

-15.98%

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

$620 CA$862

$699 CA$972

-11.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,114

$11.8K CA$16.5K

-50.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$49.63 CA$69.0

26.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.8

$41.83 CA$58.2

6.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$81.8 CA$114

23.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$166

$103 CA$144

15.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,684

$1,351 CA$1,878

-10.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,334

$1,190 CA$1,655

-19.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,831

$1,848 CA$2,570

10.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,210

$1,615 CA$2,246

-1.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,205

$6,268 CA$8,717

-17.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,470

$6,274 CA$8,725

-37.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,116

$2,908 CA$4,044

1.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.08

-17.60%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Airdrie: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,351 in Airdrie. 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 2% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $70.0 in Airdrie. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $374 – making Airdrie 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 Airdrie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,063 in Montreal, $2,470 in Airdrie – roughly 20% apart. Airdrie costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,705 in Airdrie. 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 $2,063 in Montreal and $2,470 in Airdrie. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 14% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Airdrie at $2,470. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Airdrie 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 $2,470 in Airdrie. 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, Airdrie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.