Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Airdrie

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,064 a month against $2,607 in Airdrie, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal, Canada
Airdrie, Canada
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,064
/mo nomad
Airdrie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Airdrie

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montreal and in Airdrie actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,064 per month in Montreal vs $2,607 in Airdrie, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,064
  • Airdrie $2,607

A couple spends around $3,156 per month in Montreal vs $3,721 in Airdrie, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,156
  • Airdrie $3,721

A family of three spends $4,247 per month in Montreal vs $4,836 in Airdrie, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,247
  • Airdrie $4,836

Montreal is about 21% cheaper than Airdrie, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Montreal and Airdrie sit above the global median – Montreal by 52%, Airdrie by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.98 CA$26.53
$19.92 CA$27.83
-4.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 CA$102
$75.8 CA$106
-3.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 CA$15.20
$10.73 CA$15.00
1.40%
Cappuccino
$3.81 CA$5.33
$3.99 CA$5.58
-4.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.71
$2.29 CA$3.21
-15.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.21
$2.05 CA$2.86
-22.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.37 CA$8.90
$5.56 CA$7.77
14.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.26 CA$10.15
$6.50 CA$9.08
11.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 CA$3.11
$2.00 CA$2.80
11.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 CA$4.44
$2.79 CA$3.90
13.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 CA$4.62
$3.51 CA$4.91
-5.70%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.07
$3.73 CA$5.22
-2.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 CA$18.39
$11.40 CA$15.93
15.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 CA$16.15
$11.57 CA$16.17
-0.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 CA$19.16
$18.77 CA$26.22
-26.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 CA$4.60
$4.77 CA$6.66
-31.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 CA$2.04
$1.36 CA$1.90
7.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.71
$4.27 CA$5.96
-21.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.40
$3.95 CA$5.52
-20.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 CA$2.64
$2.72 CA$3.80
-30.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.51
$2.68 CA$3.75
-33.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 CA$3.45
$2.64 CA$3.69
-6.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.21
$1.88 CA$2.63
-15.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.28 CA$15.77
$14.53 CA$20.30
-22.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.49 CA$14.66
$11.28 CA$15.76
-7.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 CA$3.26
$3.62 CA$5.06
-35.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.07
$3.11 CA$4.34
-6.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.61 CA$3.65
$2.09 CA$2.92
24.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$111
$180 CA$252
-56.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 CA$4.56
$3.17 CA$4.43
2.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.01
$1.33 CA$1.86
8.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.43 CA$46.71
$21.83 CA$30.50
53.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 CA$1.86
$1.16 CA$1.62
14.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K CA$40.0K
$27.8K CA$38.8K
3.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.5K
$21.0K CA$29.4K
0.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 CA$112
$223 CA$312
-64.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.30 CA$47.93
$44.59 CA$62.3
-23.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.85 CA$59.9
$54.9 CA$76.8
-22.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.14 CA$43.52
$84.1 CA$118
-62.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41 CA$27.12
$36.13 CA$50.5
-46.28%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23 CA$15.69
$13.99 CA$19.55
-19.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$525 CA$734
$645 CA$901
-18.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K CA$22.8K
$9,668 CA$13.5K
68.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 CA$81.0
$44.55 CA$62.3
30.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 CA$53.3
$43.45 CA$60.7
-12.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 CA$131
$87.1 CA$122
7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$154
$114 CA$159
-3.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,285 CA$1,796
$1,294 CA$1,808
-0.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,365
$1,158 CA$1,618
-15.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,271 CA$3,173
$1,786 CA$2,496
27.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 CA$2,326
$1,645 CA$2,298
1.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,139 CA$7,181
$6,073 CA$8,486
-15.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,834 CA$5,358
$6,241 CA$8,721
-38.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Airdrie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,002 CA$4,195
$2,955 CA$4,129
1.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
4.32
3.70%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 25, 2026

Last update for Airdrie: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Airdrie
$1.2K 18.6% $181
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Airdrie
$388 10.4% $37
Eating Out
Montreal
$291
Airdrie
$298 2.3% $6.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$157
Airdrie
$323 105% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$135
Airdrie
$130 3.5% $4.7
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Airdrie
$198 98.4% $98
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Airdrie
$112 109% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,285 in Montreal versus $1,294 in Airdrie. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Montreal versus $76 in Airdrie. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $388 – making Montreal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇨🇦 Airdrie
🕒 Local time
13:22 1:22 PM
12:22 12:22 PM
1 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
54,891
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Airdrie 3,010 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Airdrie

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How do living costs in Montreal and in Airdrie compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,064 in Montreal, $2,607 in Airdrie – Montreal comes out roughly 21% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Montreal compared to Airdrie?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,096 per month in Montreal and $3,910 in Airdrie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Montreal and in Airdrie?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,285 in Montreal and $1,294 in Airdrie. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city is more expensive overall: Montreal or Airdrie?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,064 in Montreal and $2,607 in Airdrie. That makes Montreal about 21% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Montreal and in Airdrie?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,064 in Montreal and $2,607 in Airdrie. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Montreal and Airdrie?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,064 in Montreal to $2,607 in Airdrie. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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