Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ajax, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ajax, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,108 per month in Montreal vs $2,535 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,226 per month in Montreal vs $3,633 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Montreal vs $4,732 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Montreal is about 17% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montreal and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, Ajax, ON by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.73

$17.87 CA$24.79

-0.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$53.5 CA$74.1

37.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$11.01 CA$15.27

-1.82%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$3.76 CA$5.22

4.26%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$1.80 CA$2.49

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$1.59 CA$2.20

-4.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.14

$3.59 CA$4.98

83.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$5.81 CA$8.06

22.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$1.98 CA$2.74

19.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$2.87 CA$3.98

12.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.38 CA$4.69

-12.72%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$3.13 CA$4.34

17.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$9.41 CA$13.05

45.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$11.87 CA$16.47

0.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$17.45 CA$24.20

-19.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$4.24 CA$5.88

-14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.68 CA$2.33

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$4.36 CA$6.05

-24.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$3.37 CA$4.67

-8.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$3.10 CA$4.30

-35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

$1.98 CA$2.75

-4.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$3.00 CA$4.15

-12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.96 CA$2.72

-29.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$14.22 CA$19.72

-17.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$13.17 CA$18.26

-18.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$2.14 CA$2.96

10.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$2.60 CA$3.60

11.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.45 CA$3.39

11.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

$89.1 CA$124

-13.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

$3.50 CA$4.86

-5.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$25.50 CA$35.37

29.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.10 CA$1.53

19.09%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$28.1K CA$39.0K

2.06%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$19.3K CA$26.8K

5.69%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$130 CA$181

-38.64%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$27.51 CA$38.16

26.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$59.2 CA$82.1

-28.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.50

$33.70 CA$46.73

-13.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

$10.67 CA$14.80

90.53%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.93

$10.27 CA$14.24

11.78%

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

$565 CA$784

$918 CA$1,273

-38.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$17.5K CA$24.3K

-5.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$52.7 CA$73.2

14.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$38.03 CA$52.7

10.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$87.1 CA$121

19.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$97.1 CA$135

15.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$1,579 CA$2,190

-18.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,407

$1,391 CA$1,929

-27.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$2,315 CA$3,211

-1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$2,237 CA$3,103

-24.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,151

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

$3,053 CA$4,234

-0.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.8

-7.50%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Montreal versus $1,579 in Ajax, ON. 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 1% higher in Ajax, ON, 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 $53.0 in Ajax, ON. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Montreal vs $371 in Ajax, ON – 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 Ajax, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajax, ON is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,163 per month in Montreal and $3,802 in Ajax, ON. 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 $2,108 in Montreal and $2,535 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 16% 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 $2,108, than in Ajax, ON at $2,535. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajax, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montreal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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