Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Antigonish Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Antigonish

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,374 in Antigonish, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,381 in Antigonish, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,388 in Antigonish, rent included.

Montreal is about 13% cheaper than Antigonish, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Antigonish sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Antigonish by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.92 CA$22.14
$14.99 CA$20.84
6.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1 CA$102
$61.7 CA$85.8
18.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.15 CA$15.50
$8.68 CA$12.08
28.46%
Cappuccino
$3.80 CA$5.29
$3.45 CA$4.80
10.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 CA$3.03
$1.74 CA$2.42
25.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 CA$2.03
$1.27 CA$1.76
14.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 CA$8.51
$5.99 CA$8.34
2.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78 CA$9.42
$5.78 CA$8.04
17.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.33 CA$3.24
$1.94 CA$2.70
20.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 CA$4.72
$2.01 CA$2.80
68.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.19
$2.62 CA$3.65
42.37%
Eggs
$3.38 CA$4.70
$3.34 CA$4.64
1.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.25 CA$22.60
$12.74 CA$17.72
27.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 CA$16.05
$13.36 CA$18.59
-13.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.24 CA$21.19
$16.31 CA$22.68
-6.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.20
$3.97 CA$5.52
-5.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 CA$2.37
$1.56 CA$2.17
8.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.71
$3.71 CA$5.15
10.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 CA$6.05
$5.50 CA$7.65
-20.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 CA$3.76
$2.08 CA$2.89
30.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.64
$2.11 CA$2.93
24.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 CA$3.13
$2.69 CA$3.73
-16.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.40
$1.86 CA$2.59
-6.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.31 CA$18.51
$18.52 CA$25.75
-28.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.78 CA$15.00
$11.51 CA$16.00
-6.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.19
$3.40 CA$4.72
-11.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 CA$4.82
$3.20 CA$4.46
8.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 CA$3.81
$2.60 CA$3.61
5.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 CA$101
$61.9 CA$86.0
17.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 CA$5.05
$5.94 CA$8.26
-38.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CA$2.03
$1.44 CA$2.00
1.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.44 CA$46.50
$29.31 CA$40.76
14.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.69
$1.15 CA$1.61
5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$34.3K
$24.8K CA$34.4K
-0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K CA$30.2K
$20.7K CA$28.7K
4.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$106
$130 CA$181
-41.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.72 CA$49.68
$37.91 CA$52.7
-5.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.86 CA$59.6
$82.1 CA$114
-47.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.92 CA$59.7
$36.00 CA$50.1
19.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23 CA$23.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.09 CA$15.42
$11.25 CA$15.64
-1.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$620 CA$862
$164 CA$228
278.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,834 CA$8,114
$11.9K CA$16.6K
-51.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7 CA$87.1
$41.66 CA$57.9
50.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41 CA$61.8
$34.82 CA$48.42
27.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$140
$86.2 CA$120
16.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 CA$166
$135 CA$188
-11.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 CA$1,684
$1,332 CA$1,852
-9.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$960 CA$1,334
$1,178 CA$1,639
-18.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 CA$2,831
$1,985 CA$2,760
2.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 CA$2,210
$1,833 CA$2,549
-13.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,181 CA$7,205
$4,327 CA$6,017
19.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,934 CA$5,470
$3,887 CA$5,406
1.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,960 CA$4,116
$2,750 CA$3,824
7.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
6.46
-22.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Antigonish: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,332 in Antigonish. 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 8% 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 $62.0 in Antigonish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $379 – making Antigonish 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 Antigonish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antigonish cheaper than Montreal?
Yes – Antigonish is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,562 in Antigonish. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Montreal and Antigonish?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Antigonish – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Montreal or Antigonish?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $62.0 in Antigonish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Montreal or Antigonish?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Antigonish at $2,374. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Antigonish it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montreal or Antigonish more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Montreal or Antigonish?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Antigonish makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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