😐A single person spends $2,042 per month in Montreal vs $1,055 in Antigonish, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Montreal vs $1,709 in Antigonish, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,284 per month in Montreal vs $2,363 in Antigonish, rent included.
😐Montreal costs about 93% more than Antigonish, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Antigonish is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.22CA$25.49
$10.75CA$15.04
69.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6CA$98.8
$63.3CA$88.6
11.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.89CA$15.23
$10.92CA$15.28
-0.27%
Cappuccino
$3.92CA$5.49
$3.30CA$4.61
18.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CA$2.76
$2.05CA$2.87
-3.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59CA$2.23
$1.95CA$2.73
-18.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.52CA$9.12
$4.62CA$6.47
41.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24CA$10.13
$5.70CA$7.98
27.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29CA$3.20
$2.10CA$2.94
9.05%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11CA$4.35
$1.95CA$2.73
59.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03CA$4.24
$2.50CA$3.50
21.20%
Eggs
$3.59CA$5.03
$3.15CA$4.41
13.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.29CA$19.99
$13.78CA$19.28
3.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.39CA$15.93
$10.76CA$15.06
5.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.56CA$20.37
$13.23CA$18.50
10.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44CA$4.81
$5.67CA$7.93
-39.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53CA$2.14
$1.56CA$2.18
-1.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20CA$4.48
$4.71CA$6.59
-32.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89CA$4.04
$5.77CA$8.07
-49.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91CA$2.67
$2.12CA$2.97
-9.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80CA$2.52
$2.16CA$3.02
-16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56CA$3.58
$2.65CA$3.71
-3.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50CA$2.10
$2.18CA$3.05
-31.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68CA$16.35
$14.29CA$19.99
-18.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.62CA$14.85
$14.51CA$20.30
-26.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37CA$3.32
$3.33CA$4.66
-28.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03CA$4.24
$4.11CA$5.75
-26.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.72CA$3.80
$3.53CA$4.94
-22.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.2CA$104
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19CA$4.47
$2.98CA$4.16
7.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45CA$2.03
$1.36CA$1.90
6.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.52CA$46.90
$21.62CA$30.24
55.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31CA$1.83
$1.16CA$1.63
12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KCA$40.1K
$28.9KCA$40.5K
-0.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KCA$28.5K
$19.7KCA$27.6K
3.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.2CA$109
$126CA$176
-37.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.53CA$49.70
$41.66CA$58.3
-14.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.37CA$60.7
$65.2CA$91.2
-33.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.84CA$43.14
$35.76CA$50.0
-13.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.99CA$27.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58CA$16.20
$13.21CA$18.47
-12.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552CA$772
$376CA$526
46.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5KCA$23.1K
$13.8KCA$19.3K
19.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4CA$77.5
$60.5CA$84.6
-8.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.30CA$53.6
$35.49CA$49.64
7.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.0CA$138
$104CA$145
-4.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104CA$146
$120CA$168
-12.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234CA$1,726
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$990CA$1,385
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,171CA$3,037
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,636CA$2,289
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,129CA$7,176
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,724CA$5,209
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Antigonish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,059CA$4,279
$2,673CA$3,739
14.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
4.6
-3.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026
Last update for Antigonish: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 14% higher in Montreal, 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 $71.0 in Montreal versus $63.0 in Antigonish. Groceries tell a different story – $354 in Montreal vs $385 in Antigonish – 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 Antigonish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antigonish cheaper than Montreal?
Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,063 per month in Montreal and $1,583 in Antigonish. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Montreal or in Antigonish?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Montreal and $63.0 in Antigonish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Montreal and in Antigonish?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Montreal – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montreal or in Antigonish?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Antigonish, where all-in costs run around $1,055, than in Montreal at $2,042. In Antigonish it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montreal or Antigonish more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Antigonish – 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 Antigonish. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.