Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Armstrong Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Armstrong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,042 in Montreal versus $2,282 in Armstrong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,163 in Montreal versus $3,373 in Armstrong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,284 in Montreal versus $4,463 in Armstrong.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 11% less than in Armstrong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Armstrong 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.49

$21.53 CA$30.11

-15.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.8

$75.4 CA$106

-6.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.23

$10.92 CA$15.28

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.49

$3.68 CA$5.15

6.52%

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

$1.97 CA$2.76

$2.57 CA$3.60

-23.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.23

$1.70 CA$2.37

-6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.12

$6.16 CA$8.61

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.13

$6.44 CA$9.01

12.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$2.42 CA$3.39

-5.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$2.46 CA$3.44

26.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$3.21 CA$4.49

-5.61%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.03

$3.85 CA$5.38

-6.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.99

$9.94 CA$13.90

43.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.93

$10.46 CA$14.64

8.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.37

$17.64 CA$24.68

-17.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.81

$3.77 CA$5.27

-8.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.38 CA$1.92

10.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.48

$4.14 CA$5.79

-22.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.04

$4.25 CA$5.94

-32.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.67

$2.66 CA$3.72

-28.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.52

$2.28 CA$3.19

-21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.49 CA$3.49

2.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.40 CA$1.96

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.35

$13.41 CA$18.76

-12.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.85

$13.18 CA$18.43

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.32

$3.36 CA$4.71

-29.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$4.03 CA$5.63

-24.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$2.37 CA$3.32

14.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$104

$73.5 CA$103

1.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$2.18 CA$3.05

46.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.72 CA$2.40

-15.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.90

$12.84 CA$17.96

161.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.24 CA$1.73

5.65%

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

$28.7K CA$40.1K

$25.0K CA$34.9K

14.71%

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

$20.4K CA$28.5K

$19.1K CA$26.7K

6.60%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$136 CA$190

-42.50%

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

$35.53 CA$49.70

$28.63 CA$40.05

24.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.7

$56.7 CA$79.3

-23.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$43.14

$36.98 CA$51.7

-16.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.97

$17.94 CA$25.09

11.43%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.20

$10.26 CA$14.36

12.87%

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

$552 CA$772

$146 CA$205

277.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$23.1K

$4,004 CA$5,601

311.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.5

$59.7 CA$83.5

-7.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.6

$38.36 CA$53.7

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$80.4 CA$112

23.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$146

$75.2 CA$105

38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,726

$1,383 CA$1,934

-10.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,385

$991 CA$1,387

-0.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,037

$1,928 CA$2,696

12.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,289

$1,977 CA$2,766

-17.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,176

$3,678 CA$5,145

39.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,209

$3,597 CA$5,033

3.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,279

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.58

-3.06%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Armstrong: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,234 in Montreal and $1,383 in Armstrong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Montreal vs $75.0 in Armstrong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $368 per month, with Montreal cheaper across the board.

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 Armstrong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,063 in Montreal and $3,423 in Armstrong to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,234 in Montreal versus $1,383 in Armstrong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 1% less than in Armstrong. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $552 in Montreal versus $146 in Armstrong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,042 in Montreal versus $2,282 in Armstrong, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Armstrong. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Armstrong, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Armstrong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Armstrong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.