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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $998 in Aurora, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $2,650 in Aurora, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $4,303 in Aurora, ON, rent included.

Montreal costs about 106% more than Aurora, ON, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Montreal sits 50% above the global median, while Aurora, ON is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.85 CA$24.70
$17.88 CA$24.75
-0.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3 CA$100
$53.4 CA$73.9
35.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 CA$15.11
$10.71 CA$14.82
1.96%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.49
$3.65 CA$5.05
8.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.87
$1.83 CA$2.53
13.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.14
$1.25 CA$1.73
24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.41 CA$8.88
$4.98 CA$6.89
28.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29 CA$10.09
$6.90 CA$9.54
5.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 CA$3.30
$2.35 CA$3.25
1.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 CA$4.44
$2.14 CA$2.97
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.25
$2.88 CA$3.98
6.60%
Eggs
$3.68 CA$5.09
$3.25 CA$4.50
13.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.57 CA$18.78
$4.21 CA$5.83
222.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 CA$16.09
$9.80 CA$13.56
18.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 CA$19.33
$7.25 CA$10.04
92.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 CA$5.10
$3.57 CA$4.94
3.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 CA$2.16
$1.36 CA$1.88
14.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.72
$2.35 CA$3.25
45.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 CA$4.19
$3.33 CA$4.61
-9.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 CA$2.74
$2.14 CA$2.96
-7.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 CA$2.52
$2.00 CA$2.76
-9.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CA$3.54
$2.48 CA$3.43
3.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 CA$1.92
$1.51 CA$2.10
-7.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49 CA$15.90
$12.83 CA$17.75
-10.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 CA$15.11
$12.77 CA$17.66
-14.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 CA$3.13
$2.38 CA$3.29
-5.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.16
$2.41 CA$3.34
24.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.69 CA$3.72
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.3 CA$104
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 CA$4.63
$2.99 CA$4.14
12.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.08
$1.30 CA$1.80
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.70 CA$46.63
$18.78 CA$25.99
79.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 CA$1.79
$1.09 CA$1.50
18.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K CA$39.1K
$28.9K CA$40.0K
-2.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$27.6K
$18.7K CA$25.9K
6.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.4 CA$111
$158 CA$219
-49.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.23 CA$47.37
$28.34 CA$39.22
20.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.39 CA$57.3
$53.8 CA$74.4
-23.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.24 CA$40.46
$33.59 CA$46.48
-12.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.89 CA$27.52
$23.16 CA$32.04
-14.12%
Cinema Ticket
$11.71 CA$16.20
$12.36 CA$17.10
-5.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 CA$781
$908 CA$1,256
-37.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K CA$23.3K
$21.6K CA$29.9K
-22.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 CA$82.3
$54.4 CA$75.2
9.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.13 CA$58.3
$43.17 CA$59.7
-2.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 CA$148
$97.3 CA$135
10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 CA$153
$113 CA$156
-1.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 CA$1,776
$1,608 CA$2,225
-20.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$990 CA$1,370
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,260 CA$3,127
$2,411 CA$3,336
-6.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,667 CA$2,307
$2,064 CA$2,856
-19.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,287 CA$7,316
$2,492 CA$3,447
112.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,813 CA$5,276
$4,050 CA$5,604
-5.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Aurora, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,019 CA$4,177
$3,049 CA$4,218
-0.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.41
4.72
-6.57%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Aurora, ON: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,608 in Aurora, 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 Aurora, ON, 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $53.0 in Aurora, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $286 – making Aurora, ON 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 Aurora, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aurora, ON cheaper than Montreal?
Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 106%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,084 per month in Montreal and $1,496 in Aurora, ON. 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 Aurora, ON, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Montreal and in Aurora, ON?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,056 in Montreal and $998 in Aurora, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $564 per month in Montreal and $908 in Aurora, ON. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montreal or in Aurora, ON?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, ON, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Montreal at $2,056. In Aurora, ON it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montreal or Aurora, ON more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aurora, ON – 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 Aurora, ON?
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 Aurora, ON. 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.

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