Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bathurst Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bathurst

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,042 per month in Montreal vs $1,754 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Montreal vs $2,066 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,284 per month in Montreal vs $2,377 in Bathurst, rent included.

Montreal costs about 16% more than Bathurst, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Bathurst sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Bathurst by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.49

$15.89 CA$22.23

14.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.8

$42.71 CA$59.8

65.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.23

$11.55 CA$16.16

-5.71%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.49

$3.49 CA$4.88

12.32%

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

$1.97 CA$2.76

$1.95 CA$2.72

1.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.23

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.12

$5.17 CA$7.24

26.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.13

$4.89 CA$6.84

48.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$1.73 CA$2.41

32.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$2.61 CA$3.64

19.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$2.54 CA$3.56

19.29%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.03

$3.69 CA$5.16

-2.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.99

$11.53 CA$16.13

23.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.93

$9.49 CA$13.27

20.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.37

$6.31 CA$8.82

130.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.81

$4.71 CA$6.59

-26.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.62 CA$2.26

-5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.48

$4.80 CA$6.72

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.04

$1.94 CA$2.71

48.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.67

$2.64 CA$3.70

-27.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.52

$1.52 CA$2.12

18.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.23 CA$3.12

14.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.64 CA$2.30

-8.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.35

$10.15 CA$14.20

15.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.85

$12.17 CA$17.03

-12.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.32

$3.09 CA$4.32

-23.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$4.52 CA$6.32

-32.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$3.52 CA$4.92

-22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$104

$64.7 CA$90.4

14.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$2.94 CA$4.11

8.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.33 CA$1.86

9.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.90

$22.00 CA$30.77

52.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.18 CA$1.65

11.02%

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

$28.7K CA$40.1K

$28.5K CA$39.9K

0.43%

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

$20.4K CA$28.5K

$19.6K CA$27.4K

3.85%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$103 CA$145

-24.32%

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

$35.53 CA$49.70

$73.1 CA$102

-51.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.7

$61.8 CA$86.4

-29.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$43.14

$44.50 CA$62.3

-30.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.97

$32.16 CA$44.99

-37.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.20

$9.24 CA$12.92

25.32%

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

$552 CA$772

$598 CA$836

-7.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$23.1K

$1,720 CA$2,406

858.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.5

$51.0 CA$71.4

8.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.6

$40.64 CA$56.9

-5.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$77.5 CA$108

27.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$146

$83.0 CA$116

25.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,726

$751 CA$1,050

64.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,385

$698 CA$976

41.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,037

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,289

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,176

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,209

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,279

$2,094 CA$2,930

46.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.77

-6.92%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,234 in Montreal versus $751 in Bathurst. 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 46% 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 $43.00 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $320 – making Bathurst 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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,063 per month in Montreal and $2,630 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, 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 $2,042 in Montreal and $1,754 in Bathurst. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $1,754, than in Montreal at $2,042. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – 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 Bathurst. 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.