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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,270 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,231 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,193 in Bathurst, rent included.

Montreal is about 8% cheaper than Bathurst, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Bathurst sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Bathurst by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$14.81 CA$20.84

11.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$43.31 CA$60.9

70.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$8.90 CA$12.52

22.92%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$3.54 CA$4.98

8.47%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$1.70 CA$2.39

25.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.28 CA$1.80

13.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.25 CA$7.39

16.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$5.10 CA$7.18

31.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$1.95 CA$2.75

20.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.66 CA$3.74

25.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$4.21 CA$5.92

-11.16%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.81 CA$5.36

-11.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$12.67 CA$17.83

28.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$9.86 CA$13.87

19.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$6.79 CA$9.56

130.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$3.98 CA$5.60

-7.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.59 CA$2.24

6.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.78 CA$5.32

8.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$1.88 CA$2.64

134.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$2.12 CA$2.98

31.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$2.21 CA$3.11

19.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$2.71 CA$3.81

-15.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.92 CA$2.70

-7.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$10.51 CA$14.79

25.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$11.85 CA$16.68

-10.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$3.40 CA$4.78

-12.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$3.37 CA$4.74

2.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.33 CA$3.28

20.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$65.9 CA$92.7

10.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$7.63 CA$10.73

-53.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.74 CA$2.45

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$29.42 CA$41.40

16.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.17 CA$1.64

4.27%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$24.7K CA$34.7K

2.43%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$21.0K CA$29.5K

5.49%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$108 CA$152

-29.31%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$38.11 CA$53.6

-6.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$62.8 CA$88.4

-31.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$43.87 CA$61.7

-1.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

$32.96 CA$46.38

-48.94%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$11.09 CA$15.61

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

$625 CA$879

$167 CA$235

273.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$11.9K CA$16.8K

-50.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$40.93 CA$57.6

54.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$35.29 CA$49.66

26.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$74.2 CA$104

38.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$139 CA$195

-14.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$739 CA$1,040

63.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$1,174 CA$1,651

-17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,983 CA$2,790

2.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,823 CA$2,566

-13.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$2,010 CA$2,829

43.74%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $739 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 44% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $43.00 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $332 – 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 – Bathurst is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,405 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,085 in Montreal and $2,270 in Bathurst. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Bathurst at $2,270. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.