Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bowmanville, Ontario Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bowmanville, Ontario

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,085 in Montreal versus $2,559 in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,174 in Montreal versus $3,635 in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,262 in Montreal versus $4,711 in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 19% less than in Bowmanville, Ontario, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 56% above, Bowmanville, Ontario 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$18.46 CA$25.97

-10.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$74.4 CA$105

-0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$10.40 CA$14.63

5.19%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$3.70 CA$5.21

3.78%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$1.97 CA$2.77

8.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.54 CA$2.17

-5.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.73 CA$8.07

6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$5.81 CA$8.18

15.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$2.33 CA$3.28

0.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.67 CA$3.75

25.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$2.72 CA$3.82

37.50%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.75 CA$5.28

-9.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$12.15 CA$17.10

34.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$11.29 CA$15.88

4.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$14.83 CA$20.87

5.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$3.56 CA$5.01

3.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.20 CA$1.69

41.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.07 CA$4.32

33.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$3.52 CA$4.95

25.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$1.64 CA$2.31

70.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$3.18 CA$4.47

-16.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$2.88 CA$4.05

-20.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.26 CA$1.78

41.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$14.79 CA$20.81

-10.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$12.69 CA$17.86

-16.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$2.57 CA$3.62

16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$2.61 CA$3.68

31.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.34 CA$3.30

20.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$62.5 CA$88.0

16.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$3.05 CA$4.29

15.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$0.77 CA$1.08

88.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$22.03 CA$31.00

55.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.14 CA$1.60

7.02%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$25.4K CA$35.8K

-0.70%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$20.0K CA$28.1K

10.69%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$220 CA$309

-65.17%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$55.1 CA$77.5

-35.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$72.4 CA$102

-40.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$41.37 CA$58.2

4.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$12.33 CA$17.35

-10.06%

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

$625 CA$879

$728 CA$1,025

-14.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$3,962 CA$5,575

48.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$46.23 CA$65.1

36.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$43.35 CA$61.0

2.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$93.1 CA$131

10.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$101 CA$142

17.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$1,746 CA$2,457

-30.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$1,308 CA$1,841

-26.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,954 CA$2,750

3.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,994 CA$2,806

-20.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$5,117 CA$7,201

-0.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$3,438 CA$4,837

-15.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.21

-19.32%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bowmanville, Ontario: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,207 in Montreal and $1,746 in Bowmanville, Ontario. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bowmanville, Ontario pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Montreal vs $74.0 in Bowmanville, Ontario. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $350, with Bowmanville, Ontario cheaper for home cooking.

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 Bowmanville, Ontario: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Bowmanville, Ontario. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,746 in Bowmanville, Ontario. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,085 per month in Montreal versus $2,559 in Bowmanville, Ontario – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 16% less than in Bowmanville, Ontario. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,085 in Montreal versus $2,559 in Bowmanville, Ontario, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Bowmanville, Ontario. 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 Bowmanville, Ontario, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Bowmanville, Ontario 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 23% less than in Bowmanville, Ontario. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.