Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Brampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Brampton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,366 in Brampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Montreal versus $3,488 in Brampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Montreal versus $4,610 in Brampton.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 13% less than in Brampton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 54% above, Brampton 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.12

$14.84 CA$20.62

7.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$44.53 CA$61.9

64.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$11.21 CA$15.57

-0.54%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.28

$3.39 CA$4.71

12.09%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$1.85 CA$2.57

17.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.32 CA$1.83

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.02 CA$6.98

21.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.41

$5.98 CA$8.31

13.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.23

$3.41 CA$4.74

-31.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$2.19 CA$3.05

54.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.18

$2.93 CA$4.08

27.30%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.36 CA$4.66

0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$8.46 CA$11.75

92.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.04

$9.17 CA$12.74

25.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.17

$14.76 CA$20.51

3.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.01 CA$5.57

-6.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.69 CA$2.35

0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.70

$3.37 CA$4.68

21.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.51 CA$4.87

23.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.13 CA$2.95

27.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.18 CA$3.03

20.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$1.79 CA$2.48

25.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.88 CA$2.62

-7.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.49

$13.08 CA$18.17

1.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.98

$11.79 CA$16.38

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.43 CA$3.37

23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$2.77 CA$3.85

24.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$3.27 CA$4.54

-16.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$102 CA$142

-29.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.09 CA$4.29

17.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.21 CA$1.69

20.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.46

$21.88 CA$30.41

52.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.12 CA$1.55

8.04%

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

$24.6K CA$34.2K

$25.5K CA$35.4K

-3.30%

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

$21.7K CA$30.1K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

4.67%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$171 CA$238

-55.62%

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

$35.72 CA$49.63

$34.22 CA$47.55

4.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$53.3 CA$74.1

-19.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.6

$28.25 CA$39.25

51.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

$26.18 CA$36.38

-34.19%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.40

$13.40 CA$18.62

-17.24%

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

$620 CA$861

$974 CA$1,354

-36.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,106

$11.5K CA$16.0K

-49.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$61.5 CA$85.5

1.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.7

$43.62 CA$60.6

1.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$96.7 CA$134

4.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$93.7 CA$130

27.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,683

$1,491 CA$2,071

-18.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,333

$1,195 CA$1,660

-19.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,828

$2,228 CA$3,095

-8.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$2,029 CA$2,819

-21.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

$5,874 CA$8,161

-11.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

$5,393 CA$7,494

-27.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,113

$2,881 CA$4,003

2.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.51

-23.04%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Brampton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Montreal and $1,491 in Brampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $73.0 in Montreal vs $45.00 in Brampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $340 per month, with Brampton 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 Brampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Montreal pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,491 in Brampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Montreal versus $2,366 in Brampton – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 41% less than in Brampton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,366 in Brampton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Brampton. 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 Brampton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Brampton 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 15% less than in Brampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.