Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Brandon, MB Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Brandon, MB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $1,702 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $2,695 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $3,687 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

Montreal costs about 21% more than Brandon, MB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Brandon, MB sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Brandon, MB by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$16.23 CA$22.47

-1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$66.3 CA$91.8

10.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$7.95 CA$11.00

40.25%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$3.58 CA$4.96

6.15%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$1.66 CA$2.29

31.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.62 CA$2.24

-9.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$5.46 CA$7.57

12.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$6.56 CA$9.08

3.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$1.60 CA$2.22

45.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$2.28 CA$3.15

48.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$3.49 CA$4.83

6.88%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$3.06 CA$4.23

10.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$10.86 CA$15.04

49.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$9.75 CA$13.50

18.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$14.90 CA$20.63

2.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.32 CA$1.83

28.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$3.11 CA$4.30

32.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$3.55 CA$4.92

22.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$2.77 CA$3.84

-2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.51 CA$3.47

4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.52 CA$3.50

-10.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$1.50 CA$2.08

15.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$15.33 CA$21.23

-13.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$12.95 CA$17.93

-16.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$3.01 CA$4.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$3.53 CA$4.88

-1.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$1.26 CA$1.74

117.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$71.9 CA$99.6

1.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$3.19 CA$4.42

13.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.31 CA$1.81

11.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$26.37 CA$36.51

26.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.03 CA$1.42

17.48%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$23.5K CA$32.5K

5.03%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$22.0K CA$30.5K

-1.63%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$157 CA$218

-51.63%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$42.22 CA$58.5

-15.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$60.6 CA$83.9

-29.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$41.24 CA$57.1

4.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

$16.76 CA$23.21

2.80%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$12.27 CA$16.99

-9.62%

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

$620 CA$858

$964 CA$1,334

-35.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$12.2K CA$16.9K

-52.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$47.07 CA$65.2

33.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$41.21 CA$57.1

7.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$79.0 CA$109

27.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$86.8 CA$120

37.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$820 CA$1,135

47.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$595 CA$824

61.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$1,303 CA$1,804

56.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$1,269 CA$1,757

25.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

$2,359 CA$3,267

119.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

$2,359 CA$3,267

66.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

$2,472 CA$3,423

19.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.02

-16.78%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Brandon, MB: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $820 in Brandon, MB. 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 20% 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $66.0 in Brandon, MB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $337 – making Brandon, MB 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 Brandon, MB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 21%, 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 $3,094 per month in Montreal and $2,553 in Brandon, MB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brandon, MB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $66.0 in Brandon, MB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brandon, MB, where all-in costs run around $1,702, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Brandon, MB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brandon, MB – 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 Brandon, MB. 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.