Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Brantford Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Brantford

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,068 in Brantford, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,171 in Brantford, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,274 in Brantford, rent included.

Montreal costs about 1% more than Brantford, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Brantford sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Brantford by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$13.38 CA$18.76

23.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$66.6 CA$93.4

11.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$9.42 CA$13.20

16.14%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$3.16 CA$4.43

21.52%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$1.56 CA$2.19

37.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.07 CA$1.51

35.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$4.86 CA$6.82

26.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$5.78 CA$8.11

16.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$2.19 CA$3.07

7.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$2.15 CA$3.01

55.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$2.26 CA$3.16

65.49%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$3.12 CA$4.38

8.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$4.49 CA$6.29

263.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$8.58 CA$12.04

37.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$10.14 CA$14.21

54.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$1.87 CA$2.63

97.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$0.97 CA$1.36

75.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$2.17 CA$3.04

89.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$3.68 CA$5.16

19.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$2.28 CA$3.19

22.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$1.50 CA$2.10

76.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$1.93 CA$2.71

18.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$1.65 CA$2.31

7.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$13.29 CA$18.64

-0.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$9.83 CA$13.78

8.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$2.51 CA$3.51

19.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$3.20 CA$4.49

7.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.22 CA$3.11

26.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$55.3 CA$77.5

31.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$2.62 CA$3.67

34.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.78 CA$2.49

-18.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$29.07 CA$40.75

17.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.16 CA$1.63

5.17%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

-0.18%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$19.6K CA$27.5K

12.78%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$132 CA$185

-41.91%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$26.11 CA$36.61

36.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$55.3 CA$77.6

-22.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$36.41 CA$51.1

19.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

$29.76 CA$41.72

-43.45%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$9.30 CA$13.03

19.25%

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

$625 CA$876

$559 CA$783

11.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$11.6K CA$16.3K

-49.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$49.93 CA$70.0

26.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$25.57 CA$35.84

74.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$61.7 CA$86.5

66.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$70.6 CA$99.0

67.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$1,375 CA$1,928

-12.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$1,192 CA$1,672

-19.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$2,066 CA$2,897

-1.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$2,132 CA$2,989

-26.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

$4,857 CA$6,810

4.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

$3,833 CA$5,374

-1.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$2,947 CA$4,132

-1.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.31

-20.60%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Brantford: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,375 in Brantford. 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 2% higher in Brantford, 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 $67.0 in Brantford. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $270 – making Brantford 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 Brantford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,085 in Montreal, $2,068 in Brantford – roughly 1% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,102 in Brantford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brantford, 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 $2,068 in Brantford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Brantford. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Brantford, where all-in costs run around $2,068, than in Montreal at $2,085. In Brantford it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,068 in Brantford to $2,085 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Brantford. 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.