Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bridgewater, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Bridgewater, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,267 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,286 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,305 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

Montreal is about 9% cheaper than Bridgewater, NS, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and Bridgewater, NS sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Bridgewater, NS by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.12

$18.17 CA$25.25

-12.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$66.5 CA$92.4

9.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$11.21 CA$15.58

-0.54%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.28

$3.32 CA$4.61

14.46%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$1.87 CA$2.60

16.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.75 CA$2.44

-16.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$3.61 CA$5.02

69.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.41

$4.31 CA$5.99

57.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.23

$2.27 CA$3.15

2.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$2.95 CA$4.10

14.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.18

$3.47 CA$4.83

7.49%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.57 CA$4.95

-5.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$10.02 CA$13.92

62.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.04

$11.15 CA$15.49

3.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.17

$10.61 CA$14.74

43.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$5.40 CA$7.50

-30.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.49 CA$2.08

14.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.70

$3.82 CA$5.31

7.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$4.01 CA$5.58

8.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.23 CA$3.09

21.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.01 CA$2.80

30.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$2.32 CA$3.22

-3.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.20 CA$3.05

-21.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.49

$11.85 CA$16.46

12.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.98

$11.64 CA$16.18

-7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.66 CA$3.69

13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$3.83 CA$5.33

-9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.32 CA$3.22

18.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$39.13 CA$54.4

85.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$2.93 CA$4.07

23.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.34 CA$1.86

8.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.46

$21.99 CA$30.55

52.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.16 CA$1.61

4.31%

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

$24.6K CA$34.2K

$25.5K CA$35.4K

-3.39%

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

$21.7K CA$30.1K

$20.3K CA$28.2K

6.76%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$129 CA$179

-40.85%

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

$35.72 CA$49.63

$37.00 CA$51.4

-3.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$62.3 CA$86.5

-31.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.6

$42.93 CA$59.7

-0.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.40

$11.17 CA$15.52

-0.72%

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

$620 CA$861

$147 CA$204

322.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,106

$7,438 CA$10.3K

-21.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$39.52 CA$54.9

58.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.7

$31.53 CA$43.81

40.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$99.7 CA$139

0.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$105 CA$146

13.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,683

$1,325 CA$1,840

-8.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,333

$1,170 CA$1,626

-17.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,828

$2,023 CA$2,810

0.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$1,869 CA$2,596

-14.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

$4,588 CA$6,375

12.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

$3,522 CA$4,894

11.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,113

$2,402 CA$3,337

23.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.57

-23.74%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bridgewater, NS: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,325 in Bridgewater, NS. 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 23% 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $67.0 in Bridgewater, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $360 – making Bridgewater, NS 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 Bridgewater, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bridgewater, NS costs about 10% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,400 in Bridgewater, NS. 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.

Public transport costs about 86% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $620 per month in Montreal and $147 in Bridgewater, NS. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Bridgewater, NS at $2,267. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bridgewater, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,267 in Bridgewater, NS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Bridgewater, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.