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 $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,293 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,308 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,323 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 56%, Bridgewater, NS by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$18.44 CA$25.86

-10.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$67.0 CA$94.0

10.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$11.20 CA$15.71

-2.32%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$3.38 CA$4.74

13.61%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$1.88 CA$2.64

13.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.81 CA$2.54

-19.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$3.73 CA$5.23

64.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$4.47 CA$6.26

50.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$2.25 CA$3.16

4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$3.03 CA$4.25

10.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$3.47 CA$4.87

7.78%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$3.69 CA$5.18

-8.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$10.18 CA$14.27

60.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$11.37 CA$15.94

3.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$10.55 CA$14.79

48.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$5.43 CA$7.62

-32.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.54 CA$2.15

10.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$3.78 CA$5.30

8.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$4.14 CA$5.80

6.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$2.27 CA$3.18

22.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.05 CA$2.88

28.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$2.40 CA$3.37

-4.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$2.25 CA$3.16

-20.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$11.58 CA$16.23

13.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$14.35 CA$20.12

-25.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$2.68 CA$3.76

11.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$3.92 CA$5.49

-12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.31 CA$3.24

21.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$39.13 CA$54.9

86.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$2.88 CA$4.04

22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.34 CA$1.88

8.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$22.12 CA$31.02

55.02%

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

$24.7K CA$34.7K

2.05%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$20.4K CA$28.5K

8.70%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$129 CA$181

-40.90%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$37.05 CA$51.9

-3.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$62.3 CA$87.3

-31.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$42.76 CA$60.0

1.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$10.87 CA$15.24

2.02%

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

$625 CA$876

$146 CA$205

328.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$7,481 CA$10.5K

-21.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$39.81 CA$55.8

58.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$30.73 CA$43.09

44.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$100 CA$141

2.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$107 CA$150

10.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$1,328 CA$1,862

-9.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$1,183 CA$1,658

-18.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$2,032 CA$2,849

-0.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$1,811 CA$2,539

-12.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$2,366 CA$3,317

22.14%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bridgewater, NS: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,328 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 22% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $67.0 in Bridgewater, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $370 – 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 $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,439 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 $625 per month in Montreal and $146 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 $2,085, than in Bridgewater, NS at $2,293. 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 $2,085 versus $2,293 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.