Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cambridge Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cambridge Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,065 in Montreal versus $2,391 in Cambridge Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,180 in Montreal versus $3,444 in Cambridge Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,296 in Montreal versus $4,497 in Cambridge Bay.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 14% less than in Cambridge Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 53% above, Cambridge Bay 77% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 CA$22.03

$23.58 CA$32.30

-31.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 CA$101

$70.0 CA$96.0

5.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 CA$14.95

$11.11 CA$15.22

-1.80%

Cappuccino

$3.67 CA$5.03

$3.67 CA$5.02

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

$2.06 CA$2.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.97

$1.70 CA$2.32

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.21 CA$8.50

$5.60 CA$7.67

10.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$8.82

$6.04 CA$8.28

6.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$2.09 CA$2.87

11.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.42

$2.61 CA$3.58

23.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$3.49 CA$4.78

10.03%

Eggs

$3.32 CA$4.54

$3.37 CA$4.62

-1.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.35 CA$22.40

$11.01 CA$15.09

48.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.92 CA$16.33

$11.59 CA$15.87

2.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 CA$20.69

$14.88 CA$20.38

1.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.04

$3.98 CA$5.45

-7.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 CA$2.32

$1.40 CA$1.92

20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.64

$3.68 CA$5.05

11.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$3.78 CA$5.17

13.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.82

$2.48 CA$3.40

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.70

$2.54 CA$3.48

6.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 CA$2.97

$2.64 CA$3.61

-17.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.44

$1.71 CA$2.34

4.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.22 CA$18.12

$13.77 CA$18.87

-3.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 CA$15.12

$14.11 CA$19.34

-21.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 CA$4.07

$2.94 CA$4.02

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.71

$3.01 CA$4.12

14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.84

$2.31 CA$3.16

21.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 CA$98.9

$63.0 CA$86.4

14.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 CA$5.03

$3.25 CA$4.46

12.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.92

$1.48 CA$2.02

-5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.07 CA$46.68

$25.78 CA$35.32

32.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.66

$1.12 CA$1.54

8.04%

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

$25.3K CA$34.7K

$25.2K CA$34.5K

0.62%

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

$21.9K CA$30.0K

$20.9K CA$28.6K

4.64%

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

$74.4 CA$102

$141 CA$193

-47.25%

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

$36.64 CA$50.2

$43.08 CA$59.0

-14.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 CA$59.5

$63.3 CA$86.7

-31.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.20 CA$59.2

$41.53 CA$56.9

4.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.18 CA$23.54

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 CA$15.06

$11.35 CA$15.55

-3.17%

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

$614 CA$842

$746 CA$1,022

-17.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,855 CA$8,022

$12.0K CA$16.4K

-51.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 CA$85.8

$54.1 CA$74.1

15.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.25 CA$60.6

$39.24 CA$53.8

12.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$142

$86.3 CA$118

19.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$167

$108 CA$148

12.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 CA$1,631

$1,318 CA$1,805

-9.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$946 CA$1,296

$1,178 CA$1,614

-19.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 CA$2,791

$1,978 CA$2,710

2.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 CA$2,120

$1,782 CA$2,442

-13.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,398 CA$7,395

$4,344 CA$5,951

24.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,014 CA$5,499

$3,392 CA$4,647

18.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,013 CA$4,128

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.46

-22.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026

Last update for Cambridge Bay: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,190 in Montreal and $1,318 in Cambridge Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74 in Montreal vs $70 in Cambridge Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $365 per month, with Cambridge Bay 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 Cambridge Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and Cambridge Bay differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($2,065 vs $2,391 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,097 in Montreal and $3,586 in Cambridge Bay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,190 in Montreal versus $1,318 in Cambridge Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,065 per month in Montreal versus $2,391 in Cambridge Bay – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 15% less than in Cambridge Bay. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,065 in Montreal versus $2,391 in Cambridge Bay, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Cambridge Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Cambridge Bay 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 16% less than in Cambridge Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.