Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cold Lake Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cold Lake

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $1,932 in Cold Lake, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $2,895 in Cold Lake, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $3,859 in Cold Lake, rent included.

Montreal costs about 6% more than Cold Lake, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and Cold Lake sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, Cold Lake by 41%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.72

$20.15 CA$27.90

-11.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$100

$59.8 CA$82.8

20.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$10.06 CA$13.93

8.55%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.49

$3.87 CA$5.36

2.58%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.22 CA$3.07

-6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$1.41 CA$1.95

9.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.88

$5.72 CA$7.91

12.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.10

$6.63 CA$9.18

9.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$1.16 CA$1.60

106.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.44

$2.26 CA$3.13

42.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$3.05 CA$4.23

0.66%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.09

$3.16 CA$4.37

16.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.79

$11.18 CA$15.48

21.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.10

$11.68 CA$16.17

-0.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.34

$18.75 CA$25.95

-25.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.10

$3.57 CA$4.94

3.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.13 CA$1.56

38.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.72

$2.86 CA$3.96

19.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.19

$2.62 CA$3.63

15.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.75

$2.24 CA$3.10

-11.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.53

$1.05 CA$1.46

73.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$2.49 CA$3.45

2.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$1.84 CA$2.54

-24.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.91

$12.01 CA$16.63

-4.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$11.71 CA$16.22

-6.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$3.57 CA$4.94

-36.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$3.02 CA$4.18

-0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.63

$3.03 CA$4.20

10.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.42 CA$1.97

5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.66

$21.96 CA$30.40

53.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.79

$1.04 CA$1.44

24.04%

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

$28.3K CA$39.2K

$28.3K CA$39.1K

0.09%

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

$20.0K CA$27.6K

$20.1K CA$27.8K

-0.69%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$231 CA$320

-65.26%

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

$34.23 CA$47.40

$41.34 CA$57.2

-17.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.3

$55.6 CA$77.0

-25.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.49

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.54

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.21

$13.37 CA$18.51

-12.42%

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

$564 CA$781

$777 CA$1,076

-27.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

$9,577 CA$13.3K

75.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.4

$29.08 CA$40.27

104.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.3

$35.70 CA$49.43

18.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$54.6 CA$75.7

96.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$91.5 CA$127

21.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,778

$898 CA$1,244

42.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,371

$861 CA$1,192

14.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,129

$1,583 CA$2,192

42.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,308

$1,454 CA$2,013

14.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,321

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,279

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,180

$3,099 CA$4,291

-2.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

4.32

2.08%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cold Lake: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $898 in Cold Lake. 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 3% higher in Cold Lake, 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $60.0 in Cold Lake. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $344 – making Cold Lake 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 Cold Lake: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,084 per month in Montreal and $2,897 in Cold Lake. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cold Lake, 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 $2,056 in Montreal and $1,932 in Cold Lake. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $564 per month in Montreal and $777 in Cold Lake. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cold Lake, where all-in costs run around $1,932, than in Montreal at $2,056. In Cold Lake it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cold Lake – 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 Cold Lake. 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.