Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Coquitlam Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Coquitlam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,042 in Montreal versus $2,800 in Coquitlam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,163 in Montreal versus $3,925 in Coquitlam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,284 in Montreal versus $5,050 in Coquitlam.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 27% less than in Coquitlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Coquitlam 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.33

$16.79 CA$23.34

8.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.2

$71.2 CA$99.0

-0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.14

$10.89 CA$15.13

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.45

$4.07 CA$5.66

-3.69%

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

$1.97 CA$2.74

$2.17 CA$3.02

-9.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.21

$1.70 CA$2.37

-6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.07

$5.71 CA$7.94

14.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.07

$6.55 CA$9.11

10.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.18

$1.43 CA$1.98

60.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.32

$2.70 CA$3.75

15.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.22

$2.78 CA$3.87

8.99%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.00

$3.79 CA$5.27

-5.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.87

$10.19 CA$14.17

40.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.83

$13.55 CA$18.83

-15.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.24

$20.57 CA$28.60

-29.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.78

$4.19 CA$5.83

-17.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.13

$1.39 CA$1.93

10.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.45

$3.89 CA$5.40

-17.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.01

$4.13 CA$5.74

-30.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.65

$1.61 CA$2.23

18.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.51

$2.80 CA$3.89

-35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$2.64 CA$3.66

-3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.11 CA$1.55

35.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.24

$15.52 CA$21.58

-24.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.76

$12.21 CA$16.97

-13.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$2.66 CA$3.70

-10.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.22

$2.98 CA$4.14

1.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.21 CA$3.07

23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$103

0.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.44

$2.73 CA$3.80

16.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$1.36 CA$1.89

6.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.60

$25.02 CA$34.78

33.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.27 CA$1.77

3.15%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$26.3K CA$36.6K

8.82%

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

$20.4K CA$28.3K

$19.7K CA$27.3K

3.61%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$78.3 CA$109

-0.09%

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

$35.53 CA$49.39

$35.42 CA$49.23

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.3

$49.71 CA$69.1

-12.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$42.87

$21.64 CA$30.08

42.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.79

$10.61 CA$14.75

88.41%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.10

$10.97 CA$15.25

5.56%

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

$552 CA$768

$1,102 CA$1,532

-49.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$22.9K

$12.1K CA$16.8K

36.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.0

$57.3 CA$79.7

-3.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.3

$34.45 CA$47.89

11.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$88.1 CA$122

12.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$145

$91.3 CA$127

14.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,715

$1,998 CA$2,778

-38.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,376

$1,746 CA$2,427

-43.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,018

$3,662 CA$5,090

-40.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,274

$2,658 CA$3,695

-38.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,130

$6,267 CA$8,712

-18.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,177

$5,020 CA$6,979

-25.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,252

$3,057 CA$4,250

0.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.21

5.46%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Coquitlam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,234 in Montreal and $1,998 in Coquitlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montreal pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Montreal vs $71.0 in Coquitlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $371 per month, with Montreal 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 Coquitlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 0% higher in Montreal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,234 in Montreal versus $1,998 in Coquitlam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,042 per month in Montreal versus $2,800 in Coquitlam – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 0% less than in Coquitlam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,042 in Montreal versus $2,800 in Coquitlam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Coquitlam. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coquitlam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Coquitlam 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 37% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.