Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cornwall, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cornwall, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,026 in Cornwall, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $2,995 in Cornwall, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $3,963 in Cornwall, ON, rent included.

Montreal costs about 2% more than Cornwall, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Cornwall, ON sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Cornwall, ON by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.14

$14.89 CA$20.71

6.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$67.4 CA$93.7

8.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$12.04 CA$16.74

-7.39%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.29

$4.36 CA$6.06

-12.84%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$2.07 CA$2.88

5.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.43 CA$1.99

2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.96 CA$8.28

2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.42

$5.60 CA$7.79

21.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.24

$2.57 CA$3.57

-9.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.72

$2.38 CA$3.30

42.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$2.72 CA$3.78

37.13%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$2.67 CA$3.72

26.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.60

$5.12 CA$7.12

217.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$10.51 CA$14.61

9.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.19

$15.22 CA$21.17

0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$5.97 CA$8.30

-37.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.75 CA$2.44

-2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.71

$3.39 CA$4.71

21.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.78 CA$5.25

15.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.52 CA$3.50

7.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.64

$3.31 CA$4.61

-20.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$1.27 CA$1.77

77.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.19 CA$1.65

45.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.51

$10.62 CA$14.77

25.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$15.00

$12.45 CA$17.31

-13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$3.29 CA$4.57

-8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.82

$3.67 CA$5.11

-5.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.24 CA$3.12

22.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$48.04 CA$66.8

51.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$2.99 CA$4.15

21.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.02 CA$1.42

43.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.50

$26.11 CA$36.31

28.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.69

$1.13 CA$1.57

7.08%

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

$24.6K CA$34.3K

$22.1K CA$30.7K

11.71%

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

$21.7K CA$30.2K

$20.1K CA$28.0K

7.80%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$93.5 CA$130

-18.71%

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

$35.72 CA$49.68

$44.67 CA$62.1

-20.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$46.81 CA$65.1

-8.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.7

$31.87 CA$44.32

34.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.97

$12.95 CA$18.02

33.05%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.42

$11.21 CA$15.59

-1.07%

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

$620 CA$862

$506 CA$703

22.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,114

$11.8K CA$16.4K

-50.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$55.2 CA$76.8

13.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.8

$57.8 CA$80.4

-23.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$101 CA$141

-0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$166

$93.1 CA$130

27.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,684

$1,091 CA$1,518

10.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,334

$963 CA$1,340

-0.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,831

$2,110 CA$2,934

-3.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,210

$1,578 CA$2,194

0.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,205

$2,544 CA$3,538

103.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,470

$2,143 CA$2,980

83.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,116

$3,063 CA$4,259

-3.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.53

-23.28%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cornwall, ON: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,091 in Cornwall, ON. 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 Cornwall, ON, 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 Cornwall, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $340 – making Cornwall, ON 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 Cornwall, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,063 in Montreal, $2,026 in Cornwall, ON – roughly 2% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,039 in Cornwall, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cornwall, ON, 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 $2,063 in Montreal and $2,026 in Cornwall, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Cornwall, ON. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cornwall, ON, where all-in costs run around $2,026, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Cornwall, ON it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,026 in Cornwall, ON to $2,063 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cornwall, ON. 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.