Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Courtenay Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Courtenay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,149 in Courtenay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,072 in Courtenay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $3,995 in Courtenay, rent included.

Montreal is about 4% cheaper than Courtenay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Courtenay sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Courtenay by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.12

$12.65 CA$17.57

25.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$58.0 CA$80.6

25.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$9.52 CA$13.23

17.12%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.28

$4.10 CA$5.70

-7.32%

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

$1.29 CA$1.80

13.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.94 CA$8.25

3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.41

$8.66 CA$12.03

-21.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.23

$2.10 CA$2.91

10.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$2.28 CA$3.17

48.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.18

$2.26 CA$3.15

65.04%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.27 CA$4.54

3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$9.19 CA$12.77

76.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.04

$10.05 CA$13.96

14.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.17

$10.08 CA$14.01

51.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.17 CA$4.41

17.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.37 CA$1.91

24.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.70

$2.49 CA$3.46

65.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.14 CA$4.37

38.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.45 CA$3.41

10.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.13 CA$2.96

23.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$1.91 CA$2.65

17.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.21 CA$1.68

42.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.49

$14.79 CA$20.55

-10.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.98

$10.91 CA$15.16

-1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$3.22 CA$4.48

-6.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$2.26 CA$3.14

53.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$1.46 CA$2.03

87.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$43.85 CA$60.9

65.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.23 CA$4.49

12.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.40 CA$1.94

4.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.46

$18.10 CA$25.15

84.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.32 CA$1.83

-8.33%

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

$24.6K CA$34.2K

$13.2K CA$18.4K

86.17%

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

$21.7K CA$30.1K

$19.0K CA$26.3K

14.34%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$111 CA$154

-31.49%

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

$35.72 CA$49.63

$45.30 CA$62.9

-21.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$45.18 CA$62.8

-5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.6

$43.58 CA$60.6

-1.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

$41.04 CA$57.0

-58.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.40

$11.26 CA$15.64

-1.51%

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

$620 CA$861

$930 CA$1,291

-33.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,106

$13.3K CA$18.4K

-55.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$48.62 CA$67.6

28.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.7

$33.65 CA$46.76

31.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$82.0 CA$114

22.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$63.2 CA$87.9

88.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,683

$1,354 CA$1,881

-10.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,333

$1,166 CA$1,620

-17.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,828

$2,187 CA$3,038

-6.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$1,665 CA$2,313

-4.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

$4,507 CA$6,262

14.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

$4,096 CA$5,691

-3.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,113

$3,325 CA$4,619

-10.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.08

-17.60%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Courtenay: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,354 in Courtenay. 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 12% higher in Courtenay, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $58.0 in Courtenay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $300 – making Courtenay 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 Courtenay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Courtenay is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,224 in Courtenay. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Courtenay – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $58.0 in Courtenay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Courtenay at $2,149. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Courtenay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montreal – 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 Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Courtenay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.