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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,178 in Courtenay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,016 in Courtenay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $3,853 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 56%, Courtenay by 63%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$12.99 CA$18.28

27.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$58.8 CA$82.8

25.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$9.70 CA$13.65

12.78%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$4.12 CA$5.80

-6.80%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$1.98 CA$2.79

8.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.35 CA$1.90

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.98 CA$8.42

2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$8.65 CA$12.17

-22.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$2.11 CA$2.97

11.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.29 CA$3.23

45.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$2.23 CA$3.14

67.71%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.21 CA$4.52

5.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$9.57 CA$13.47

70.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$9.63 CA$13.56

22.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$9.95 CA$14.00

57.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$3.06 CA$4.31

20.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.38 CA$1.94

23.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$2.38 CA$3.35

72.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$3.31 CA$4.65

33.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$2.53 CA$3.56

10.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$2.24 CA$3.15

17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$1.88 CA$2.65

21.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.18 CA$1.65

50.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$14.82 CA$20.85

-11.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$10.74 CA$15.11

-0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$3.20 CA$4.51

-6.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$2.26 CA$3.18

52.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$1.43 CA$2.02

96.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$44.93 CA$63.2

62.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$3.27 CA$4.60

7.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.38 CA$1.94

5.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$18.77 CA$26.41

82.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.27 CA$1.79

-3.94%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$13.4K CA$18.9K

88.33%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$18.9K CA$26.6K

16.90%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$110 CA$155

-30.50%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$44.06 CA$62.0

-19.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$46.35 CA$65.2

-7.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$44.37 CA$62.4

-2.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

$41.21 CA$58.0

-59.16%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$11.13 CA$15.66

-0.36%

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

$625 CA$879

$956 CA$1,345

-34.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$13.4K CA$18.9K

-56.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$48.84 CA$68.7

29.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$33.35 CA$46.92

33.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$80.2 CA$113

28.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$62.8 CA$88.4

88.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$1,378 CA$1,939

-12.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$1,151 CA$1,619

-16.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$2,231 CA$3,139

-8.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,720 CA$2,420

-8.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$5,300 CA$7,457

-4.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$3,248 CA$4,570

-11.03%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Courtenay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,378 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $59.0 in Courtenay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $298 – 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 $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,267 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 32% 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 $74.0 in Montreal and $59.0 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 $2,085, than in Courtenay at $2,178. 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.