Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cranbrook Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Cranbrook

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,088 in Montreal versus $2,318 in Cranbrook.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,123 in Montreal versus $3,207 in Cranbrook.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,157 in Montreal versus $4,095 in Cranbrook.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 10% less than in Cranbrook, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 56% above, Cranbrook 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.89 CA$21.77
$13.09 CA$17.93
21.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 CA$102
$74.8 CA$102
-0.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$14.83
$10.12 CA$13.87
7.02%
Cappuccino
$3.80 CA$5.21
$3.60 CA$4.93
5.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.88
$1.68 CA$2.31
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 CA$2.08
$1.85 CA$2.54
-18.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 CA$8.34
$5.20 CA$7.12
17.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48 CA$8.88
$5.88 CA$8.05
10.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.18
$1.72 CA$2.36
34.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 CA$4.47
$2.16 CA$2.95
50.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.19
$5.31 CA$7.28
-28.63%
Eggs
$3.46 CA$4.73
$3.75 CA$5.14
-7.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.07 CA$22.02
$12.27 CA$16.81
30.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 CA$16.14
$14.97 CA$20.51
-21.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 CA$20.73
$12.45 CA$17.06
21.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.12
$4.12 CA$5.65
-9.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 CA$2.34
$1.58 CA$2.17
8.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.37
$4.36 CA$5.98
-10.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$5.87
$5.06 CA$6.94
-15.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 CA$3.75
$2.98 CA$4.08
-8.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.62
$3.25 CA$4.45
-18.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 CA$3.13
$3.58 CA$4.91
-36.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.34
$2.78 CA$3.81
-38.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.39 CA$18.35
$14.81 CA$20.30
-9.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.95 CA$15.00
$13.29 CA$18.21
-17.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.11
$2.15 CA$2.94
39.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 CA$4.94
$3.11 CA$4.26
15.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.86
$2.61 CA$3.57
8.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.1 CA$103
$62.2 CA$85.2
20.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 CA$4.82
$3.22 CA$4.42
9.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CA$2.00
$1.48 CA$2.02
-1.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.29 CA$46.97
$25.27 CA$34.62
35.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 CA$1.63
$1.05 CA$1.44
13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K CA$34.3K
$25.1K CA$34.4K
-0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K CA$30.0K
$20.7K CA$28.3K
5.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.7 CA$102
$128 CA$175
-41.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.83 CA$49.09
$18.06 CA$24.75
98.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.53 CA$59.6
$53.6 CA$73.5
-18.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.06 CA$59.0
$42.57 CA$58.3
1.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.90 CA$23.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.10 CA$15.21
$11.62 CA$15.91
-4.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$609 CA$834
$743 CA$1,018
-18.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 CA$8,117
$11.8K CA$16.2K
-49.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 CA$86.0
$43.14 CA$59.1
45.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85 CA$61.5
$46.46 CA$63.7
-3.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$138
$93.5 CA$128
7.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CA$162
$111 CA$152
6.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 CA$1,673
$1,089 CA$1,491
12.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$955 CA$1,308
$1,175 CA$1,610
-18.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,105 CA$2,883
$1,709 CA$2,342
23.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,600 CA$2,192
$1,520 CA$2,082
5.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,308 CA$7,272
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,045 CA$5,542
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,031 CA$4,152
$3,070 CA$4,206
-1.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
6.75
-25.78%

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

Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cranbrook: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,221 in Montreal and $1,089 in Cranbrook. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cranbrook pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Montreal vs $75.0 in Cranbrook for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $404 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 Cranbrook: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Cranbrook?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Cranbrook. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or Cranbrook?
On paper, Cranbrook earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal vs Cranbrook?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,221 in Montreal versus $1,089 in Cranbrook. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or Cranbrook?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Cranbrook. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Cranbrook?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $75.0 in Cranbrook. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Cranbrook?
At $2,088 in Montreal versus $2,318 in Cranbrook, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Cranbrook. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Cranbrook?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,088 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Cranbrook?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Cranbrook are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Cranbrook. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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