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: $2,046 in Montreal versus $2,333 in Cranbrook.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,169 in Montreal versus $3,177 in Cranbrook.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,292 in Montreal versus $4,022 in Cranbrook.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 12% less than in Cranbrook, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 54% above, Cranbrook 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.35 CA$22.89
$13.03 CA$18.24
25.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 CA$103
$72.3 CA$101
1.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 CA$15.56
$10.38 CA$14.52
7.03%
Cappuccino
$3.81 CA$5.33
$3.59 CA$5.02
6.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 CA$2.89
$1.61 CA$2.25
27.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.03
$1.89 CA$2.65
-23.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.01 CA$8.42
$5.03 CA$7.05
19.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.51 CA$9.12
$5.96 CA$8.34
9.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.24
$1.74 CA$2.43
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 CA$4.51
$2.23 CA$3.12
44.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.31
$5.34 CA$7.48
-29.03%
Eggs
$3.30 CA$4.62
$3.70 CA$5.18
-10.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.14 CA$22.59
$12.66 CA$17.72
27.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.50 CA$16.10
$14.97 CA$20.96
-23.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.69 CA$21.96
$12.70 CA$17.78
23.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 CA$5.14
$4.26 CA$5.96
-13.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 CA$2.27
$1.52 CA$2.12
7.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.69
$4.33 CA$6.06
-6.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 CA$6.00
$5.30 CA$7.42
-19.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.70
$2.91 CA$4.07
-9.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.67 CA$3.74
$3.29 CA$4.61
-18.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 CA$3.06
$3.46 CA$4.85
-36.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.41
$2.80 CA$3.92
-38.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.17 CA$18.44
$14.60 CA$20.44
-9.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 CA$14.93
$12.76 CA$17.86
-16.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 CA$4.31
$2.27 CA$3.17
35.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 CA$4.98
$3.06 CA$4.29
16.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.80 CA$3.91
$2.51 CA$3.52
11.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 CA$103
$63.7 CA$89.1
15.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 CA$5.07
$3.08 CA$4.31
17.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.93
$1.50 CA$2.10
-8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.30 CA$46.60
$26.08 CA$36.50
27.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.64
$1.03 CA$1.44
13.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$35.3K
$25.4K CA$35.5K
-0.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K CA$30.8K
$21.2K CA$29.6K
3.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 CA$103
$130 CA$181
-43.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.79 CA$50.1
$18.13 CA$25.38
97.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.99 CA$61.6
$54.2 CA$75.9
-18.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.72 CA$59.8
$42.39 CA$59.3
0.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.95 CA$23.72
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.00 CA$15.40
$11.70 CA$16.38
-5.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 CA$851
$723 CA$1,012
-15.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,898 CA$8,254
$11.7K CA$16.4K
-49.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 CA$85.5
$43.52 CA$60.9
40.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.70 CA$62.6
$47.27 CA$66.2
-5.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 CA$144
$94.7 CA$133
8.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 CA$170
$112 CA$157
8.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,186 CA$1,660
$1,109 CA$1,552
7.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$949 CA$1,328
$1,159 CA$1,623
-18.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,076 CA$2,905
$1,710 CA$2,393
21.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 CA$2,213
$1,487 CA$2,081
6.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,063 CA$7,086
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,826 CA$5,355
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Cranbrook
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,904 CA$4,065
$2,903 CA$4,063
0.04%
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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Cranbrook: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,186 in Montreal and $1,109 in Cranbrook. 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: $73.0 in Montreal vs $72.0 in Cranbrook. Groceries flip the comparison at $389 vs $407, with Montreal cheaper for home cooking.

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 14% 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?
Montreal pays 0% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal vs Cranbrook?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,186 in Montreal versus $1,109 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 5% 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 $73.0 versus $72.0 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 $2,046 in Montreal versus $2,333 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 $2,046 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 14% less than in Cranbrook. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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