Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Creston Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Creston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,108 per month in Montreal vs $2,310 in Creston, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,226 per month in Montreal vs $3,317 in Creston, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Montreal vs $4,325 in Creston, rent included.

Montreal is about 9% cheaper than Creston, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Creston sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, Creston by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.72

$18.39 CA$25.50

-3.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$66.0 CA$91.5

11.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$11.45 CA$15.87

-5.59%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$4.23 CA$5.87

-7.33%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.11 CA$2.92

-3.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$1.73 CA$2.39

-12.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.13

$5.30 CA$7.35

24.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$6.33 CA$8.78

12.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$2.13 CA$2.95

11.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$2.93 CA$4.07

10.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.12 CA$4.32

-5.45%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$4.37 CA$6.06

-15.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$9.94 CA$13.79

37.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$9.96 CA$13.82

19.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$14.84 CA$20.58

-5.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$3.82 CA$5.30

-5.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.33 CA$1.84

16.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$4.31 CA$5.98

-23.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$3.50 CA$4.86

-12.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.63 CA$3.65

-23.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

$2.05 CA$2.84

-7.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.41 CA$3.34

9.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.82 CA$2.53

-23.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$13.68 CA$18.97

-13.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$13.25 CA$18.38

-18.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$2.74 CA$3.79

-13.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$3.26 CA$4.52

-11.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.23 CA$3.10

22.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

$65.0 CA$90.1

18.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

$3.03 CA$4.20

9.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$23.59 CA$32.72

39.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.19 CA$1.65

10.08%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

16.73%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$19.5K CA$27.0K

5.08%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$137 CA$191

-41.87%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$38.94 CA$54.0

-10.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$55.8 CA$77.4

-23.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.49

$38.95 CA$54.0

-25.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

$21.04 CA$29.18

-3.37%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.92

$11.30 CA$15.67

1.59%

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

$565 CA$784

$679 CA$941

-16.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$14.5K CA$20.1K

14.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$54.0 CA$75.0

11.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$42.85 CA$59.4

-2.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$94.2 CA$131

10.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$89.5 CA$124

25.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$1,206 CA$1,672

7.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,406

$1,161 CA$1,610

-12.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$2,272 CA$3,150

-0.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$1,864 CA$2,585

-9.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,150

$3,697 CA$5,126

39.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

$3,334 CA$4,624

15.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.68

-5.13%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Creston: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Montreal versus $1,206 in Creston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Montreal versus $66.0 in Creston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $357 – making Creston 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 Creston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Creston is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,163 per month in Montreal and $3,465 in Creston. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,108 in Montreal and $2,310 in Creston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,108, than in Creston at $2,310. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Creston 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, Creston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.