Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Dartmouth Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Dartmouth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,119 in Dartmouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,202 in Dartmouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,286 in Dartmouth, rent included.

Montreal is about 3% cheaper than Dartmouth, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montreal and Dartmouth sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Dartmouth by 58%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$14.71 CA$20.37

8.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$60.8 CA$84.2

20.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$8.65 CA$11.98

28.90%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$3.79 CA$5.25

0.26%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$1.74 CA$2.40

25.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.32 CA$1.83

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$6.03 CA$8.35

1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$6.02 CA$8.33

12.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$2.04 CA$2.83

14.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$2.51 CA$3.48

35.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$3.77 CA$5.22

-1.06%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$3.49 CA$4.83

-3.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$10.38 CA$14.37

56.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$11.44 CA$15.84

0.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$15.33 CA$21.22

-0.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$3.62 CA$5.02

3.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.63 CA$2.25

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$3.83 CA$5.31

7.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$5.38 CA$7.45

-19.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$2.03 CA$2.81

33.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.22 CA$3.08

18.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.70 CA$3.74

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$1.84 CA$2.55

-5.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$14.66 CA$20.30

-9.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$11.41 CA$15.80

-5.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$3.24 CA$4.49

-7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$3.26 CA$4.51

6.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$1.97 CA$2.72

39.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$61.2 CA$84.8

18.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$8.00 CA$11.07

-54.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.42 CA$1.96

2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$28.93 CA$40.05

15.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.20 CA$1.66

0.83%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$24.9K CA$34.4K

-0.89%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$20.8K CA$28.7K

4.45%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$69.9 CA$96.8

8.80%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$37.93 CA$52.5

-5.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$81.4 CA$113

-47.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$37.35 CA$51.7

14.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$11.06 CA$15.31

0.27%

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

$620 CA$858

$165 CA$229

274.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$11.9K CA$16.5K

-50.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$41.16 CA$57.0

52.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$34.99 CA$48.45

26.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$69.5 CA$96.3

44.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$77.7 CA$108

53.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$1,295 CA$1,793

-6.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$1,062 CA$1,471

-9.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$2,081 CA$2,881

-2.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$1,890 CA$2,617

-15.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

$2,657 CA$3,679

11.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

5.62

-10.85%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dartmouth: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,295 in Dartmouth. 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 11% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $61.0 in Dartmouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $368 – making Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,063 in Montreal, $2,119 in Dartmouth – roughly 3% apart. Dartmouth costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,178 in Dartmouth. 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 $2,063 in Montreal and $2,119 in Dartmouth. 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 $2,063, than in Dartmouth at $2,119. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dartmouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,063 in Montreal to $2,119 in Dartmouth. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Dartmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.