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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,118 in Dartmouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,187 in Dartmouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,257 in Dartmouth, rent included.

Montreal is about 2% cheaper than Dartmouth, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montreal and Dartmouth sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Dartmouth by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$14.52 CA$20.35

13.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$61.1 CA$85.6

21.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$8.67 CA$12.15

26.18%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$3.67 CA$5.14

4.63%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$1.66 CA$2.33

28.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.28 CA$1.80

13.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$6.03 CA$8.45

1.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$5.85 CA$8.21

15.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$1.93 CA$2.71

21.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$2.59 CA$3.64

28.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$3.57 CA$5.00

4.76%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$3.34 CA$4.69

1.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$10.02 CA$14.04

62.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$11.23 CA$15.75

5.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$15.59 CA$21.85

0.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$3.54 CA$4.97

4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.64 CA$2.30

3.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$3.68 CA$5.16

11.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$5.39 CA$7.55

-18.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$2.10 CA$2.94

32.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.21 CA$3.10

19.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$2.77 CA$3.89

-17.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$1.86 CA$2.61

-4.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$14.79 CA$20.73

-10.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$13.92 CA$19.52

-23.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$3.23 CA$4.53

-7.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$3.38 CA$4.73

1.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$1.98 CA$2.77

41.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$62.0 CA$86.9

17.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$7.67 CA$10.75

-54.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.48 CA$2.08

-2.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$29.72 CA$41.67

15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.21 CA$1.70

0.83%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$24.7K CA$34.7K

2.06%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$21.4K CA$30.0K

3.28%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$72.6 CA$102

5.39%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$37.43 CA$52.5

-4.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$83.3 CA$117

-48.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$36.95 CA$51.8

17.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$10.98 CA$15.40

1.00%

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

$625 CA$876

$163 CA$229

283.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$11.6K CA$16.3K

-49.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$41.19 CA$57.8

53.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$35.22 CA$49.38

26.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$70.0 CA$98.1

46.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$77.8 CA$109

51.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$1,284 CA$1,800

-6.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$1,101 CA$1,543

-12.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$2,077 CA$2,912

-2.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$1,876 CA$2,631

-15.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$2,577 CA$3,613

12.14%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Dartmouth: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,284 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 12% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $61.0 in Dartmouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $370 – 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: $2,085 in Montreal, $2,118 in Dartmouth – roughly 2% apart. Dartmouth costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,177 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 $2,085 in Montreal and $2,118 in Dartmouth. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 18% 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 $2,085, than in Dartmouth at $2,118. 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 $2,085 in Montreal to $2,118 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.