Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Dawson City Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Dawson City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,088 per month in Montreal vs $1,988 in Dawson City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $3,402 in Dawson City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,157 per month in Montreal vs $4,817 in Dawson City, rent included.

Montreal costs about 5% more than Dawson City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montreal and Dawson City sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Dawson City by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.89 CA$21.77

$25.60 CA$35.07

-37.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 CA$102

$106 CA$145

-29.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$14.83

$10.84 CA$14.85

-0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.21

$4.11 CA$5.63

-7.54%

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

$2.10 CA$2.88

$1.81 CA$2.49

16.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.08

$1.65 CA$2.26

-8.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 CA$8.34

$5.50 CA$7.54

10.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$8.88

$5.80 CA$7.95

11.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.18

$2.77 CA$3.80

-16.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 CA$4.47

$4.18 CA$5.72

-22.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.19

$3.63 CA$4.97

4.41%

Eggs

$3.46 CA$4.73

$5.30 CA$7.26

-34.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.07 CA$22.02

$11.19 CA$15.32

43.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.14

$15.34 CA$21.01

-23.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 CA$20.73

$14.59 CA$19.99

3.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.12

$4.37 CA$5.99

-14.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 CA$2.34

$1.37 CA$1.88

24.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.37

$4.36 CA$5.97

-10.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.87

$4.36 CA$5.97

-1.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.75

$2.43 CA$3.32

12.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.62

$2.54 CA$3.48

3.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.13

$2.61 CA$3.57

-12.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.34

$1.71 CA$2.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.39 CA$18.35

$13.75 CA$18.84

-2.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 CA$15.00

$12.99 CA$17.80

-15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 CA$4.11

$2.85 CA$3.91

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 CA$4.94

$3.02 CA$4.14

19.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.86

$2.32 CA$3.17

21.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 CA$103

$63.1 CA$86.5

18.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.82

$3.23 CA$4.43

8.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.00

$1.43 CA$1.96

2.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$46.97

$25.42 CA$34.82

34.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 CA$1.63

$1.16 CA$1.60

2.59%

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

$25.1K CA$34.3K

$25.5K CA$34.9K

-1.63%

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

$21.9K CA$30.0K

$20.4K CA$28.0K

7.18%

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

$74.7 CA$102

$142 CA$195

-47.49%

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

$35.83 CA$49.09

$44.06 CA$60.4

-18.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.53 CA$59.6

$62.5 CA$85.6

-30.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.06 CA$59.0

$41.38 CA$56.7

4.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.90 CA$23.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 CA$15.21

$11.37 CA$15.57

-2.37%

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

$609 CA$834

$722 CA$989

-15.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 CA$8,117

$11.9K CA$16.2K

-50.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 CA$86.0

$65.7 CA$90.0

-4.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.85 CA$61.5

$39.13 CA$53.6

14.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$138

$71.3 CA$97.7

41.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$162

$108 CA$148

9.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 CA$1,673

$1,320 CA$1,808

-7.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 CA$1,308

$705 CA$966

35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 CA$2,883

$2,005 CA$2,747

4.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 CA$2,192

$1,835 CA$2,514

-12.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,308 CA$7,272

$4,923 CA$6,744

7.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,045 CA$5,542

$3,389 CA$4,643

19.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,031 CA$4,152

$3,019 CA$4,136

0.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.46

-22.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026

Last update for Dawson City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,221 in Montreal versus $1,320 in Dawson City. 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 0% higher in Montreal, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal versus $106 in Dawson City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $418 – making Montreal 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 Dawson City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,132 per month in Montreal and $2,981 in Dawson City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dawson City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $609 per month in Montreal and $722 in Dawson City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Montreal – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Dawson City, where all-in costs run around $1,988, than in Montreal at $2,088. In Dawson City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dawson City – 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 Dawson City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.