Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Edmonton Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Edmonton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,186 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,285 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,385 in Edmonton, rent included.

Montreal is about 5% cheaper than Edmonton, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Edmonton sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Edmonton by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$18.61 CA$26.19

-11.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$65.9 CA$92.7

12.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$11.58 CA$16.29

-5.53%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$3.69 CA$5.19

4.07%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$2.18 CA$3.07

-1.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.78 CA$2.50

-18.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.76 CA$8.10

6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$5.83 CA$8.20

15.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$2.03 CA$2.86

15.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.90 CA$4.08

15.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$3.10 CA$4.36

20.65%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.72 CA$5.23

-8.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$12.23 CA$17.20

33.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$12.63 CA$17.78

-6.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$16.01 CA$22.52

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$4.65 CA$6.55

-20.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.33 CA$1.87

27.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.94 CA$5.55

4.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$3.62 CA$5.10

21.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$2.46 CA$3.46

13.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$2.21 CA$3.11

19.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$2.72 CA$3.82

-15.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.95 CA$2.74

-8.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$14.97 CA$21.06

-12.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$12.15 CA$17.09

-12.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$2.94 CA$4.14

1.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$3.29 CA$4.63

4.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.51 CA$3.53

11.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$74.5 CA$105

-2.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$3.26 CA$4.59

7.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.65 CA$2.32

-12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$23.15 CA$32.57

48.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.06 CA$1.49

15.09%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$25.9K CA$36.4K

-2.48%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$21.9K CA$30.9K

0.89%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$199 CA$279

-61.47%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$44.38 CA$62.5

-19.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$66.2 CA$93.1

-35.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$48.71 CA$68.5

-10.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

$21.30 CA$29.97

-20.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$13.02 CA$18.33

-14.82%

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

$625 CA$879

$701 CA$986

-10.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$11.8K CA$16.6K

-50.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$50.3 CA$70.8

25.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$41.94 CA$59.0

6.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$83.5 CA$117

23.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$104 CA$146

13.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$1,251 CA$1,761

-3.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$931 CA$1,310

3.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,933 CA$2,721

5.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,587 CA$2,233

-0.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$2,303 CA$3,240

120.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

$2,110 CA$2,969

79.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$3,313 CA$4,661

-12.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.08

-17.60%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,251 in Edmonton. 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 15% higher in Edmonton, 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $66.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $381 – making Edmonton 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 Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,085 in Montreal, $2,186 in Edmonton – roughly 5% apart. Edmonton costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,278 in Edmonton. 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 $2,186 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% 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 Edmonton at $2,186. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edmonton 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 $2,186 in Edmonton. 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, Edmonton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.