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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,108 per month in Montreal vs $2,216 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,226 per month in Montreal vs $3,231 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Montreal vs $4,245 in Edmonton, rent included.

Montreal is about 5% cheaper than Edmonton, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Montreal and Edmonton sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, Edmonton by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.73

$20.53 CA$28.47

-13.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$79.7 CA$110

-7.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$9.98 CA$13.84

8.32%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$4.04 CA$5.60

-2.97%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.19 CA$3.04

-6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$1.92 CA$2.66

-20.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.14

$5.87 CA$8.14

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$6.58 CA$9.13

8.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$1.68 CA$2.33

41.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$2.23 CA$3.09

44.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.13 CA$4.34

-5.75%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$3.46 CA$4.80

6.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$10.96 CA$15.20

24.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$11.62 CA$16.11

2.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$18.52 CA$25.68

-24.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$4.44 CA$6.16

-18.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.35 CA$1.87

14.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$4.28 CA$5.94

-23.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$4.05 CA$5.62

-24.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.26 CA$3.13

-11.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.42 CA$3.36

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.81 CA$2.51

-23.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$14.49 CA$20.10

-18.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$11.72 CA$16.26

-7.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$3.66 CA$5.07

-35.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$3.05 CA$4.23

-4.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.66 CA$3.69

3.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

$72.8 CA$101

5.94%

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

$1.36 CA$1.89

7.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$21.77 CA$30.20

51.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.16 CA$1.61

12.93%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$29.2K CA$40.4K

-1.50%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$19.7K CA$27.4K

3.66%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$228 CA$316

-64.91%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$41.39 CA$57.4

-15.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$55.2 CA$76.5

-22.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.50

$48.77 CA$67.6

-40.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

$18.21 CA$25.25

11.64%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.93

$12.98 CA$18.00

-11.56%

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

$565 CA$784

$783 CA$1,086

-27.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$9,700 CA$13.5K

70.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$45.17 CA$62.7

33.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$47.85 CA$66.4

-12.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$86.1 CA$119

20.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$98.2 CA$136

14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$1,136 CA$1,576

13.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,407

$920 CA$1,276

10.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$1,734 CA$2,404

30.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$1,453 CA$2,015

15.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,151

$2,251 CA$3,122

129.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

$2,112 CA$2,929

81.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

$3,780 CA$5,243

-19.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.32

2.78%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Montreal versus $1,136 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 25% 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 $80.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $369 – 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 Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,108 in Montreal, $2,216 in Edmonton – roughly 5% apart. Edmonton costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,163 per month in Montreal and $3,324 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 $2,108 in Montreal and $2,216 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% 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 Edmonton at $2,216. 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 $2,108 in Montreal to $2,216 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.