Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Estevan Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Estevan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $2,272 in Estevan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $3,242 in Estevan, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $4,212 in Estevan, rent included.

Montreal is about 9% cheaper than Estevan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Estevan sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, Estevan by 65%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.70

$21.50 CA$29.74

-16.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$100

$69.5 CA$96.2

3.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$5.89 CA$8.15

85.40%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.49

$2.11 CA$2.92

88.15%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.29 CA$3.17

-9.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$1.75 CA$2.43

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.88

$6.85 CA$9.48

-6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.09

$6.26 CA$8.66

16.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$1.02 CA$1.41

134.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.44

$1.18 CA$1.63

172.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$3.17 CA$4.39

-3.15%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.09

$1.92 CA$2.65

91.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.78

$13.97 CA$19.34

-2.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.09

$6.35 CA$8.79

83.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.33

$16.96 CA$23.47

-17.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.10

$4.29 CA$5.94

-14.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.20 CA$1.66

30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.72

$3.92 CA$5.42

-13.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.19

$3.77 CA$5.22

-19.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$2.30 CA$3.18

-13.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$2.44 CA$3.37

-25.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$1.48 CA$2.05

72.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$0.44 CA$0.61

215.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.90

$15.13 CA$20.93

-24.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$13.74 CA$19.01

-20.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$3.53 CA$4.89

-35.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$3.43 CA$4.74

-12.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$2.34 CA$3.23

14.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

$55.0 CA$76.1

36.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.63

$3.60 CA$4.99

-6.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$0.80 CA$1.11

87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.63

$21.56 CA$29.84

56.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.79

$1.09 CA$1.51

18.35%

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

$28.3K CA$39.1K

$28.2K CA$39.0K

0.32%

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

$20.0K CA$27.6K

$21.1K CA$29.2K

-5.28%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$130 CA$180

-38.37%

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

$34.23 CA$47.37

$52.5 CA$72.7

-34.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.3

$58.4 CA$80.8

-29.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.46

$44.86 CA$62.1

-34.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.52

$15.84 CA$21.92

25.57%

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.20

$9.87 CA$13.65

18.64%

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

$564 CA$781

$488 CA$675

15.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

$11.0K CA$15.2K

53.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.3

$51.9 CA$71.8

14.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.3

$39.20 CA$54.2

7.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$94.2 CA$130

13.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$110 CA$153

0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,776

$1,280 CA$1,771

0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,370

$1,144 CA$1,583

-13.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,127

$1,955 CA$2,705

15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,307

$1,716 CA$2,374

-2.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,316

$4,666 CA$6,457

13.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,276

$3,972 CA$5,497

-4.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,177

$4,366 CA$6,041

-30.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

4.58

-3.71%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Estevan: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,280 in Estevan. 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 45% higher in Estevan, 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $70.0 in Estevan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $305 – making Estevan 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 Estevan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,056 in Montreal, $2,272 in Estevan – roughly 10% apart. Estevan costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,084 per month in Montreal and $3,408 in Estevan. 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.

Kindergarten costs $564 per month in Montreal and $488 in Estevan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Estevan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,056, than in Estevan at $2,272. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Estevan 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 $2,056 in Montreal to $2,272 in Estevan. 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, Estevan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.