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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,065 per month in Montreal vs $2,250 in Estevan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,180 per month in Montreal vs $3,286 in Estevan, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,296 per month in Montreal vs $4,323 in Estevan, rent included.

Montreal is about 8% cheaper than Estevan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Estevan sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, Estevan by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 CA$22.03

$22.47 CA$30.79

-28.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 CA$101

$74.8 CA$103

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 CA$14.95

$5.92 CA$8.11

84.29%

Cappuccino

$3.67 CA$5.03

$2.20 CA$3.01

66.82%

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

$2.06 CA$2.83

$2.31 CA$3.17

-10.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.97

$1.89 CA$2.59

-23.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.21 CA$8.50

$5.94 CA$8.14

4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$8.82

$5.93 CA$8.12

8.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$0.96 CA$1.32

143.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.42

$1.21 CA$1.66

166.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$3.16 CA$4.33

21.52%

Eggs

$3.32 CA$4.54

$1.96 CA$2.68

69.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.35 CA$22.40

$11.60 CA$15.89

40.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.92 CA$16.33

$6.32 CA$8.66

88.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 CA$20.69

$17.98 CA$24.64

-16.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.04

$3.62 CA$4.96

1.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 CA$2.32

$1.27 CA$1.74

33.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.64

$4.27 CA$5.85

-3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$3.52 CA$4.82

21.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.82

$3.31 CA$4.54

-15.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.70

$2.82 CA$3.87

-4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 CA$2.97

$1.51 CA$2.07

43.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.44

$0.41 CA$0.56

334.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.22 CA$18.12

$14.91 CA$20.43

-11.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 CA$15.12

$13.35 CA$18.29

-17.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 CA$4.07

$3.68 CA$5.04

-19.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.71

$2.94 CA$4.03

17.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.84

$2.39 CA$3.27

17.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 CA$98.9

$63.4 CA$86.8

13.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 CA$5.03

$3.23 CA$4.43

13.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.92

$0.67 CA$0.92

108.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.07 CA$46.68

$29.53 CA$40.45

15.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.66

$1.11 CA$1.51

9.01%

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

$25.3K CA$34.7K

$25.4K CA$34.8K

-0.41%

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

$21.9K CA$30.0K

$20.0K CA$27.4K

9.31%

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

$74.4 CA$102

$136 CA$186

-45.36%

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

$36.64 CA$50.2

$51.1 CA$70.0

-28.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 CA$59.5

$50.4 CA$69.0

-13.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.20 CA$59.2

$41.65 CA$57.1

3.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.18 CA$23.54

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 CA$15.06

$9.27 CA$12.69

18.55%

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

$614 CA$842

$490 CA$672

25.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,855 CA$8,022

$11.1K CA$15.2K

-47.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 CA$85.8

$62.7 CA$86.0

-0.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.25 CA$60.6

$32.61 CA$44.67

35.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$142

$85.1 CA$117

21.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$167

$108 CA$148

12.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 CA$1,631

$1,307 CA$1,791

-8.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$946 CA$1,296

$1,172 CA$1,606

-19.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 CA$2,791

$1,998 CA$2,737

1.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 CA$2,120

$1,810 CA$2,479

-14.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,398 CA$7,395

$3,835 CA$5,254

40.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,014 CA$5,499

$3,112 CA$4,264

28.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,013 CA$4,128

$4,353 CA$5,964

-30.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.47

-22.57%

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

Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026

Last update for Estevan: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,190 in Montreal versus $1,307 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 44% 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 $74 in Montreal versus $75 in Estevan. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $300 in Estevan – so Estevan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $2,065 in Montreal, $2,250 in Estevan – roughly 9% apart. Estevan costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,097 per month in Montreal and $3,375 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 $614 per month in Montreal and $490 in Estevan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% 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 $2,065, than in Estevan at $2,250. 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 $2,065 in Montreal to $2,250 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.