Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Fort Erie, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Fort Erie, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,151 in Fort Erie, ON.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Montreal versus $3,188 in Fort Erie, ON.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Montreal versus $4,226 in Fort Erie, ON.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 4% less than in Fort Erie, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 54% above, Fort Erie, ON 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.92 CA$22.05
$14.80 CA$20.49
7.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1 CA$101
$74.2 CA$103
-1.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.15 CA$15.43
$10.44 CA$14.46
6.80%
Cappuccino
$3.80 CA$5.26
$3.42 CA$4.74
11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 CA$3.01
$1.59 CA$2.21
37.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 CA$2.02
$1.32 CA$1.83
10.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 CA$8.48
$5.47 CA$7.57
11.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78 CA$9.38
$5.24 CA$7.25
29.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.33 CA$3.22
$1.77 CA$2.45
31.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 CA$4.69
$2.26 CA$3.12
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.16
$4.31 CA$5.96
-13.46%
Eggs
$3.38 CA$4.68
$3.26 CA$4.52
3.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.25 CA$22.50
$5.80 CA$8.03
180.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 CA$15.98
$10.11 CA$13.99
14.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.24 CA$21.10
$11.52 CA$15.95
32.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.18
$2.90 CA$4.01
28.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 CA$2.36
$1.09 CA$1.51
55.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.68
$2.67 CA$3.69
53.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 CA$6.02
$3.19 CA$4.42
36.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 CA$3.75
$1.65 CA$2.28
64.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.62
$2.53 CA$3.50
3.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 CA$3.12
$1.75 CA$2.42
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.39
$2.18 CA$3.02
-20.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.31 CA$18.43
$13.20 CA$18.28
0.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.78 CA$14.93
$10.14 CA$14.04
6.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.17
$2.24 CA$3.10
34.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 CA$4.80
$2.35 CA$3.25
47.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 CA$3.79
$2.63 CA$3.64
4.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 CA$101
$62.9 CA$87.1
15.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 CA$5.03
$3.29 CA$4.55
10.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CA$2.02
$1.20 CA$1.66
21.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.44 CA$46.30
$28.19 CA$39.04
18.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.68
$1.12 CA$1.55
8.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$34.1K
$24.9K CA$34.5K
-1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K CA$30.0K
$20.2K CA$28.0K
7.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$105
$122 CA$169
-37.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.72 CA$49.46
$43.49 CA$60.2
-17.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.86 CA$59.4
$40.28 CA$55.8
6.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.92 CA$59.4
$41.08 CA$56.9
4.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23 CA$23.86
$22.51 CA$31.17
-23.46%
Cinema Ticket
$11.09 CA$15.35
$14.11 CA$19.54
-21.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$620 CA$858
$675 CA$934
-8.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,834 CA$8,078
$14.9K CA$20.7K
-60.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7 CA$86.8
$58.1 CA$80.4
7.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41 CA$61.5
$40.08 CA$55.5
10.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$139
$85.9 CA$119
17.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 CA$165
$73.2 CA$101
62.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 CA$1,677
$1,322 CA$1,831
-8.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$960 CA$1,329
$1,187 CA$1,643
-19.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 CA$2,818
$1,992 CA$2,757
2.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 CA$2,201
$1,815 CA$2,513
-12.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,181 CA$7,173
$3,301 CA$4,570
56.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,934 CA$5,446
$2,134 CA$2,955
84.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Fort Erie, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,960 CA$4,098
$5,679 CA$7,863
-47.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
6.83
-26.65%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fort Erie, ON: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Montreal and $1,322 in Fort Erie, ON. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Erie, ON pays 92% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $73.0 in Montreal vs $74.0 in Fort Erie, ON. Groceries flip the comparison at $392 vs $300, with Fort Erie, ON cheaper for home cooking.

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 Fort Erie, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Fort Erie, ON?
Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Fort Erie, ON. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Montreal or Fort Erie, ON?
On paper, Fort Erie, ON earns 92% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Montreal vs Fort Erie, ON?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,322 in Fort Erie, ON. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Fort Erie, ON?
All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Montreal versus $2,151 in Fort Erie, ON – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Montreal vs Fort Erie, ON?
A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 16% less than in Fort Erie, ON. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Fort Erie, ON?
At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,151 in Fort Erie, ON, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Fort Erie, ON. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Fort Erie, ON?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,063 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.
How safe is Montreal compared to Fort Erie, ON?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Fort Erie, ON are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Fort Erie, ON. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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