Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Fort McMurray Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Fort McMurray

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,345 in Fort McMurray, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,430 in Fort McMurray, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,514 in Fort McMurray, rent included.

Montreal is about 12% cheaper than Fort McMurray, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montreal and Fort McMurray sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Fort McMurray by 75%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$25.67 CA$35.55

-37.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$59.7 CA$82.7

22.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$14.49 CA$20.07

-23.05%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$3.76 CA$5.21

1.06%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$2.71 CA$3.75

-19.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.66 CA$2.30

-12.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$5.93 CA$8.20

3.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$5.66 CA$7.84

19.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$1.45 CA$2.01

60.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$2.90 CA$4.02

16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$2.94 CA$4.07

26.87%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$3.22 CA$4.46

4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$11.49 CA$15.91

41.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$14.52 CA$20.10

-20.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$15.60 CA$21.60

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$4.00 CA$5.54

-6.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$2.34 CA$3.24

-27.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$5.14 CA$7.12

-20.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$6.53 CA$9.05

-33.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$5.17 CA$7.15

-47.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$3.38 CA$4.68

-22.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.99 CA$4.14

-24.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$1.34 CA$1.86

29.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$16.51 CA$22.86

-19.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$14.37 CA$19.89

-24.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$3.44 CA$4.76

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$2.25 CA$3.12

53.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$1.44 CA$1.99

90.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$49.86 CA$69.0

45.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$3.25 CA$4.51

11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.36 CA$1.88

7.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$22.65 CA$31.36

47.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.06 CA$1.46

14.15%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$25.3K CA$35.1K

-2.76%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$22.9K CA$31.7K

-5.16%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$199 CA$276

-61.86%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$42.00 CA$58.2

-14.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$64.5 CA$89.3

-33.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$45.55 CA$63.1

-5.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$14.61 CA$20.22

-24.09%

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

$620 CA$858

$961 CA$1,330

-35.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$11.8K CA$16.3K

-50.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$72.4 CA$100

-13.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$39.71 CA$55.0

11.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$81.3 CA$113

23.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$87.3 CA$121

36.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$971 CA$1,345

24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$1,002 CA$1,387

-4.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$1,531 CA$2,119

32.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$1,594 CA$2,206

-0.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

$2,759 CA$3,820

87.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

$1,914 CA$2,651

105.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

$3,061 CA$4,239

-3.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.67

-24.89%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fort McMurray: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $971 in Fort McMurray. 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 3% higher in Fort McMurray, 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 $73.0 in Montreal versus $60.0 in Fort McMurray. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $410 in Fort McMurray – so Montreal 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 Fort McMurray: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,063 in Montreal, $2,345 in Fort McMurray – roughly 14% apart. Fort McMurray costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,518 in Fort McMurray. 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 $2,063 in Montreal and $2,345 in Fort McMurray. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 46% 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 $2,063, than in Fort McMurray at $2,345. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort McMurray 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 $2,063 in Montreal to $2,345 in Fort McMurray. 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, Fort McMurray makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.