Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Gatineau Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Gatineau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,127 in Gatineau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,222 in Gatineau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,316 in Gatineau, rent included.

Montreal is about 3% cheaper than Gatineau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montreal and Gatineau sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Gatineau by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.12

$13.10 CA$18.21

21.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$86.9 CA$121

-15.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$10.95 CA$15.21

1.83%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.28

$3.40 CA$4.73

11.76%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$1.49 CA$2.07

46.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.40 CA$1.94

4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$4.30 CA$5.97

42.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.41

$6.19 CA$8.60

9.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.23

$2.06 CA$2.87

13.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$2.96 CA$4.11

14.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.18

$4.86 CA$6.75

-23.25%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.57 CA$4.97

-5.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$12.03 CA$16.72

35.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.04

$10.44 CA$14.50

10.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.17

$11.10 CA$15.42

37.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.61 CA$6.40

-18.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.37 CA$1.90

24.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.70

$4.84 CA$6.72

-15.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.63 CA$5.04

19.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.04 CA$2.84

32.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.23 CA$3.09

17.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$2.09 CA$2.91

7.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.77 CA$3.84

-37.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.49

$11.99 CA$16.66

11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.98

$12.43 CA$17.27

-13.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.47 CA$3.43

21.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$2.91 CA$4.04

18.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$3.23 CA$4.49

-15.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$82.1 CA$114

-11.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.86 CA$5.36

-5.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.47 CA$2.05

-0.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.46

$33.65 CA$46.76

-0.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.16 CA$1.61

4.31%

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

$24.6K CA$34.2K

$24.8K CA$34.4K

-0.48%

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

$21.7K CA$30.1K

$20.5K CA$28.5K

5.65%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$111 CA$154

-31.33%

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

$35.72 CA$49.63

$39.98 CA$55.6

-10.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$49.08 CA$68.2

-12.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.6

$42.54 CA$59.1

0.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

$30.89 CA$42.91

-44.22%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.40

$11.18 CA$15.54

-0.81%

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

$620 CA$861

$575 CA$799

7.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,106

$11.9K CA$16.6K

-51.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$64.7 CA$89.9

-3.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.7

$44.48 CA$61.8

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$78.3 CA$109

28.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$121 CA$169

-2.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,683

$1,119 CA$1,554

8.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,333

$975 CA$1,355

-1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,828

$1,626 CA$2,259

25.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$1,607 CA$2,232

-1.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

$5,304 CA$7,370

-2.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

$6,116 CA$8,498

-35.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,113

$2,631 CA$3,656

12.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.5

-22.92%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gatineau: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,119 in Gatineau. 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 12% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $87.0 in Gatineau. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $369 in Gatineau – so Gatineau 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 Gatineau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gatineau costs about 3% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,190 in Gatineau. 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 $2,127 in Gatineau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% 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 Gatineau at $2,127. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gatineau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,127 in Gatineau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Gatineau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.