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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,042 per month in Montreal vs $2,118 in Gatineau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Montreal vs $3,127 in Gatineau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,284 per month in Montreal vs $4,136 in Gatineau, rent included.

Montreal is about 4% cheaper than Gatineau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montreal and Gatineau sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Gatineau by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.49

$12.85 CA$17.97

41.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.8

$86.8 CA$121

-18.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.23

$10.88 CA$15.22

0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.49

$3.23 CA$4.52

21.36%

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

$1.97 CA$2.76

$1.45 CA$2.03

35.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.23

$1.34 CA$1.87

18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.12

$4.30 CA$6.01

51.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.13

$6.33 CA$8.85

14.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$2.00 CA$2.79

14.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$3.02 CA$4.22

2.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$5.21 CA$7.28

-41.84%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.03

$3.19 CA$4.47

12.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.99

$12.05 CA$16.85

18.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.93

$10.21 CA$14.29

11.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.37

$11.15 CA$15.59

30.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.81

$4.00 CA$5.60

-14.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.93 CA$2.71

-20.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.48

$4.91 CA$6.87

-34.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.04

$4.72 CA$6.60

-38.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.67

$2.18 CA$3.05

-12.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.52

$2.59 CA$3.62

-30.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.20 CA$3.08

16.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$2.67 CA$3.74

-43.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.35

$12.21 CA$17.09

-4.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.85

$12.64 CA$17.68

-15.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.32

$2.80 CA$3.91

-15.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$3.32 CA$4.64

-8.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$3.27 CA$4.58

-16.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$104

$81.3 CA$114

-8.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$4.94 CA$6.91

-35.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$2.27 CA$3.18

-36.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.90

$33.64 CA$47.06

-0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.23 CA$1.72

6.50%

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

$28.7K CA$40.1K

$28.5K CA$39.9K

0.47%

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

$20.4K CA$28.5K

$19.2K CA$26.9K

6.00%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$115 CA$161

-32.19%

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

$35.53 CA$49.70

$36.15 CA$50.6

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.7

$49.21 CA$68.8

-11.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$43.14

$48.47 CA$67.8

-36.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.97

$29.39 CA$41.11

-31.98%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.20

$11.00 CA$15.38

5.27%

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

$552 CA$772

$566 CA$792

-2.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$23.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.5

$72.1 CA$101

-23.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.6

$43.40 CA$60.7

-11.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$86.9 CA$122

13.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$146

$122 CA$170

-14.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,726

$1,120 CA$1,567

10.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,385

$976 CA$1,365

1.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,037

$1,826 CA$2,555

18.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,289

$1,522 CA$2,129

7.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,176

$5,300 CA$7,413

-3.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,209

$6,120 CA$8,561

-39.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,279

$2,676 CA$3,744

14.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.64

-4.31%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gatineau: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,234 in Montreal versus $1,120 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 14% 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 $71.0 in Montreal versus $87.0 in Gatineau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $378 – making Montreal 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 Gatineau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gatineau costs about 4% 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 $3,063 per month in Montreal and $3,177 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 $2,042 in Montreal and $2,118 in Gatineau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10% 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 $2,042, than in Gatineau at $2,118. 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 $2,042 versus $2,118 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.