Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Golden, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Golden, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,042 in Montreal versus $2,199 in Golden, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,163 in Montreal versus $3,033 in Golden, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,284 in Montreal versus $3,867 in Golden, BC.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 7% less than in Golden, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 49% above, Golden, BC 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.33

$16.69 CA$23.19

9.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.2

$59.7 CA$83.0

18.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.14

$11.33 CA$15.75

-3.88%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.45

$4.18 CA$5.81

-6.22%

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

$1.97 CA$2.74

$2.01 CA$2.79

-1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.21

$1.68 CA$2.34

-5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.07

$4.55 CA$6.32

43.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.07

$5.68 CA$7.89

27.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.18

$1.16 CA$1.61

97.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.32

$2.88 CA$4.01

7.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.22

$3.47 CA$4.83

-12.68%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.00

$3.16 CA$4.40

13.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.87

$9.37 CA$13.02

52.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.83

$13.41 CA$18.64

-15.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.24

$21.40 CA$29.74

-31.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.78

$3.43 CA$4.76

0.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.13

$1.56 CA$2.17

-1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.45

$3.60 CA$5.00

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.01

$4.65 CA$6.46

-37.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.65

$3.16 CA$4.39

-39.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.51

$3.22 CA$4.47

-44.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$2.61 CA$3.63

-1.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.91 CA$2.65

-21.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.24

$14.44 CA$20.08

-19.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.76

$13.85 CA$19.25

-23.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$2.66 CA$3.70

-10.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.22

$3.16 CA$4.40

-4.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.61 CA$3.63

4.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$103

$69.6 CA$96.8

6.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.44

$2.81 CA$3.90

13.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$1.83 CA$2.54

-20.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.60

$35.14 CA$48.84

-4.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.20 CA$1.67

9.17%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$28.9K CA$40.1K

-0.69%

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

$20.4K CA$28.3K

$18.9K CA$26.3K

7.45%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$50.7 CA$70.5

54.22%

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

$35.53 CA$49.39

$44.80 CA$62.3

-20.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.3

$57.3 CA$79.6

-24.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$42.87

$40.83 CA$56.8

-24.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.79

$17.31 CA$24.07

15.48%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.10

$11.74 CA$16.31

-1.36%

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

$552 CA$768

$1,023 CA$1,422

-46.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$22.9K

$16.8K CA$23.3K

-1.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.0

$49.86 CA$69.3

11.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.3

$41.83 CA$58.2

-8.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$88.0 CA$122

12.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$145

$101 CA$140

3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,715

$1,273 CA$1,770

-3.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,376

$1,137 CA$1,580

-12.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,018

$1,531 CA$2,128

41.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,274

$1,289 CA$1,792

26.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,130

$4,334 CA$6,025

18.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,177

$3,687 CA$5,125

1.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,252

$3,217 CA$4,472

-4.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.69

-5.33%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Golden, BC: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,234 in Montreal and $1,273 in Golden, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Golden, BC pays 5% 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: $71.0 in Montreal vs $60.0 in Golden, BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $354 vs $387, with Montreal 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 Golden, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Golden, BC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montreal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Golden, BC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,234 in Montreal versus $1,273 in Golden, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $60.0 in Golden, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,042 per month in Montreal versus $2,199 in Golden, BC – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,042 in Montreal versus $2,199 in Golden, BC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Golden, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Montreal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,042 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montreal hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Montreal and Golden, BC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Golden, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.