Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Halifax Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Halifax

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,514 in Halifax, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,626 in Halifax, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,737 in Halifax, rent included.

Montreal is about 17% cheaper than Halifax, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Halifax sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Halifax by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$18.05 CA$25.30

-8.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$66.1 CA$92.6

11.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$10.34 CA$14.50

5.80%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$3.89 CA$5.45

-1.29%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$2.28 CA$3.20

-6.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.73 CA$2.43

-16.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$5.73 CA$8.03

6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$6.82 CA$9.57

-1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$2.25 CA$3.15

4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$2.90 CA$4.06

15.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$4.77 CA$6.69

-21.59%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$3.92 CA$5.49

-13.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$9.87 CA$13.84

65.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$13.23 CA$18.54

-10.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$13.80 CA$19.35

13.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$5.07 CA$7.11

-27.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.68 CA$2.36

1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$4.26 CA$5.97

-3.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$4.36 CA$6.12

1.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$2.96 CA$4.15

-5.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.67 CA$3.74

-1.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$2.56 CA$3.59

-10.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$2.22 CA$3.11

-19.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$15.28 CA$21.42

-13.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$15.66 CA$21.95

-32.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$3.80 CA$5.33

-21.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$4.58 CA$6.42

-24.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.22 CA$3.11

26.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$66.9 CA$93.7

8.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$3.61 CA$5.06

-2.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.20 CA$1.68

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$22.26 CA$31.20

54.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.26 CA$1.76

-3.17%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$25.1K CA$35.1K

0.81%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$21.9K CA$30.7K

1.13%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$158 CA$221

-51.44%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$49.40 CA$69.3

-27.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$70.0 CA$98.2

-38.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$53.2 CA$74.6

-18.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

$11.78 CA$16.51

42.87%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$11.26 CA$15.78

-1.51%

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

$625 CA$876

$919 CA$1,289

-32.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$15.3K CA$21.5K

-61.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$66.0 CA$92.6

-4.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$33.87 CA$47.49

31.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$98.0 CA$137

4.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$110 CA$155

7.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$1,524 CA$2,136

-20.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$1,231 CA$1,725

-21.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$2,380 CA$3,337

-14.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$1,943 CA$2,724

-18.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

$3,167 CA$4,441

60.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

$2,741 CA$3,843

38.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$2,790 CA$3,911

3.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.12

-18.14%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Halifax: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,524 in Halifax. 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 4% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $66.0 in Halifax. Groceries tell a different story – $395 in Montreal vs $408 in Halifax – 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 Halifax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,085 in Montreal, $2,514 in Halifax – roughly 21% apart. Halifax costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,772 in Halifax. 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.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $625 per month in Montreal and $919 in Halifax. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Halifax at $2,514. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Halifax 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 $2,085 in Montreal to $2,514 in Halifax. 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, Halifax makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.