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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,450 in Halifax, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,580 in Halifax, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,710 in Halifax, rent included.

Montreal is about 16% cheaper than Halifax, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Halifax sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Halifax by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$18.31 CA$25.36

-13.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$66.4 CA$91.9

10.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$10.47 CA$14.50

6.49%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$3.75 CA$5.19

1.33%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$2.20 CA$3.04

-0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.63 CA$2.26

-10.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$5.76 CA$7.98

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$6.64 CA$9.20

2.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$2.24 CA$3.11

4.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$2.94 CA$4.07

15.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$4.83 CA$6.68

-22.77%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$4.00 CA$5.54

-15.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$9.73 CA$13.47

67.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$13.29 CA$18.40

-13.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$13.74 CA$19.02

10.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$4.94 CA$6.84

-24.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.68 CA$2.32

1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$4.43 CA$6.13

-7.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$4.24 CA$5.88

2.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$3.00 CA$4.15

-9.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.58 CA$3.57

1.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.59 CA$3.59

-13.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$2.20 CA$3.05

-21.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$15.25 CA$21.12

-12.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$16.00 CA$22.16

-32.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$3.88 CA$5.37

-22.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$4.47 CA$6.19

-22.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.15 CA$2.97

27.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$67.3 CA$93.2

8.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$3.72 CA$5.14

-2.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.18 CA$1.63

23.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$22.21 CA$30.75

50.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.20 CA$1.66

0.83%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$25.5K CA$35.3K

-3.36%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$22.2K CA$30.8K

-2.49%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$154 CA$213

-50.61%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$50.3 CA$69.6

-28.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$70.5 CA$97.6

-39.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$52.3 CA$72.4

-17.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

$11.78 CA$16.31

46.26%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$11.18 CA$15.48

-0.81%

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

$620 CA$858

$921 CA$1,275

-32.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$14.9K CA$20.6K

-60.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$65.0 CA$90.0

-3.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$34.58 CA$47.88

28.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$100 CA$139

0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$113 CA$157

5.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$1,526 CA$2,113

-20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$1,239 CA$1,716

-22.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$2,369 CA$3,280

-14.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$2,004 CA$2,774

-20.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

$3,284 CA$4,547

57.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

$2,748 CA$3,805

43.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

$2,703 CA$3,743

9.50%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Halifax: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,526 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 10% 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 $66.0 in Halifax. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $409 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: $2,063 in Montreal, $2,450 in Halifax – roughly 19% apart. Halifax costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,675 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 8% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $620 per month in Montreal and $921 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 $2,063, than in Halifax at $2,450. 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 $2,063 in Montreal to $2,450 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.