Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Hay River, NT Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Hay River, NT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $2,307 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $3,315 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $4,323 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

Montreal is about 11% cheaper than Hay River, NT, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Hay River, NT sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, Hay River, NT by 68%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.70

$18.25 CA$25.25

-2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$100

$66.7 CA$92.3

8.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$10.97 CA$15.17

-0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.49

$3.69 CA$5.11

7.59%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$1.84 CA$2.55

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$1.74 CA$2.40

-10.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.88

$5.92 CA$8.19

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.09

$5.00 CA$6.92

45.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$2.06 CA$2.85

16.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.44

$2.62 CA$3.62

22.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$3.00 CA$4.15

2.33%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.09

$3.92 CA$5.43

-6.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.78

$11.54 CA$15.96

17.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.09

$11.48 CA$15.88

1.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.33

$14.73 CA$20.38

-5.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.10

$4.24 CA$5.86

-13.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.25 CA$1.73

24.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.72

$3.22 CA$4.45

5.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.19

$3.84 CA$5.32

-21.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$2.34 CA$3.24

-15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$2.50 CA$3.46

-27.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$2.37 CA$3.28

8.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$1.42 CA$1.97

-2.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.90

$12.91 CA$17.87

-11.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$12.51 CA$17.31

-12.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.13

$2.65 CA$3.67

-14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$3.16 CA$4.38

-4.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$2.23 CA$3.09

20.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

$60.0 CA$83.1

25.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.63

$3.36 CA$4.64

-0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.56 CA$2.15

-3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.63

$23.40 CA$32.37

44.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.79

$1.14 CA$1.58

13.16%

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

$28.3K CA$39.1K

$27.7K CA$38.4K

1.98%

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

$20.0K CA$27.6K

$20.4K CA$28.2K

-2.01%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$139 CA$193

-42.38%

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

$34.23 CA$47.37

$38.54 CA$53.3

-11.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.3

$56.8 CA$78.6

-27.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.46

$40.92 CA$56.6

-28.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.52

$16.63 CA$23.01

19.60%

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.20

$12.92 CA$17.88

-9.37%

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

$564 CA$781

$818 CA$1,132

-31.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

$12.2K CA$16.9K

38.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.3

$55.3 CA$76.5

7.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.3

$36.25 CA$50.2

16.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$86.3 CA$119

24.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$98.8 CA$137

12.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,776

$1,132 CA$1,566

13.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,370

$982 CA$1,359

0.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,127

$2,025 CA$2,801

11.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,307

$1,738 CA$2,405

-4.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,316

$4,703 CA$6,508

12.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,276

$3,866 CA$5,349

-1.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,177

$4,268 CA$5,906

-29.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

4.68

-5.77%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Hay River, NT: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,132 in Hay River, NT. 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 41% higher in Hay River, NT, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Montreal versus $67.0 in Hay River, NT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $355 – making Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hay River, NT costs about 12% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,084 per month in Montreal and $3,460 in Hay River, NT. 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 $2,056 in Montreal and $2,307 in Hay River, NT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 26% 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 $2,056, than in Hay River, NT at $2,307. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hay River, NT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,056 versus $2,307 in Hay River, NT. 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, Hay River, NT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.