Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and High Level Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and High Level

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,363 in High Level.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Montreal versus $3,362 in High Level.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Montreal versus $4,361 in High Level.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 13% less than in High Level, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 54% above, High Level 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.05

$16.89 CA$23.39

-5.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$101

$70.7 CA$97.9

3.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.43

$10.94 CA$15.14

1.92%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.26

$3.76 CA$5.21

1.06%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$1.99 CA$2.75

9.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.67 CA$2.31

-12.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.48

$5.60 CA$7.75

9.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.38

$5.85 CA$8.10

15.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$2.09 CA$2.90

11.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.69

$2.61 CA$3.62

29.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.16

$3.64 CA$5.03

2.47%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.68

$3.48 CA$4.82

-2.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.50

$10.99 CA$15.22

47.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$15.98

$11.64 CA$16.12

-0.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.10

$14.67 CA$20.31

3.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$3.95 CA$5.47

-5.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.36

$1.41 CA$1.95

20.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.68

$3.66 CA$5.07

12.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.02

$3.84 CA$5.31

13.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$2.51 CA$3.47

7.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.62

$2.50 CA$3.46

4.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.12

$2.62 CA$3.63

-14.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.39

$1.77 CA$2.45

-2.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.43

$13.78 CA$19.08

-3.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.93

$11.82 CA$16.37

-8.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$2.80 CA$3.87

7.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.80

$3.04 CA$4.21

13.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.40 CA$3.32

14.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$61.9 CA$85.8

17.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.03

$3.24 CA$4.49

12.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.48 CA$2.05

-1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.30

$25.67 CA$35.54

30.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.15 CA$1.60

5.22%

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

$24.6K CA$34.1K

$25.3K CA$35.0K

-2.57%

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

$21.7K CA$30.0K

$21.0K CA$29.1K

3.21%

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

$76.0 CA$105

$140 CA$194

-45.84%

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

$35.72 CA$49.46

$43.21 CA$59.8

-17.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.4

$63.1 CA$87.4

-32.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.4

$41.85 CA$57.9

2.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.35

$11.57 CA$16.02

-4.15%

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

$620 CA$858

$723 CA$1,002

-14.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,078

$11.8K CA$16.3K

-50.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$55.1 CA$76.2

13.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.5

$39.43 CA$54.6

12.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$139

$86.3 CA$119

16.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$108 CA$150

9.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,677

$1,327 CA$1,837

-8.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,329

$1,185 CA$1,640

-19.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,818

$2,025 CA$2,804

0.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,201

$1,805 CA$2,500

-11.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,173

$4,894 CA$6,776

5.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,446

$4,084 CA$5,654

-3.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,098

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.46

-22.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for High Level: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Montreal and $1,327 in High Level. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $73.0 in Montreal vs $71.0 in High Level for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $361 per month, with High Level cheaper across the board.

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 High Level: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal and High Level differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,063 vs $2,363 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,094 in Montreal and $3,545 in High Level to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,327 in High Level. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Montreal versus $2,363 in High Level – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 17% less than in High Level. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,363 in High Level, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in High Level. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Montreal and High Level 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 15% less than in High Level. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.