Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ithaca, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Ithaca, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,108 per month in Montreal vs $2,893 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,226 per month in Montreal vs $3,775 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Montreal vs $4,657 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

Montreal is about 27% cheaper than Ithaca, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montreal and Ithaca, NY sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, Ithaca, NY by 110%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.72

$22.05 $22.05

-19.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$80.9 $80.9

-9.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$10.94 $10.94

-1.19%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$5.12 $5.12

-23.44%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.62 $2.62

-22.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$2.02 $2.02

-24.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.13

$4.90 $4.90

34.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$9.23 $9.23

-22.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$0.98 $0.98

141.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$3.35 $3.35

-3.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$5.26 $5.26

-43.92%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$4.02 $4.02

-8.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$14.33 $14.33

-4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$6.45 $6.45

85.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$15.41 $15.41

-8.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$4.82 $4.82

-25.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.65 $1.65

-6.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$5.55 $5.55

-40.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$4.85 $4.85

-36.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$3.20 $3.20

-37.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

$3.55 $3.55

-46.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.21 $2.21

19.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.03 $2.03

-31.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$8.81 $8.81

33.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$13.90 $13.90

-22.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$1.77 $1.77

33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$3.96 $3.96

-26.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$1.71 $1.71

60.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

$45.21 $45.21

70.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

$5.08 $5.08

-34.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.37 $1.37

6.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$29.47 $29.47

11.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.05 $1.05

24.76%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$36.0K $36.0K

-20.26%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

-20.43%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$169 $169

-52.79%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$46.97 $46.97

-25.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$49.10 $49.10

-13.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.49

$34.76 $34.76

-16.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.92

$10.93 $10.93

5.03%

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

$565 CA$784

$1,523 $1,523

-62.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$16.8K $16.8K

-1.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$47.26 $47.26

27.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$39.97 $39.97

4.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$79.9 $79.9

30.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$109 $109

3.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$2,142 $2,142

-39.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,406

$1,686 $1,686

-39.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$2,655 $2,655

-14.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$1,898 $1,898

-11.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,150

$2,132 $2,132

141.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

$2,146 $2,146

79.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

$3,385 $3,385

-10.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

6.12

-27.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ithaca, NY: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Montreal versus $2,142 in Ithaca, NY. 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 12% higher in Ithaca, NY, 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $81.0 in Ithaca, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $377 – making Montreal 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 Ithaca, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,108 in Montreal, $2,893 in Ithaca, NY – roughly 37% apart. Ithaca, NY costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,163 per month in Montreal and $4,339 in Ithaca, NY. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Montreal and $81.0 in Ithaca, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,108 in Montreal and $2,893 in Ithaca, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,108, than in Ithaca, NY at $2,893. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ithaca, NY 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 $2,108 in Montreal to $2,893 in Ithaca, NY. 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, Ithaca, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.