Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Joliette Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Joliette

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $1,789 in Joliette, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $2,697 in Joliette, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $3,606 in Joliette, rent included.

Montreal costs about 17% more than Joliette, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Joliette sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Joliette by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$18.17 CA$25.57

-9.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$55.6 CA$78.3

33.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$11.22 CA$15.79

-2.50%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$2.60 CA$3.66

47.69%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$2.16 CA$3.03

-0.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.70 CA$2.40

-14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$4.32 CA$6.08

41.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$6.59 CA$9.27

2.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$2.37 CA$3.34

-0.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.55 CA$3.58

30.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$3.18 CA$4.47

17.61%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$2.54 CA$3.57

33.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$11.19 CA$15.75

45.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$12.82 CA$18.04

-7.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$15.76 CA$22.18

-0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$4.39 CA$6.18

-15.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.42 CA$1.99

19.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.36 CA$4.72

22.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$3.72 CA$5.24

18.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$2.50 CA$3.52

11.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$3.08 CA$4.34

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$1.73 CA$2.43

32.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.55 CA$2.18

14.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$14.16 CA$19.92

-6.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$11.23 CA$15.80

-5.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$2.44 CA$3.43

22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$3.20 CA$4.50

7.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.38 CA$3.35

18.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$61.9 CA$87.2

17.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$2.74 CA$3.86

28.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.49 CA$2.10

-2.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$20.07 CA$28.24

70.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$0.98 CA$1.37

24.49%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$24.6K CA$34.7K

2.50%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$21.8K CA$30.7K

1.32%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$164 CA$230

-53.24%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$43.19 CA$60.8

-17.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$51.7 CA$72.8

-16.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$41.80 CA$58.8

3.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$11.11 CA$15.63

-0.18%

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

$625 CA$879

$895 CA$1,259

-30.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$16.1K CA$22.7K

-63.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$51.1 CA$71.9

23.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$41.24 CA$58.0

7.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$88.9 CA$125

15.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$95.9 CA$135

23.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$691 CA$973

74.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$623 CA$876

54.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,322 CA$1,861

53.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,108 CA$1,559

42.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$3,836 CA$5,398

32.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

$3,523 CA$4,958

7.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$2,710 CA$3,813

6.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

5.48

-8.58%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Joliette: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $691 in Joliette. 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 7% higher in Montreal, 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 $56.0 in Joliette. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $360 – making Joliette 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 Joliette: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreal is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $2,683 in Joliette. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Joliette, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $625 per month in Montreal and $895 in Joliette. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Joliette, where all-in costs run around $1,789, than in Montreal at $2,085. In Joliette it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Joliette – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Joliette. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.