Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Laval Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Laval

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,084 per month in Montreal vs $2,284 in Laval, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,161 per month in Montreal vs $3,105 in Laval, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,239 per month in Montreal vs $3,925 in Laval, rent included.

Montreal is about 9% cheaper than Laval, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Laval sit above the global median – Montreal by 55%, Laval by 70%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 CA$22.30
$16.22 CA$22.64
-1.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 CA$102
$73.5 CA$103
-0.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 CA$15.32
$11.21 CA$15.66
-2.14%
Cappuccino
$3.79 CA$5.29
$4.05 CA$5.66
-6.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$2.06 CA$2.88
4.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.09
$1.73 CA$2.41
-13.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 CA$8.24
$6.01 CA$8.40
-1.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 CA$9.52
$6.56 CA$9.16
3.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.23
$2.40 CA$3.35
-3.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 CA$4.72
$2.86 CA$3.99
18.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.36
$3.35 CA$4.68
14.33%
Eggs
$3.40 CA$4.75
$3.28 CA$4.59
3.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.11 CA$22.50
$11.07 CA$15.47
45.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 CA$16.46
$12.70 CA$17.74
-7.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.32 CA$21.40
$15.22 CA$21.25
0.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.11
$4.23 CA$5.91
-13.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 CA$2.25
$1.69 CA$2.36
-4.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.07 CA$5.68
$4.08 CA$5.70
-0.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.14
$4.42 CA$6.18
-0.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 CA$3.74
$2.48 CA$3.46
8.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.72
$2.66 CA$3.72
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 CA$3.20
$2.18 CA$3.04
5.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.48
$1.57 CA$2.19
12.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.07 CA$18.25
$13.08 CA$18.26
-0.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 CA$14.94
$12.02 CA$16.78
-10.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 CA$4.37
$2.51 CA$3.50
24.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 CA$4.82
$3.10 CA$4.33
11.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Laval
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 CA$3.97
$2.89 CA$4.03
-1.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 CA$102
$85.1 CA$119
-14.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 CA$4.92
$3.03 CA$4.22
16.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.01
$1.42 CA$1.99
1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.29 CA$46.48
$19.95 CA$27.86
66.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 CA$1.71
$1.18 CA$1.65
4.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.4K
$25.5K CA$35.6K
-0.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K CA$30.0K
$21.5K CA$30.1K
-0.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 CA$103
$105 CA$146
-29.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.87 CA$51.5
$43.82 CA$61.2
-15.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.97 CA$60.0
$46.50 CA$64.9
-7.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.82 CA$59.8
$30.33 CA$42.35
41.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86 CA$23.55
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 CA$15.63
$11.07 CA$15.45
1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 CA$850
$712 CA$994
-14.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,823 CA$8,132
$5,761 CA$8,046
1.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 CA$85.3
$54.9 CA$76.7
11.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.96 CA$62.8
$44.81 CA$62.6
0.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 CA$143
$103 CA$144
-1.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 CA$170
$118 CA$165
3.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Laval
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 CA$1,674
$1,192 CA$1,664
0.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 CA$1,316
$1,095 CA$1,529
-13.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,087 CA$2,914
$1,676 CA$2,340
24.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 CA$2,178
$1,239 CA$1,731
25.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,093 CA$7,112
$3,034 CA$4,237
67.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,783 CA$5,283
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Laval
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,880 CA$4,022
$2,592 CA$3,620
11.13%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Laval: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Montreal versus $1,192 in Laval. 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 11% 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 $73.0 in Laval. Groceries tell a different story – $393 in Montreal vs $374 in Laval – so Laval 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 Laval: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Laval?
Laval costs about 10% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal vs Laval?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Montreal and $3,426 in Laval. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Laval?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Laval?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $73.0 in Laval. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Montreal compared to Laval?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,084 in Montreal and $2,284 in Laval. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Laval?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,084, than in Laval at $2,284. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Laval it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Laval?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,084 versus $2,284 in Laval. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Laval?
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.
Should I move to Montreal or Laval?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Laval makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Montreal vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities