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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,088 per month in Montreal vs $2,223 in Laval, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $3,035 in Laval, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,157 per month in Montreal vs $3,848 in Laval, rent included.

Montreal is about 6% cheaper than Laval, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Laval sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Laval by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.89 CA$21.77

$16.04 CA$21.97

-0.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 CA$102

$72.9 CA$99.9

2.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$14.83

$11.44 CA$15.68

-5.33%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.21

$3.84 CA$5.26

-1.04%

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

$2.10 CA$2.88

$2.14 CA$2.93

-1.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.08

$1.66 CA$2.28

-9.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 CA$8.34

$5.85 CA$8.02

4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$8.88

$6.56 CA$8.99

-1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.18

$2.27 CA$3.11

2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 CA$4.47

$2.89 CA$3.95

12.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.19

$3.36 CA$4.60

12.80%

Eggs

$3.46 CA$4.73

$3.28 CA$4.50

5.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.07 CA$22.02

$11.29 CA$15.46

42.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.14

$12.54 CA$17.18

-6.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 CA$20.73

$15.66 CA$21.45

-3.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.12

$4.23 CA$5.79

-11.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 CA$2.34

$1.62 CA$2.22

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.37

$4.01 CA$5.49

-2.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.87

$4.22 CA$5.79

1.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.75

$2.47 CA$3.38

10.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.62

$2.68 CA$3.67

-1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.13

$2.27 CA$3.11

0.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.34

$1.56 CA$2.14

9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.39 CA$18.35

$13.39 CA$18.34

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 CA$15.00

$12.60 CA$17.26

-13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 CA$4.11

$2.42 CA$3.32

23.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 CA$4.94

$3.12 CA$4.28

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.86

$2.83 CA$3.88

-0.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 CA$103

$83.0 CA$114

-9.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.82

$3.02 CA$4.13

16.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.00

$1.43 CA$1.95

2.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$46.97

$19.84 CA$27.18

72.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 CA$1.63

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

$25.1K CA$34.3K

$25.5K CA$34.9K

-1.67%

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

$21.9K CA$30.0K

$21.3K CA$29.2K

2.60%

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

$74.7 CA$102

$101 CA$139

-26.26%

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

$35.83 CA$49.09

$43.16 CA$59.1

-16.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.53 CA$59.6

$46.08 CA$63.1

-5.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.06 CA$59.0

$30.99 CA$42.46

38.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.90 CA$23.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.10 CA$15.21

$10.90 CA$14.94

1.83%

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

$609 CA$834

$711 CA$974

-14.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 CA$8,117

$5,835 CA$7,995

1.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 CA$86.0

$55.9 CA$76.5

12.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.85 CA$61.5

$45.20 CA$61.9

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$138

$100 CA$137

0.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$162

$122 CA$167

-3.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 CA$1,673

$1,191 CA$1,632

2.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 CA$1,308

$1,109 CA$1,519

-13.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 CA$2,883

$1,649 CA$2,259

27.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 CA$2,192

$1,258 CA$1,723

27.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,308 CA$7,272

$3,179 CA$4,356

66.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,045 CA$5,542

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,031 CA$4,152

$2,641 CA$3,618

14.74%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Laval: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,221 in Montreal versus $1,191 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 15% 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 $75.0 in Montreal versus $73.0 in Laval. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $374 – making Laval 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 Laval: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Laval costs about 6% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,132 per month in Montreal and $3,334 in Laval. 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 $75.0 in Montreal and $73.0 in Laval. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,088 in Montreal and $2,223 in Laval. 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 $2,088, than in Laval at $2,223. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Laval it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,088 versus $2,223 in Laval. 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, Laval makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.