Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Lethbridge, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Lethbridge, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,004 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $2,972 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $3,941 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

Montreal costs about 4% more than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Lethbridge, AB sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Lethbridge, AB by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$18.08 CA$25.44

-8.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$70.6 CA$99.4

4.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$10.92 CA$15.36

0.18%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$3.63 CA$5.11

5.79%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$1.61 CA$2.26

32.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.68 CA$2.36

-13.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.11 CA$7.20

19.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$6.33 CA$8.91

6.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$2.18 CA$3.07

7.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.39 CA$3.37

39.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$3.35 CA$4.71

11.64%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.29 CA$4.63

3.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$12.36 CA$17.39

31.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$12.75 CA$17.94

-7.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$12.85 CA$18.08

21.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$4.10 CA$5.77

-10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.33 CA$1.88

27.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.69 CA$5.19

11.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$4.32 CA$6.08

2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$2.69 CA$3.79

3.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$2.72 CA$3.83

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$2.66 CA$3.74

-13.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.93 CA$2.71

-7.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$14.45 CA$20.33

-8.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$14.08 CA$19.82

-24.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$2.18 CA$3.07

37.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$2.87 CA$4.04

19.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.14 CA$3.02

31.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$55.9 CA$78.7

30.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$3.43 CA$4.83

2.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.29 CA$1.82

12.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$28.28 CA$39.79

21.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.04 CA$1.47

17.31%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$24.8K CA$34.9K

1.79%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$21.2K CA$29.9K

4.32%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$206 CA$290

-62.93%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$41.33 CA$58.2

-13.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$59.5 CA$83.7

-27.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$46.80 CA$65.9

-7.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$11.60 CA$16.33

-4.40%

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

$625 CA$879

$864 CA$1,216

-27.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$15.8K CA$22.3K

-62.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$44.07 CA$62.0

43.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$46.51 CA$65.4

-4.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$87.3 CA$123

17.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$105 CA$148

12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$946 CA$1,330

27.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$799 CA$1,125

20.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,397 CA$1,966

45.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,283 CA$1,805

22.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$5,482 CA$7,713

-7.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

$2,047 CA$2,880

84.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$2,977 CA$4,189

-2.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

5.71

-12.26%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $946 in Lethbridge, AB. 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 3% higher in Lethbridge, AB, 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $71.0 in Lethbridge, AB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $369 – making Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,085 in Montreal, $2,004 in Lethbridge, AB – roughly 4% apart. Montreal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,006 in Lethbridge, AB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 7% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Montreal and $71.0 in Lethbridge, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lethbridge, AB, where all-in costs run around $2,004, than in Montreal at $2,085. In Lethbridge, AB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal 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 $2,004 in Lethbridge, AB to $2,085 in Montreal. 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 Lethbridge, AB. 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.