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 $2,042 per month in Montreal vs $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Montreal vs $3,246 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,284 per month in Montreal vs $4,277 in Lethbridge, AB, rent included.

Montreal is about 8% cheaper than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Lethbridge, AB sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Lethbridge, AB by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.33

$21.91 CA$30.46

-16.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.2

$69.7 CA$96.9

1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.14

$12.37 CA$17.20

-11.96%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.45

$4.19 CA$5.83

-6.44%

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

$1.97 CA$2.74

$1.76 CA$2.45

11.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.21

$2.09 CA$2.91

-23.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.07

$5.06 CA$7.03

28.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.07

$5.62 CA$7.82

28.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.18

$2.25 CA$3.13

1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.32

$2.53 CA$3.51

22.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.22

$4.57 CA$6.36

-33.70%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.00

$3.38 CA$4.70

6.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.87

$10.42 CA$14.48

37.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.83

$12.45 CA$17.30

-8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.24

$13.39 CA$18.61

8.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.78

$3.38 CA$4.70

1.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.13

$1.36 CA$1.89

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.45

$2.80 CA$3.90

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.01

$4.72 CA$6.56

-38.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.65

$3.67 CA$5.10

-47.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.51

$3.18 CA$4.42

-43.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.56

$3.21 CA$4.46

-20.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.80 CA$2.50

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.24

$11.93 CA$16.59

-2.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.76

$14.64 CA$20.35

-27.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$3.30 CA$4.59

-28.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.22

$3.90 CA$5.43

-22.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.19 CA$3.05

24.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$103

$71.2 CA$98.9

4.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.44

$3.62 CA$5.03

-11.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$2.82 CA$3.91

-48.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.60

$43.82 CA$60.9

-23.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.07 CA$1.49

22.43%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$28.9K CA$40.2K

-0.85%

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

$20.4K CA$28.3K

$23.1K CA$32.1K

-11.83%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$278 CA$387

-71.92%

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

$35.53 CA$49.39

$52.8 CA$73.4

-32.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.3

$69.8 CA$97.1

-37.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$42.87

$46.19 CA$64.2

-33.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.79

$14.24 CA$19.79

40.38%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.10

$14.58 CA$20.26

-20.58%

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

$552 CA$768

$881 CA$1,225

-37.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$22.9K

$3,644 CA$5,066

352.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.0

$48.90 CA$68.0

13.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.3

$52.4 CA$72.9

-26.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$78.0 CA$108

26.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$145

$118 CA$164

-11.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,715

$1,023 CA$1,422

20.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,376

$774 CA$1,077

27.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,018

$1,455 CA$2,023

49.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,274

$1,287 CA$1,790

27.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,130

$5,666 CA$7,877

-9.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,177

$2,111 CA$2,934

76.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,252

$3,029 CA$4,211

0.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.85

-8.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,234 in Montreal versus $1,023 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 1% 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 $71.0 in Montreal versus $70.0 in Lethbridge, AB. Groceries tell a different story – $354 in Montreal vs $379 in Lethbridge, AB – so Montreal 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 Lethbridge, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,042 in Montreal, $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB – roughly 9% apart. Lethbridge, AB costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,063 per month in Montreal and $3,324 in Lethbridge, AB. 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.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Lethbridge, AB, 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 $71.0 in Montreal and $70.0 in Lethbridge, AB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,042, than in Lethbridge, AB at $2,216. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lethbridge, AB 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 $2,042 in Montreal to $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB. 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, Lethbridge, AB makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.