Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and London

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,073 in Montreal versus $2,433 in London.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,175 in Montreal versus $3,468 in London.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,277 in Montreal versus $4,504 in London.

Living in Montreal costs roughly 15% less than in London, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal 56% above, London 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 CA$22.74

$18.18 CA$25.47

-10.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 CA$104

$73.5 CA$103

1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 CA$15.61

$10.16 CA$14.24

9.65%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.37

$3.53 CA$4.95

8.50%

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

$2.13 CA$2.99

$1.96 CA$2.75

8.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.87 CA$2.63

-22.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 CA$8.57

$5.79 CA$8.12

5.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.46 CA$9.05

$6.77 CA$9.49

-4.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.14

$1.63 CA$2.28

37.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 CA$4.51

$2.39 CA$3.35

34.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 CA$5.12

$3.33 CA$4.67

9.61%

Eggs

$3.36 CA$4.71

$3.40 CA$4.77

-1.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 CA$22.37

$9.97 CA$13.98

60.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.84 CA$16.59

$12.51 CA$17.53

-5.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 CA$21.28

$9.01 CA$12.63

68.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.24

$4.60 CA$6.44

-18.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.38

$1.37 CA$1.92

24.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.57

$3.53 CA$4.95

12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 CA$6.24

$3.82 CA$5.35

16.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.72

$1.61 CA$2.25

65.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 CA$3.60

$2.14 CA$2.99

20.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 CA$3.11

$2.12 CA$2.96

4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.40

$1.44 CA$2.02

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.02 CA$18.24

$12.64 CA$17.72

3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.74 CA$15.05

$12.46 CA$17.46

-13.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.30

$2.07 CA$2.90

48.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.97

$2.48 CA$3.47

43.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.76

$2.43 CA$3.41

10.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 CA$104

$83.0 CA$116

-10.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 CA$5.10

$3.98 CA$5.58

-8.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.02

$1.76 CA$2.47

-18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.18 CA$47.90

$31.21 CA$43.73

9.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.64

$1.10 CA$1.54

6.36%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$25.2K CA$35.3K

-1.21%

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

$22.0K CA$30.9K

$20.8K CA$29.1K

6.21%

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

$75.2 CA$105

$144 CA$202

-47.78%

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

$36.93 CA$51.8

$47.77 CA$66.9

-22.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.25 CA$62.0

$57.9 CA$81.1

-23.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.03 CA$58.9

$42.41 CA$59.4

-0.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.79 CA$23.53

$7.30 CA$10.24

130.00%

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 CA$15.24

$11.06 CA$15.49

-1.72%

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

$624 CA$874

$548 CA$768

13.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 CA$8,207

$14.3K CA$20.1K

-59.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 CA$86.4

$54.8 CA$76.7

12.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.74 CA$62.7

$46.53 CA$65.2

-3.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$142

$86.2 CA$121

17.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$169

$83.1 CA$116

45.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 CA$1,710

$1,464 CA$2,052

-16.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 CA$1,339

$1,272 CA$1,783

-24.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 CA$2,865

$2,608 CA$3,654

-21.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 CA$2,219

$1,994 CA$2,794

-20.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,158 CA$7,228

$3,503 CA$4,909

47.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,803 CA$5,329

$3,576 CA$5,011

6.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,899 CA$4,062

$2,941 CA$4,122

-1.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.21

-19.32%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 26, 2026

Last update for London: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,220 in Montreal and $1,464 in London. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

London pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Montreal vs $74.0 in London. Groceries flip the comparison at $389 vs $326, with London cheaper for home cooking.

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 London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in London. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,220 in Montreal versus $1,464 in London. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,073 per month in Montreal versus $2,433 in London – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Montreal runs roughly 12% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,073 in Montreal versus $2,433 in London, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Montreal is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in London, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Montreal and London are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.