Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Marathon Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Marathon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,084 per month in Montreal vs $2,404 in Marathon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,161 per month in Montreal vs $3,402 in Marathon, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,239 per month in Montreal vs $4,401 in Marathon, rent included.

Montreal is about 13% cheaper than Marathon, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Marathon sit above the global median – Montreal by 55%, Marathon by 79%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 CA$22.30

$18.52 CA$25.86

-13.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.4 CA$102

$60.0 CA$83.7

22.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.32

$12.44 CA$17.37

-11.82%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.29

$3.79 CA$5.30

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

$2.16 CA$3.01

$1.88 CA$2.63

14.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.46 CA$2.04

2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 CA$8.24

$5.40 CA$7.54

9.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 CA$9.52

$5.07 CA$7.08

34.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.23

$2.45 CA$3.42

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 CA$4.72

$2.52 CA$3.52

34.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.36

$2.55 CA$3.56

50.20%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.75

$2.87 CA$4.01

18.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.11 CA$22.50

$8.77 CA$12.25

83.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.46

$16.53 CA$23.08

-28.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 CA$21.40

$16.06 CA$22.42

-4.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.11

$3.43 CA$4.78

6.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 CA$2.25

$1.15 CA$1.60

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 CA$5.68

$3.30 CA$4.60

23.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 CA$6.14

$3.16 CA$4.42

39.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.59 CA$3.62

3.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.72

$0.97 CA$1.36

174.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$3.02 CA$4.21

-24.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.48

$1.13 CA$1.57

56.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.07 CA$18.25

$9.06 CA$12.66

44.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.70 CA$14.94

$12.59 CA$17.58

-15.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 CA$4.37

$1.66 CA$2.32

88.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 CA$4.82

$2.76 CA$3.86

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$2.32 CA$3.24

22.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$102

$63.2 CA$88.2

15.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.92

$3.29 CA$4.59

6.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.29 CA$46.48

$25.59 CA$35.74

30.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.15 CA$1.61

6.96%

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

$25.4K CA$35.4K

$24.7K CA$34.6K

2.51%

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

$21.5K CA$30.0K

$20.5K CA$28.7K

4.44%

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

$73.9 CA$103

$200 CA$279

-62.96%

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

$36.87 CA$51.5

$43.96 CA$61.4

-16.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.97 CA$60.0

$81.7 CA$114

-47.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.82 CA$59.8

$42.72 CA$59.7

0.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 CA$23.55

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 CA$15.63

$10.84 CA$15.13

3.23%

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

$608 CA$850

$734 CA$1,025

-17.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,823 CA$8,132

$11.7K CA$16.4K

-50.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 CA$85.3

$59.0 CA$82.4

3.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.96 CA$62.8

$36.75 CA$51.3

22.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$143

$77.2 CA$108

32.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$170

$141 CA$197

-13.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 CA$1,674

$1,289 CA$1,800

-7.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$942 CA$1,316

$1,163 CA$1,625

-18.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 CA$2,914

$1,991 CA$2,781

4.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 CA$2,178

$1,818 CA$2,539

-14.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,093 CA$7,112

$4,374 CA$6,108

16.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,283

$3,900 CA$5,447

-3.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,880 CA$4,022

$1,824 CA$2,547

57.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.19

-19.06%

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

Last update for Montreal: June 7, 2026

Last update for Marathon: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Montreal versus $1,289 in Marathon. 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 58% 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 $60.0 in Marathon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $356 – making Marathon 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 Marathon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marathon is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Montreal and $3,605 in Marathon. 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.

Kindergarten costs $608 per month in Montreal and $734 in Marathon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Marathon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,084, than in Marathon at $2,404. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marathon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montreal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Marathon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.