Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Meadow Lake, SK Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Meadow Lake, SK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,452 in Meadow Lake, SK, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,535 in Meadow Lake, SK, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,618 in Meadow Lake, SK, rent included.

Montreal is about 16% cheaper than Meadow Lake, SK, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Meadow Lake, SK sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Meadow Lake, SK by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.19

$16.10 CA$22.44

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$88.0 CA$123

-17.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.53

$10.46 CA$14.57

6.60%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.30

$3.69 CA$5.14

2.98%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$2.51 CA$3.50

-13.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$2.04 CA$2.84

-28.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.53

$4.13 CA$5.76

48.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.44

$5.93 CA$8.26

14.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.24

$1.26 CA$1.76

84.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.73

$2.83 CA$3.94

19.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.20

$5.30 CA$7.38

-29.62%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.71

$3.73 CA$5.20

-9.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.65

$8.65 CA$12.05

87.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.08

$12.35 CA$17.22

-6.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.23

$16.05 CA$22.36

-5.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.21

$3.60 CA$5.01

3.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.38

$1.68 CA$2.34

1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.72

$4.75 CA$6.62

-13.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.06

$3.22 CA$4.48

35.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.77

$2.87 CA$4.00

-5.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.64

$1.70 CA$2.37

54.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.14

$1.85 CA$2.58

21.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$1.25 CA$1.75

38.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.55

$14.53 CA$20.25

-8.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$15.03

$13.88 CA$19.34

-22.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.20

$3.23 CA$4.51

-6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$3.27 CA$4.56

5.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.82

$2.31 CA$3.22

18.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$62.1 CA$86.6

17.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.06

$3.49 CA$4.87

4.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.26 CA$1.76

15.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.61

$10.88 CA$15.17

207.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.69

$1.16 CA$1.62

4.31%

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

$24.6K CA$34.4K

$24.8K CA$34.5K

-0.49%

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

$21.7K CA$30.2K

$20.6K CA$28.7K

5.48%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$214 CA$298

-64.50%

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

$35.72 CA$49.79

$59.4 CA$82.8

-39.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.7

$73.2 CA$102

-41.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.8

$42.04 CA$58.6

2.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$24.02

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.45

$14.92 CA$20.80

-25.67%

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

$620 CA$863

$527 CA$735

17.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,131

$14.8K CA$20.6K

-60.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.3

$75.3 CA$105

-16.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.9

$57.5 CA$80.2

-22.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$92.8 CA$129

8.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$166

$114 CA$159

4.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,688

$1,297 CA$1,808

-6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,337

$1,195 CA$1,665

-19.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,837

$2,033 CA$2,833

0.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,215

$1,840 CA$2,564

-13.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,220

$4,160 CA$5,798

24.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,482

$3,530 CA$4,919

11.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,125

$2,975 CA$4,146

-0.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.65

-24.66%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Meadow Lake, SK: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,297 in Meadow Lake, SK. 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 0% higher in Meadow Lake, SK, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $88.0 in Meadow Lake, SK. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $361 in Meadow Lake, SK – so Meadow Lake, SK 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 Meadow Lake, SK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Meadow Lake, SK is pricier by about 19%, 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 $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,678 in Meadow Lake, SK. 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.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $620 per month in Montreal and $527 in Meadow Lake, SK. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Meadow Lake, SK at $2,452. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Meadow Lake, SK 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, Meadow Lake, SK makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.