Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Medicine Hat Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Medicine Hat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $1,891 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $2,809 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $3,726 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

Montreal costs about 10% more than Medicine Hat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Medicine Hat sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Medicine Hat by 42%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$15.31 CA$21.55

7.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$69.2 CA$97.4

6.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$8.28 CA$11.65

32.13%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$3.89 CA$5.47

-1.29%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$1.97 CA$2.77

8.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.73 CA$2.44

-16.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.20 CA$7.32

17.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$3.87 CA$5.44

73.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$1.50 CA$2.11

56.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$1.89 CA$2.66

76.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$3.34 CA$4.70

11.98%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.29 CA$4.63

3.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$8.20 CA$11.54

98.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$11.14 CA$15.68

6.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$13.52 CA$19.02

15.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$3.74 CA$5.26

-1.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.31 CA$1.84

29.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$2.47 CA$3.48

66.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$3.30 CA$4.64

33.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$1.44 CA$2.03

93.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$1.56 CA$2.19

69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$2.74 CA$3.86

-16.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.61 CA$2.27

10.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$11.82 CA$16.63

11.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$12.86 CA$18.10

-17.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$2.57 CA$3.61

16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$3.66 CA$5.14

-6.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.33 CA$3.28

20.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$51.5 CA$72.5

41.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$3.42 CA$4.82

2.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.37 CA$1.92

5.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$28.83 CA$40.57

18.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.01 CA$1.42

20.79%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$24.8K CA$34.9K

1.84%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$21.6K CA$30.5K

2.27%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$215 CA$302

-64.37%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$40.79 CA$57.4

-12.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$59.0 CA$83.0

-27.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$57.2 CA$80.4

-24.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

$36.79 CA$51.8

-54.25%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$12.51 CA$17.60

-11.35%

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

$625 CA$879

$883 CA$1,243

-29.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$16.0K CA$22.5K

-63.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$52.0 CA$73.2

21.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$27.27 CA$38.37

63.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$70.4 CA$99.1

46.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$69.4 CA$97.6

70.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$830 CA$1,167

45.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$743 CA$1,045

29.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,379 CA$1,941

47.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,205 CA$1,695

30.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$1,315 CA$1,851

286.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

$1,914 CA$2,693

97.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$2,948 CA$4,148

-1.99%

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 Medicine Hat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $830 in Medicine Hat. 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 2% higher in Medicine Hat, 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 $69.0 in Medicine Hat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $318 – making Medicine Hat 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 Medicine Hat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 10% more than Medicine Hat, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,127 per month in Montreal and $2,837 in Medicine Hat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,085 in Montreal and $1,891 in Medicine Hat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 41% less in Medicine Hat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Medicine Hat, where all-in costs run around $1,891, than in Montreal at $2,085. In Medicine Hat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medicine Hat costs $1,891 versus $2,085 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Medicine Hat. 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.