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 $2,108 per month in Montreal vs $1,860 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,226 per month in Montreal vs $2,820 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Montreal vs $3,780 in Medicine Hat, rent included.

Montreal costs about 13% more than Medicine Hat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Montreal and Medicine Hat sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, Medicine Hat by 35%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.73

$14.93 CA$20.70

19.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$72.0 CA$99.9

2.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$10.28 CA$14.26

5.16%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$3.87 CA$5.37

1.29%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$1.99 CA$2.77

2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$1.77 CA$2.46

-14.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.14

$4.99 CA$6.92

32.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$3.86 CA$5.35

84.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$1.64 CA$2.28

44.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$1.88 CA$2.60

71.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.70 CA$5.13

-20.27%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$3.10 CA$4.29

19.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$9.91 CA$13.74

37.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$10.95 CA$15.19

9.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$13.24 CA$18.36

6.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$3.16 CA$4.38

14.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.43 CA$1.98

8.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$3.04 CA$4.21

8.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$3.75 CA$5.20

-18.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.58 CA$3.57

-22.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

$1.57 CA$2.18

21.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.68 CA$3.72

-1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.55 CA$2.15

-10.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$11.69 CA$16.22

0.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$13.27 CA$18.41

-18.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$2.49 CA$3.46

-4.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$3.22 CA$4.47

-9.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.31 CA$3.20

18.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

$51.0 CA$70.7

51.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

$3.20 CA$4.43

3.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.36 CA$1.88

7.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$27.32 CA$37.89

20.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.03 CA$1.43

27.18%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$28.9K CA$40.1K

-0.67%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$19.4K CA$26.9K

5.55%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$182 CA$253

-56.13%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$39.52 CA$54.8

-11.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$50.8 CA$70.4

-16.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.50

$56.0 CA$77.7

-47.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

$36.60 CA$50.8

-44.45%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.93

$14.29 CA$19.82

-19.66%

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

$565 CA$784

$818 CA$1,135

-30.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$16.1K CA$22.3K

2.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$51.7 CA$71.7

16.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$26.67 CA$36.99

56.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$67.8 CA$94.0

53.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$69.3 CA$96.1

62.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$838 CA$1,162

54.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,407

$776 CA$1,076

30.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$1,336 CA$1,852

70.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$1,265 CA$1,754

33.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,151

$1,356 CA$1,880

280.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

$1,911 CA$2,650

101.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

$3,060 CA$4,243

-0.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.48

-0.89%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medicine Hat: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Montreal versus $838 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 1% 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 $72.0 in Medicine Hat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $328 – 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 13% more than Medicine Hat, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,163 per month in Montreal and $2,790 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 $2,108 in Montreal and $1,860 in Medicine Hat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% 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 $1,860, than in Montreal at $2,108. 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 $1,860 versus $2,108 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.