🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,780 in Mississauga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,159 in Montreal versus $3,929 in Mississauga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Montreal versus $5,079 in Mississauga.
🙂Living in Montreal costs roughly 26% less than in Mississauga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Montreal54% above, Mississauga107% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.92CA$22.14
$18.63CA$25.91
-14.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1CA$102
$81.3CA$113
-10.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15CA$15.50
$10.86CA$15.10
2.67%
Cappuccino
$3.80CA$5.29
$4.01CA$5.58
-5.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.03
$1.71CA$2.38
27.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.03
$1.51CA$2.09
-3.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12CA$8.51
$6.00CA$8.34
2.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78CA$9.42
$6.00CA$8.35
13.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33CA$3.24
$2.33CA$3.24
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.39CA$4.72
$2.48CA$3.46
36.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73CA$5.19
$2.71CA$3.77
37.64%
Eggs
$3.38CA$4.70
$3.88CA$5.39
-12.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.25CA$22.60
$13.72CA$19.08
18.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54CA$16.05
$11.52CA$16.03
0.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.24CA$21.19
$14.85CA$20.65
2.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.20
$3.50CA$4.86
6.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70CA$2.37
$1.24CA$1.73
37.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.11CA$5.71
$2.92CA$4.07
40.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35CA$6.05
$3.54CA$4.92
22.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71CA$3.76
$1.66CA$2.31
63.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.64
$2.50CA$3.48
4.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25CA$3.13
$1.82CA$2.54
23.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.40
$1.63CA$2.26
6.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.31CA$18.51
$12.16CA$16.91
9.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.78CA$15.00
$12.96CA$18.02
-16.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01CA$4.19
$2.56CA$3.56
17.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46CA$4.82
$2.57CA$3.58
34.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74CA$3.81
$3.01CA$4.19
-8.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.7CA$101
$96.3CA$134
-24.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63CA$5.05
$3.15CA$4.38
15.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46CA$2.03
$1.20CA$1.67
21.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.44CA$46.50
$22.14CA$30.79
51.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21CA$1.69
$1.10CA$1.53
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.3K
$25.5KCA$35.4K
-3.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KCA$30.2K
$20.7KCA$28.8K
4.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0CA$106
$179CA$249
-57.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.72CA$49.68
$41.99CA$58.4
-14.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.86CA$59.6
$53.9CA$74.9
-20.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.92CA$59.7
$44.28CA$61.6
-3.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23CA$23.97
$23.71CA$32.97
-27.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.09CA$15.42
$13.83CA$19.23
-19.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$620CA$862
$430CA$598
44.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,834CA$8,114
$10.9KCA$15.1K
-46.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$87.1
$47.23CA$65.7
32.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41CA$61.8
$44.12CA$61.4
0.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101CA$140
$85.9CA$119
17.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CA$166
$104CA$145
14.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,211CA$1,684
$1,890CA$2,629
-35.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$960CA$1,334
$1,588CA$2,208
-39.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,035CA$2,831
$2,718CA$3,780
-25.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,589CA$2,210
$2,389CA$3,323
-33.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,181CA$7,205
$7,904CA$11.0K
-34.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,934CA$5,470
$6,306CA$8,769
-37.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Mississauga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,960CA$4,116
$3,091CA$4,299
-4.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
6.08
-17.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mississauga: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Montreal and $1,890 in Mississauga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mississauga pays 4% 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: $73.0 in Montreal vs $81.0 in Mississauga. Groceries flip the comparison at $392 vs $353, with Mississauga 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 Mississauga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Montreal and Mississauga?
Montreal and Mississauga differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($2,063 vs $2,780 including rent). Montreal is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mississauga earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Montreal and Mississauga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,890 in Mississauga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Montreal – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $81.0 in Mississauga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Montreal or Mississauga?
All in, you'll spend $2,063 per month in Montreal versus $2,780 in Mississauga – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,063 in Montreal versus $2,780 in Mississauga, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Montreal but tight or insufficient in Mississauga. The gap between the two cities makes Montreal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Montreal and Mississauga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Montreal or Mississauga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Montreal and Mississauga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Montreal or Mississauga?
Expats usually find Montreal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Mississauga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.