Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Nanaimo, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Nanaimo, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,042 per month in Montreal vs $2,336 in Nanaimo, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Montreal vs $3,430 in Nanaimo, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,284 per month in Montreal vs $4,525 in Nanaimo, BC, rent included.

Montreal is about 13% cheaper than Nanaimo, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Nanaimo, BC sit above the global median – Montreal by 49%, Nanaimo, BC by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.22 CA$25.49

$18.16 CA$25.40

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.8

$79.7 CA$111

-11.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.89 CA$15.23

$11.72 CA$16.39

-7.08%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.49

$4.11 CA$5.74

-4.62%

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

$1.97 CA$2.76

$2.27 CA$3.18

-13.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.23

$1.61 CA$2.25

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 CA$9.12

$5.65 CA$7.90

15.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 CA$10.13

$5.69 CA$7.95

27.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$1.70 CA$2.38

34.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 CA$4.35

$3.44 CA$4.81

-9.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$3.15 CA$4.40

-3.81%

Eggs

$3.59 CA$5.03

$4.15 CA$5.80

-13.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 CA$19.99

$11.59 CA$16.22

23.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 CA$15.93

$13.62 CA$19.05

-16.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.56 CA$20.37

$17.48 CA$24.46

-16.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 CA$4.81

$4.69 CA$6.56

-26.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.30 CA$1.82

17.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.48

$4.26 CA$5.96

-24.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.04

$4.80 CA$6.72

-39.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 CA$2.67

$2.68 CA$3.75

-28.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 CA$2.52

$2.95 CA$4.12

-38.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.91 CA$4.08

-12.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$2.29 CA$3.21

-34.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 CA$16.35

$12.55 CA$17.56

-6.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.62 CA$14.85

$14.49 CA$20.27

-26.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.32

$2.63 CA$3.69

-9.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.24

$2.64 CA$3.70

14.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.72 CA$3.80

$1.81 CA$2.53

50.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.2 CA$104

$45.89 CA$64.2

61.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$2.91 CA$4.07

9.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$2.18 CA$3.06

-33.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.52 CA$46.90

$28.56 CA$39.95

17.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.39 CA$1.94

-5.76%

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

$28.7K CA$40.1K

$28.3K CA$39.6K

1.36%

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

$20.4K CA$28.5K

$19.6K CA$27.4K

4.10%

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

$78.2 CA$109

$154 CA$216

-49.38%

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

$35.53 CA$49.70

$40.78 CA$57.1

-12.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.37 CA$60.7

$65.5 CA$91.7

-33.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 CA$43.14

$28.32 CA$39.62

8.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.99 CA$27.97

$19.16 CA$26.80

4.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 CA$16.20

$10.97 CA$15.35

5.56%

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

$552 CA$772

$522 CA$731

5.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K CA$23.1K

$13.5K CA$18.8K

22.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$77.5

$49.33 CA$69.0

12.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.30 CA$53.6

$34.08 CA$47.67

12.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 CA$138

$101 CA$142

-2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$146

$107 CA$149

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,726

$1,404 CA$1,964

-12.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,385

$1,144 CA$1,601

-13.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 CA$3,037

$2,099 CA$2,937

3.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 CA$2,289

$1,763 CA$2,467

-7.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,129 CA$7,176

$3,922 CA$5,487

30.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,724 CA$5,209

$3,474 CA$4,860

7.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,059 CA$4,279

$3,269 CA$4,573

-6.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.72

-5.93%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,234 in Montreal versus $1,404 in Nanaimo, BC. 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 7% higher in Nanaimo, BC, 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 $71.0 in Montreal versus $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $409 – making Montreal 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 Nanaimo, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nanaimo, BC costs about 14% more than Montreal, 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 $3,063 per month in Montreal and $3,504 in Nanaimo, BC. 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.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Nanaimo, BC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Montreal and $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,042, than in Nanaimo, BC at $2,336. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nanaimo, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,042 versus $2,336 in Nanaimo, BC. 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 Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nanaimo, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.