Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Prince George Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Prince George

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,088 per month in Montreal vs $2,238 in Prince George, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $3,409 in Prince George, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,157 per month in Montreal vs $4,581 in Prince George, rent included.

Montreal is about 7% cheaper than Prince George, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Prince George sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Prince George by 67%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.89 CA$21.77
$18.19 CA$24.93
-12.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 CA$102
$74.0 CA$101
1.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$14.83
$8.66 CA$11.86
25.06%
Cappuccino
$3.80 CA$5.21
$3.99 CA$5.47
-4.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.88
$2.28 CA$3.12
-7.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 CA$2.08
$2.33 CA$3.19
-35.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 CA$8.34
$5.87 CA$8.05
3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48 CA$8.88
$8.40 CA$11.51
-22.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.18
$2.02 CA$2.77
14.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 CA$4.47
$2.35 CA$3.22
38.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.19
$4.87 CA$6.67
-22.18%
Eggs
$3.46 CA$4.73
$5.12 CA$7.01
-32.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.07 CA$22.02
$6.80 CA$9.32
136.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 CA$16.14
$13.27 CA$18.18
-11.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 CA$20.73
$17.02 CA$23.32
-11.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.12
$4.33 CA$5.93
-13.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 CA$2.34
$2.90 CA$3.98
-41.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.37
$5.06 CA$6.94
-22.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$5.87
$5.34 CA$7.32
-19.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 CA$3.75
$3.12 CA$4.27
-12.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.62
$2.98 CA$4.09
-11.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 CA$3.13
$3.07 CA$4.20
-25.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.34
$2.86 CA$3.92
-40.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.39 CA$18.35
$15.04 CA$20.61
-10.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.95 CA$15.00
$11.14 CA$15.27
-1.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.11
$5.52 CA$7.56
-45.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 CA$4.94
$3.01 CA$4.13
19.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.86
$2.80 CA$3.83
0.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.1 CA$103
$44.91 CA$61.5
67.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 CA$4.82
$4.15 CA$5.69
-15.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CA$2.00
$1.47 CA$2.02
-0.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.29 CA$46.97
$25.79 CA$35.33
32.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 CA$1.63
$1.27 CA$1.73
-6.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K CA$34.3K
$25.7K CA$35.1K
-2.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K CA$30.0K
$22.2K CA$30.5K
-1.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.7 CA$102
$174 CA$238
-57.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.83 CA$49.09
$49.44 CA$67.7
-27.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.53 CA$59.6
$61.5 CA$84.3
-29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.06 CA$59.0
$45.36 CA$62.2
-5.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.90 CA$23.15
$18.14 CA$24.85
-6.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.10 CA$15.21
$9.27 CA$12.70
19.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$609 CA$834
$606 CA$831
0.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 CA$8,117
$11.8K CA$16.2K
-49.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 CA$86.0
$63.1 CA$86.5
-0.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85 CA$61.5
$40.34 CA$55.3
11.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 CA$138
$96.7 CA$132
4.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CA$162
$152 CA$208
-22.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 CA$1,673
$956 CA$1,309
27.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$955 CA$1,308
$927 CA$1,269
3.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,105 CA$2,883
$1,760 CA$2,412
19.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,600 CA$2,192
$1,594 CA$2,184
0.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,308 CA$7,272
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,045 CA$5,542
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Prince George
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,031 CA$4,152
$3,224 CA$4,416
-5.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
6.32
-20.73%

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

Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026

Last update for Prince George: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,221 in Montreal versus $956 in Prince George. 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 6% higher in Prince George, 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 $75.0 in Montreal versus $74.0 in Prince George. Groceries tell a different story – $391 in Montreal vs $425 in Prince George – so Montreal 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 Prince George: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Prince George?
Prince George costs about 7% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal vs Prince George?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,132 per month in Montreal and $3,357 in Prince George. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Prince George?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or Prince George?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Prince George, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Prince George?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Montreal and $74.0 in Prince George. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Prince George?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,088, than in Prince George at $2,238. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Prince George it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Prince George?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,088 versus $2,238 in Prince George. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Prince George?
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.
Should I move to Montreal or Prince George?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Prince George makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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