Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Red Deer Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Red Deer

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,163 in Red Deer, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,106 in Red Deer, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,048 in Red Deer, rent included.

Montreal is about 4% cheaper than Red Deer, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Red Deer sit above the global median – Montreal by 56%, Red Deer by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.16

$17.38 CA$24.36

-4.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$54.8 CA$76.8

35.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.34

$10.92 CA$15.31

0.18%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.39

$3.83 CA$5.36

0.26%

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

$2.14 CA$2.99

$1.77 CA$2.48

20.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.78 CA$2.49

-18.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.60

$4.73 CA$6.63

29.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.44

$5.77 CA$8.09

16.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.30

$1.74 CA$2.44

35.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.68

$2.87 CA$4.02

16.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.25

$3.07 CA$4.30

21.82%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.76

$3.18 CA$4.45

6.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.85

$10.59 CA$14.84

53.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.56

$12.54 CA$17.59

-5.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$21.93

$13.61 CA$19.09

14.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.18

$4.73 CA$6.64

-21.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.36 CA$1.91

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.76

$3.84 CA$5.39

7.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.18

$3.58 CA$5.02

23.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$2.45 CA$3.43

13.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.70

$2.20 CA$3.08

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.21

$2.72 CA$3.81

-15.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$1.93 CA$2.71

-7.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.47

$14.82 CA$20.77

-11.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.92

$14.16 CA$19.85

-24.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.19

$2.96 CA$4.14

1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.82

$3.17 CA$4.44

8.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.27 CA$3.18

23.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$53.5 CA$75.0

36.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$2.83 CA$3.96

24.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.30 CA$1.83

11.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.08

$23.82 CA$33.40

43.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.06 CA$1.49

15.09%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$24.7K CA$34.6K

2.25%

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

$22.1K CA$31.0K

$22.0K CA$30.9K

0.51%

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

$76.5 CA$107

$195 CA$273

-60.75%

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

$35.60 CA$49.91

$44.84 CA$62.9

-20.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.2

$66.3 CA$92.9

-35.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$60.8

$39.98 CA$56.1

8.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

$11.09 CA$15.55

51.76%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.55

$11.00 CA$15.43

0.82%

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

$625 CA$876

$700 CA$982

-10.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,266

$11.8K CA$16.6K

-50.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.5

$49.23 CA$69.0

28.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.4

$35.28 CA$49.47

26.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$144

$76.5 CA$107

34.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$103 CA$145

14.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,692

$1,094 CA$1,533

10.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,353

$998 CA$1,399

-3.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,848

$1,484 CA$2,080

36.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,211

$1,450 CA$2,033

8.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,129

$2,758 CA$3,866

84.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

$2,691 CA$3,773

40.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,051

$2,969 CA$4,163

-2.67%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Red Deer: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,094 in Red Deer. 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 3% higher in Red Deer, 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $55.0 in Red Deer. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $367 – making Red Deer 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 Red Deer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Red Deer costs about 4% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,245 in Red Deer. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Red Deer – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Montreal and $55.0 in Red Deer. 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 $2,085, than in Red Deer at $2,163. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Red Deer it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,085 versus $2,163 in Red Deer. 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, Red Deer makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.