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 $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $2,295 in Red Deer, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $3,216 in Red Deer, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $4,137 in Red Deer, rent included.

Montreal is about 10% cheaper than Red Deer, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Red Deer sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, Red Deer by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.70

$18.83 CA$26.06

-5.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$100

$60.8 CA$84.1

18.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$11.36 CA$15.72

-3.87%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.49

$5.30 CA$7.33

-25.09%

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

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.02 CA$2.80

2.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.14

$2.19 CA$3.03

-29.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.88

$5.31 CA$7.35

20.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.09

$6.81 CA$9.43

7.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$1.86 CA$2.58

28.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.44

$2.69 CA$3.72

19.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$3.45 CA$4.77

-11.01%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.09

$3.44 CA$4.75

6.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.78

$10.27 CA$14.22

32.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.09

$16.72 CA$23.13

-30.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.33

$17.48 CA$24.18

-20.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.10

$7.21 CA$9.97

-48.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.16

$1.74 CA$2.41

-10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.72

$2.39 CA$3.31

42.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.19

$5.66 CA$7.83

-46.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$5.48 CA$7.59

-63.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$2.20 CA$3.04

-17.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.54

$3.21 CA$4.44

-20.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$2.88 CA$3.99

-51.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.90

$16.14 CA$22.34

-28.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.11

$14.71 CA$20.35

-25.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.16

$6.60 CA$9.13

-54.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$2.11 CA$2.92

27.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

$54.2 CA$75.0

39.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.63

$2.76 CA$3.82

21.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$1.35 CA$1.87

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.63

$23.17 CA$32.06

45.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.79

$1.06 CA$1.47

21.70%

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

$28.3K CA$39.1K

$26.9K CA$37.2K

5.10%

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

$20.0K CA$27.6K

$19.0K CA$26.3K

5.08%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$183 CA$253

-55.98%

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

$34.23 CA$47.37

$64.2 CA$88.8

-46.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.3

$65.4 CA$90.4

-36.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.46

$35.86 CA$49.62

-18.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.52

$10.87 CA$15.04

82.98%

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.20

$10.74 CA$14.86

9.03%

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

$564 CA$781

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.3

$51.0 CA$70.5

16.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.3

$34.96 CA$48.37

20.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$80.5 CA$111

33.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$110 CA$153

0.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,776

$1,079 CA$1,493

19.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,370

$941 CA$1,302

5.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,127

$1,597 CA$2,210

41.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,307

$1,371 CA$1,896

21.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,316

$2,750 CA$3,805

92.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,276

$2,811 CA$3,889

35.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,177

$3,032 CA$4,195

-0.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

5.8

-23.97%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Red Deer: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,079 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 0% 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $61.0 in Red Deer. Groceries tell a different story – $356 in Montreal vs $435 in Red Deer – 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 Red Deer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Red Deer costs about 12% 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 $3,084 per month in Montreal and $3,443 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.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Montreal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Red Deer, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,056, than in Red Deer at $2,295. 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 $2,056 versus $2,295 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.