Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,080 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,071 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,062 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

Montreal is about 1% cheaper than Saint John, New Brunswick, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Saint John, New Brunswick by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.14

$22.24 CA$30.93

-28.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$61.4 CA$85.3

19.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$10.29 CA$14.31

8.36%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.29

$3.13 CA$4.35

21.41%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$1.67 CA$2.32

30.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.17 CA$1.63

24.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$4.39 CA$6.11

39.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.42

$5.11 CA$7.10

32.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.24

$2.00 CA$2.78

16.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.72

$2.89 CA$4.02

17.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$1.81 CA$2.52

106.08%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.57 CA$4.97

-5.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.60

$11.72 CA$16.30

38.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.05

$9.08 CA$12.63

27.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.19

$16.22 CA$22.56

-6.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.06 CA$5.65

-7.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.45 CA$2.01

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.71

$3.58 CA$4.98

14.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$4.42 CA$6.15

-1.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.07 CA$2.88

30.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.64

$2.10 CA$2.92

24.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$2.65 CA$3.68

-15.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.45 CA$2.01

19.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.51

$18.72 CA$26.03

-28.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$15.00

$10.00 CA$13.91

7.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$3.34 CA$4.65

-9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.82

$3.33 CA$4.63

3.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.15 CA$3.00

27.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$59.0 CA$82.0

23.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.77 CA$5.24

-3.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.17 CA$1.63

24.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.50

$29.32 CA$40.77

14.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.69

$1.22 CA$1.70

-0.82%

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

$24.6K CA$34.3K

$25.2K CA$35.0K

-2.11%

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

$21.7K CA$30.2K

$20.1K CA$27.9K

8.01%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$127 CA$177

-40.37%

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

$35.72 CA$49.68

$37.17 CA$51.7

-3.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$63.0 CA$87.6

-31.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.7

$42.12 CA$58.6

1.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.97

$36.97 CA$51.4

-53.39%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.42

$10.97 CA$15.25

1.09%

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

$620 CA$862

$164 CA$228

277.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,114

$11.7K CA$16.3K

-50.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$41.72 CA$58.0

50.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.8

$41.98 CA$58.4

5.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$87.5 CA$122

15.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$166

$122 CA$169

-2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,684

$1,053 CA$1,464

15.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,334

$944 CA$1,313

1.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,831

$1,611 CA$2,241

26.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,210

$1,400 CA$1,948

13.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,205

$2,090 CA$2,907

147.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,470

$2,159 CA$3,002

82.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,116

$2,682 CA$3,729

10.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.18

-18.93%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,053 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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 10% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $347 – making Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John, New Brunswick costs about 1% 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 $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,120 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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 13% cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – 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 $73.0 in Montreal and $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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 $2,063, than in Saint John, New Brunswick at $2,080. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John, New Brunswick it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,080 in Saint John, New Brunswick. 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, Saint John, New Brunswick makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.