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 $2,065 per month in Montreal vs $2,091 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,180 per month in Montreal vs $3,020 in Saint John, New Brunswick, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,296 per month in Montreal vs $3,949 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 53%, Saint John, New Brunswick by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.08 CA$22.03

$21.77 CA$29.82

-26.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 CA$101

$61.0 CA$83.6

20.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 CA$14.95

$10.45 CA$14.31

4.40%

Cappuccino

$3.67 CA$5.03

$3.03 CA$4.15

21.12%

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

$2.06 CA$2.83

$1.70 CA$2.33

21.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$1.97

$1.22 CA$1.67

18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.21 CA$8.50

$4.39 CA$6.01

41.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$8.82

$5.09 CA$6.97

26.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$1.97 CA$2.69

18.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.42

$2.91 CA$3.99

11.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$1.79 CA$2.45

114.53%

Eggs

$3.32 CA$4.54

$3.55 CA$4.87

-6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.35 CA$22.40

$11.56 CA$15.84

41.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.92 CA$16.33

$8.61 CA$11.79

38.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 CA$20.69

$16.26 CA$22.28

-7.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.04

$4.03 CA$5.52

-8.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 CA$2.32

$1.50 CA$2.06

12.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.64

$3.63 CA$4.98

13.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$4.43 CA$6.06

-3.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.82

$2.10 CA$2.88

32.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.70

$2.20 CA$3.01

22.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 CA$2.97

$2.75 CA$3.77

-21.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.44

$1.51 CA$2.06

17.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.22 CA$18.12

$18.35 CA$25.14

-27.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 CA$15.12

$10.28 CA$14.08

7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 CA$4.07

$3.31 CA$4.54

-10.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.71

$3.37 CA$4.62

2.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.84

$2.24 CA$3.07

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 CA$98.9

$60.5 CA$82.8

19.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 CA$5.03

$3.57 CA$4.90

2.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.92

$1.12 CA$1.53

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.07 CA$46.68

$29.47 CA$40.37

15.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.66

$1.17 CA$1.61

3.42%

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

$25.3K CA$34.7K

$25.1K CA$34.3K

1.09%

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

$21.9K CA$30.0K

$19.9K CA$27.3K

9.72%

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

$74.4 CA$102

$127 CA$175

-41.66%

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

$36.64 CA$50.2

$38.36 CA$52.6

-4.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.41 CA$59.5

$63.4 CA$86.9

-31.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.20 CA$59.2

$42.93 CA$58.8

0.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.18 CA$23.54

$37.01 CA$50.7

-53.58%

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 CA$15.06

$11.06 CA$15.16

-0.63%

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

$614 CA$842

$168 CA$231

264.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,855 CA$8,022

$11.6K CA$15.9K

-49.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 CA$85.8

$40.92 CA$56.1

52.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.25 CA$60.6

$42.57 CA$58.3

3.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$142

$85.0 CA$116

21.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$167

$123 CA$168

-0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 CA$1,631

$1,038 CA$1,422

14.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$946 CA$1,296

$973 CA$1,333

-2.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 CA$2,791

$1,590 CA$2,178

28.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 CA$2,120

$1,445 CA$1,979

7.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,398 CA$7,395

$2,133 CA$2,922

153.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,014 CA$5,499

$2,202 CA$3,016

82.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,013 CA$4,128

$2,684 CA$3,677

12.27%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,190 in Montreal versus $1,038 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 12% 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 $74 in Montreal versus $61 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $346 – 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 $3,097 per month in Montreal and $3,136 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 $74.0 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 $2,065, than in Saint John, New Brunswick at $2,091. 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 $2,065 versus $2,091 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.