Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,108 per month in Montreal vs $2,136 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,226 per month in Montreal vs $3,210 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,344 per month in Montreal vs $4,285 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, rent included.

Montreal is about 1% cheaper than St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador sit above the global median – Montreal by 53%, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.83 CA$24.72

$18.36 CA$25.47

-2.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 CA$102

$72.3 CA$100

1.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 CA$15.00

$12.09 CA$16.76

-10.59%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.44

$4.13 CA$5.73

-5.08%

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

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.54 CA$3.53

-19.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$2.22 CA$3.08

-31.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 CA$9.13

$5.15 CA$7.14

27.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 CA$9.90

$5.42 CA$7.51

31.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.28

$2.86 CA$3.97

-17.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 CA$4.48

$3.12 CA$4.33

3.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$4.49 CA$6.23

-34.30%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.12

$3.62 CA$5.02

1.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 CA$18.93

$11.47 CA$15.91

19.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 CA$16.56

$13.64 CA$18.92

-12.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.07 CA$19.52

$12.15 CA$16.86

15.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.01

$4.70 CA$6.52

-23.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$3.12 CA$4.33

-50.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.56

$4.92 CA$6.82

-33.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$2.97 CA$4.12

3.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.77 CA$3.84

-27.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 CA$2.64

$2.31 CA$3.21

-17.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$4.31 CA$5.98

-38.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.03 CA$2.82

-31.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 CA$16.36

$14.30 CA$19.83

-17.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.80 CA$14.98

$16.35 CA$22.67

-33.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$4.20 CA$5.82

-43.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.02

$4.42 CA$6.12

-34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$1.79 CA$2.49

53.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

$57.2 CA$79.3

34.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

$3.20 CA$4.44

3.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.83 CA$2.54

-20.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

$29.29 CA$40.62

12.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.82

$1.29 CA$1.79

1.55%

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

$28.7K CA$39.8K

$28.2K CA$39.1K

1.96%

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

$20.4K CA$28.4K

$22.3K CA$31.0K

-8.50%

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

$79.9 CA$111

$185 CA$257

-56.89%

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

$34.79 CA$48.25

$42.87 CA$59.5

-18.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.55 CA$59.0

$76.2 CA$106

-44.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.20 CA$40.49

$67.7 CA$93.9

-56.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

$19.54 CA$27.10

4.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 CA$15.92

$10.71 CA$14.86

7.19%

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

$565 CA$784

$535 CA$741

5.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K CA$23.0K

$9,997 CA$13.9K

65.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 CA$83.5

$67.5 CA$93.6

-10.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 CA$58.1

$51.3 CA$71.1

-18.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$144

$81.3 CA$113

27.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$95.1 CA$132

18.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,294 CA$1,795

$1,003 CA$1,390

29.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 CA$1,406

$794 CA$1,102

27.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,271 CA$3,149

$1,571 CA$2,178

44.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,683 CA$2,334

$1,392 CA$1,930

20.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,150

$1,992 CA$2,762

158.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,842 CA$5,328

$1,635 CA$2,268

134.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,032 CA$4,205

$2,831 CA$3,926

7.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.44

4.57

-2.84%

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

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Last update for St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,294 in Montreal versus $1,003 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. 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 7% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $72.0 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Groceries tell a different story – $358 in Montreal vs $425 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador – 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 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador 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 $3,163 per month in Montreal and $3,204 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. 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.

Groceries cost about 19% more in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Montreal and $72.0 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. 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 $2,108, than in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador at $2,136. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,108 versus $2,136 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. 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, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.