Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and St John

For one person, living is cheaper in St John: $319 a month against $2,067 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

100

Cost of Living Index in Montreal
Learn more

Montreal Living Index

Jump to prices

Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,067

/mo nomad

St John

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

$319

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in St John

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montreal and in St John actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,067 per month in Montreal vs $319 in St John, rent included.

Montreal $2,067
St John $319

A couple spends around $3,179 per month in Montreal vs $924 in St John, rent included.

Montreal $3,179
St John $924

A family of three spends $4,291 per month in Montreal vs $1,529 in St John, rent included.

Montreal $4,291
St John $1,529

Montreal costs about 548% more than St John.

Montreal sits 53% above the global median, while St John is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.89 CA$26.48

$19.79 $19.79

-4.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.6 CA$102

$175 $175

-58.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 CA$15.13

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.58

$6.97 $6.97

-42.90%

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

$2.02 CA$2.83

$3.03 $3.03

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.29

$2.04 $2.04

-20.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.32 CA$8.86

$8.13 $8.13

-22.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 CA$9.90

$8.04 $8.04

-12.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.27

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.58

Eggs

$3.48 CA$4.87

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.73 CA$19.25

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 CA$16.09

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.26 CA$19.99

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 CA$4.94

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 CA$2.04

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.78

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.49

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 CA$2.71

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 CA$2.50

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CA$3.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.51 CA$16.13

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 CA$14.82

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 CA$3.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$4.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.61 CA$3.66

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.5 CA$110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.45

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.49 CA$46.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.91

$1.55 $1.55

-12.26%

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

$28.0K CA$39.3K

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

$21.1K CA$29.6K

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

$77.6 CA$109

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

$35.63 CA$49.94

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.73 CA$61.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.07 CA$42.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.97 CA$27.99

Cinema Ticket

$11.27 CA$15.80

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

$522 CA$732

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K CA$24.9K

$13.4K $13.4K

32.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 CA$82.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.01 CA$54.7

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 CA$140

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$154

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 CA$1,820

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$970 CA$1,360

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 CA$3,257

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 CA$2,368

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,004 CA$7,014

$12.9K $12.9K

-61.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,736 CA$5,237

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,943 CA$4,125

$5,165 $5,165

-43.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.51

7.05

-36.03%

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

Last update for Montreal: November 3, 2026

Last update for St John: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Montreal

$970 47%

St John

–

Groceries & Markets

Montreal

$357 17.3%

St John

–

Eating Out

Montreal

$292 14.1%

St John

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montreal

$157 7.6%

St John

–

Clothing & Footwear

Montreal

$138 6.7%

St John

–

Getting Around

Montreal

$100 4.8%

St John

–

Sport & Entertainment

Montreal

$53 2.6%

St John

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 76% higher in St John, 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 in Montreal versus $175 in St John. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Montreal

🇻🇮 St John

🕒 Local time

07:22 7:22 AM

08:22 8:22 AM

1 h ahead of Montreal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,762,949

2,743

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.713 USD

1 CAD = 0.635 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Montreal St John 3,130 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Montreal
St John

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 548% more than St John, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,100 per month in Montreal and $479 in St John. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,067 in Montreal and $319 in St John. That makes St John about 85% cheaper.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Montreal and $175 in St John. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in St John, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Montreal at $2,067. In St John it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $319 in St John to $2,067 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.