Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Terrace Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Terrace

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,056 per month in Montreal vs $1,918 in Terrace, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,112 per month in Montreal vs $2,938 in Terrace, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Montreal vs $3,958 in Terrace, rent included.

Montreal costs about 7% more than Terrace, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Montreal and Terrace sit above the global median – Montreal by 50%, Terrace by 40%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.62

$17.93 CA$24.73

-0.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.3 CA$99.7

$82.4 CA$114

-12.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.06

$10.28 CA$14.17

6.23%

Cappuccino

$3.97 CA$5.47

$4.12 CA$5.68

-3.64%

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

$2.07 CA$2.86

$2.18 CA$3.01

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.13

$1.82 CA$2.51

-14.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.41 CA$8.85

$5.31 CA$7.33

20.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 CA$10.05

$5.27 CA$7.27

38.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.29

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.42

$2.62 CA$3.61

22.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.07 CA$4.23

$5.44 CA$7.51

-43.57%

Eggs

$3.68 CA$5.07

$3.71 CA$5.11

-0.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 CA$18.72

$8.98 CA$12.38

51.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.03

$15.72 CA$21.68

-26.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 CA$19.27

$13.62 CA$18.78

2.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.08

$4.34 CA$5.98

-15.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.15

$1.24 CA$1.72

25.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.70

$3.22 CA$4.44

5.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.17

$3.89 CA$5.36

-22.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$3.34 CA$4.61

-40.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.52

$3.13 CA$4.31

-41.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 CA$3.53

$2.47 CA$3.40

3.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.92

$1.01 CA$1.39

37.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.49 CA$15.85

$11.67 CA$16.09

-1.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 CA$15.06

$13.66 CA$18.83

-20.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.12

$2.24 CA$3.10

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.15

$1.83 CA$2.53

64.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 CA$3.71

$1.45 CA$2.00

85.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 CA$104

$31.34 CA$43.22

140.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 CA$4.62

$3.33 CA$4.59

0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.07

$1.59 CA$2.19

-5.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.70 CA$46.47

$21.79 CA$30.05

54.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.78

$1.21 CA$1.68

6.61%

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

$28.3K CA$39.0K

$28.0K CA$38.6K

1.13%

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

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$19.3K CA$26.6K

3.35%

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

$80.4 CA$111

$95.3 CA$131

-15.68%

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

$34.23 CA$47.21

$39.88 CA$55.0

-14.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.39 CA$57.1

$62.1 CA$85.7

-33.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.24 CA$40.32

$42.51 CA$58.6

-31.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.43

$16.92 CA$23.34

17.55%

Cinema Ticket

$11.71 CA$16.15

$9.11 CA$12.56

28.54%

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

$564 CA$778

$774 CA$1,068

-27.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.2K

$14.6K CA$20.1K

15.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 CA$82.1

$37.31 CA$51.4

59.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.13 CA$58.1

$30.94 CA$42.66

36.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 CA$148

$80.5 CA$111

33.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$153

$102 CA$141

8.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,770

$1,046 CA$1,442

22.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$990 CA$1,365

$864 CA$1,191

14.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 CA$3,116

$1,649 CA$2,273

37.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,667 CA$2,299

$1,342 CA$1,851

24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,291

$4,352 CA$6,002

21.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,258

$4,082 CA$5,630

-6.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 CA$4,163

$3,266 CA$4,504

-7.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.41

5.05

-12.67%

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

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Last update for Terrace: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Montreal versus $1,046 in Terrace. 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 8% higher in Terrace, 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 $72.0 in Montreal versus $82.0 in Terrace. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $375 – making Montreal 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 Terrace: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 7% more than Terrace, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $2,877 in Terrace. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Terrace, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Montreal – 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 $72.0 in Montreal and $82.0 in Terrace. 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 Terrace, where all-in costs run around $1,918, than in Montreal at $2,056. In Terrace it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Terrace costs $1,918 versus $2,056 in Montreal. 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 Terrace. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.