Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Thunder Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Thunder Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,413 in Thunder Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,528 in Thunder Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,642 in Thunder Bay, rent included.

Montreal is about 14% cheaper than Thunder Bay, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Thunder Bay sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Thunder Bay by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.12

$18.24 CA$25.34

-12.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$59.3 CA$82.3

23.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$12.65 CA$17.58

-11.86%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.28

$3.64 CA$5.06

4.40%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$1.86 CA$2.58

17.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.48 CA$2.06

-1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.43 CA$7.55

12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.41

$5.06 CA$7.03

33.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.23

$2.43 CA$3.38

-4.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$2.45 CA$3.41

38.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.18

$3.39 CA$4.71

10.03%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.62 CA$5.04

-6.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$17.19 CA$23.88

-5.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.04

$16.50 CA$22.93

-30.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.17

$18.17 CA$25.24

-16.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.44 CA$4.78

8.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.33 CA$1.85

27.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.70

$3.92 CA$5.45

4.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.58 CA$4.98

21.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$2.70 CA$3.76

0.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.14 CA$2.98

22.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$3.12 CA$4.33

-27.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.11 CA$2.93

-18.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.49

$11.24 CA$15.62

18.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.98

$9.22 CA$12.80

16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.04 CA$2.84

47.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$2.73 CA$3.79

26.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.46 CA$3.42

11.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$62.9 CA$87.4

15.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.30 CA$4.58

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$2.02 CA$2.81

-27.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.46

$25.84 CA$35.90

29.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.16 CA$1.61

4.31%

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

$24.6K CA$34.2K

$25.3K CA$35.2K

-2.69%

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

$21.7K CA$30.1K

$19.9K CA$27.7K

8.70%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$199 CA$276

-61.76%

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

$35.72 CA$49.63

$60.1 CA$83.6

-40.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$97.9 CA$136

-56.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.6

$30.22 CA$41.99

42.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

$18.76 CA$26.06

-8.16%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.40

$13.36 CA$18.56

-16.99%

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

$620 CA$861

$750 CA$1,042

-17.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,106

$11.6K CA$16.1K

-49.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$59.1 CA$82.1

6.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.7

$35.69 CA$49.59

24.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$75.6 CA$105

33.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$138 CA$192

-13.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,683

$1,036 CA$1,439

16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,333

$1,059 CA$1,471

-9.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,828

$1,884 CA$2,618

8.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$1,799 CA$2,499

-11.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,113

$2,908 CA$4,040

1.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.19

-19.06%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Thunder Bay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,036 in Thunder Bay. 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 2% 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 $59.0 in Thunder Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $409 in Thunder Bay – 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 Thunder Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thunder Bay costs about 17% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,619 in Thunder Bay. 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 4% more in Thunder Bay, 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 $73.0 in Montreal and $59.0 in Thunder Bay. 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 Thunder Bay at $2,413. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thunder Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,413 in Thunder Bay. 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, Thunder Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.