😐A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,026 in Welland, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,086 in Welland, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,146 in Welland, rent included.
😐Montreal costs about 2% more than Welland, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Montreal and Welland sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Welland by 51%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.92CA$22.05
$17.52CA$24.26
-9.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1CA$101
$74.2CA$103
-1.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.15CA$15.43
$10.19CA$14.11
9.42%
Cappuccino
$3.80CA$5.26
$3.52CA$4.88
7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CA$3.01
$2.02CA$2.80
7.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.02
$1.67CA$2.32
-12.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12CA$8.48
$4.77CA$6.61
28.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78CA$9.38
$5.81CA$8.04
16.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.33CA$3.22
$1.76CA$2.44
32.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39CA$4.69
$2.54CA$3.52
33.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.73CA$5.16
$4.51CA$6.24
-17.29%
Eggs
$3.38CA$4.68
$3.36CA$4.65
0.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.25CA$22.50
$11.65CA$16.14
39.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54CA$15.98
$9.75CA$13.50
18.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.24CA$21.10
$11.31CA$15.66
34.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.18
$2.98CA$4.12
25.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70CA$2.36
$1.50CA$2.08
13.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.11CA$5.68
$2.95CA$4.09
39.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35CA$6.02
$4.39CA$6.08
-0.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71CA$3.75
$2.44CA$3.38
11.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.62
$3.06CA$4.23
-14.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25CA$3.12
$2.76CA$3.82
-18.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.39
$2.17CA$3.00
-20.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.31CA$18.43
$11.54CA$15.98
15.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.78CA$14.93
$13.16CA$18.22
-18.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01CA$4.17
$2.18CA$3.02
38.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46CA$4.80
$2.26CA$3.13
53.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Welland
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74CA$3.79
$2.16CA$2.99
26.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.7CA$101
$63.4CA$87.8
14.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63CA$5.03
$2.61CA$3.62
39.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46CA$2.02
$1.70CA$2.36
-14.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.44CA$46.30
$22.41CA$31.03
49.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21CA$1.68
$1.14CA$1.58
6.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.1K
$25.2KCA$34.9K
-2.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KCA$30.0K
$22.5KCA$31.1K
-3.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0CA$105
$199CA$275
-61.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.72CA$49.46
$48.05CA$66.5
-25.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.86CA$59.4
$63.0CA$87.2
-31.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.92CA$59.4
$25.63CA$35.49
67.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.23CA$23.86
$28.48CA$39.43
-39.50%
Cinema Ticket
$11.09CA$15.35
$11.73CA$16.24
-5.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$620CA$858
$600CA$831
3.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,834CA$8,078
$18.2KCA$25.2K
-67.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$86.8
$72.7CA$101
-13.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.41CA$61.5
$54.2CA$75.0
-18.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101CA$139
$76.2CA$106
32.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119CA$165
$95.4CA$132
24.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Welland
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,211CA$1,677
$1,033CA$1,430
17.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$960CA$1,329
$898CA$1,244
6.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,035CA$2,818
$2,048CA$2,836
-0.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,589CA$2,201
$1,554CA$2,152
2.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,181CA$7,173
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,934CA$5,446
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Welland
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,960CA$4,098
$3,024CA$4,187
-2.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
6.83
-26.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026
Last update for Welland: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,033 in Welland. 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 Welland, 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 $74.0 in Welland. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $342 in Welland – so Welland 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 Welland: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Welland?
Montreal costs about 2% more than Welland, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal vs Welland?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,094 per month in Montreal and $3,038 in Welland. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Welland?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Welland, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or Welland?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Welland?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $74.0 in Welland. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Montreal or Welland?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Welland, where all-in costs run around $2,026, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Welland it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Welland?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Welland costs $2,026 versus $2,063 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Welland?
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.
Should I move to Montreal or Welland?
If budget matters most, go with Welland. 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.