Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Whitby, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Whitby, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,084 per month in Montreal vs $3,003 in Whitby, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,161 per month in Montreal vs $3,992 in Whitby, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,239 per month in Montreal vs $4,981 in Whitby, ON, rent included.

Montreal is about 31% cheaper than Whitby, ON, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Whitby, ON sit above the global median – Montreal by 55%, Whitby, ON by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 CA$22.30
$15.51 CA$21.65
2.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 CA$102
$74.2 CA$104
-1.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 CA$15.32
$10.24 CA$14.29
7.13%
Cappuccino
$3.79 CA$5.29
$3.54 CA$4.94
7.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$2.12 CA$2.96
1.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.09
$1.61 CA$2.25
-6.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 CA$8.24
$5.91 CA$8.26
-0.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 CA$9.52
$6.22 CA$8.69
9.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.23
$2.46 CA$3.44
-6.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 CA$4.72
$2.72 CA$3.80
24.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.36
$4.54 CA$6.34
-15.64%
Eggs
$3.40 CA$4.75
$3.39 CA$4.73
0.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.11 CA$22.50
$12.12 CA$16.93
32.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.78 CA$16.46
$9.35 CA$13.06
25.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.32 CA$21.40
$8.79 CA$12.28
74.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 CA$5.11
$3.52 CA$4.92
3.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 CA$2.25
$2.14 CA$2.99
-24.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.07 CA$5.68
$3.99 CA$5.57
2.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.14
$4.96 CA$6.93
-11.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 CA$3.74
$4.44 CA$6.20
-39.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.72
$3.26 CA$4.55
-18.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 CA$3.20
$2.92 CA$4.08
-21.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.48
$1.51 CA$2.11
17.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.07 CA$18.25
$14.92 CA$20.84
-12.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.70 CA$14.94
$12.40 CA$17.32
-13.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 CA$4.37
$3.21 CA$4.49
-2.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 CA$4.82
$2.93 CA$4.09
17.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 CA$3.97
$2.92 CA$4.08
-2.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.7 CA$102
$87.0 CA$121
-16.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 CA$4.92
$3.19 CA$4.46
10.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.01
$2.86 CA$3.99
-49.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.29 CA$46.48
$22.13 CA$30.91
50.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 CA$1.71
$1.16 CA$1.62
6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.4K
$24.0K CA$33.5K
5.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K CA$30.0K
$22.7K CA$31.7K
-5.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 CA$103
$142 CA$198
-47.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.87 CA$51.5
$53.2 CA$74.2
-30.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.97 CA$60.0
$65.0 CA$90.7
-33.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.82 CA$59.8
$38.80 CA$54.2
10.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86 CA$23.55
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 CA$15.63
$9.36 CA$13.07
19.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 CA$850
$1,123 CA$1,569
-45.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,823 CA$8,132
$18.7K CA$26.1K
-68.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 CA$85.3
$59.4 CA$82.9
2.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.96 CA$62.8
$59.4 CA$82.9
-24.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 CA$143
$79.2 CA$111
28.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 CA$170
$157 CA$219
-22.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 CA$1,674
$1,861 CA$2,599
-35.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 CA$1,316
$1,818 CA$2,539
-48.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,087 CA$2,914
$2,369 CA$3,309
-11.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,559 CA$2,178
$2,307 CA$3,221
-32.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,093 CA$7,112
$7,757 CA$10.8K
-34.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,783 CA$5,283
$5,009 CA$6,995
-24.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Whitby, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,880 CA$4,022
$3,141 CA$4,387
-8.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
6.4
-21.72%

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

Last update for Montreal: June 7, 2026

Last update for Whitby, ON: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Montreal versus $1,861 in Whitby, ON. 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 9% higher in Whitby, ON, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $74.0 in Whitby, ON. Groceries tell a different story – $393 in Montreal vs $361 in Whitby, ON – so Whitby, ON 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 Whitby, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Whitby, ON?
Whitby, ON costs about 44% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal vs Whitby, ON?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Montreal and $4,505 in Whitby, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Whitby, ON?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or Whitby, ON?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Whitby, ON – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal vs Whitby, ON?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $74.0 in Whitby, ON. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Montreal or Whitby, ON?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,084, than in Whitby, ON at $3,003. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Whitby, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Whitby, ON?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,084 versus $3,003 in Whitby, ON. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Whitby, ON?
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 Whitby, ON?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Whitby, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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