Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Williams Lake, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Williams Lake, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,055 per month in Montreal vs $2,127 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,123 per month in Montreal vs $3,044 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,191 per month in Montreal vs $3,961 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

Montreal is about 3% cheaper than Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Montreal and Williams Lake, BC sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Williams Lake, BC by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.99 CA$22.53

$17.15 CA$24.16

-6.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 CA$105

$69.4 CA$97.7

7.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.41

$10.90 CA$15.35

0.37%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$3.68 CA$5.18

4.35%

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

$2.08 CA$2.94

$2.05 CA$2.89

1.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.11

$1.67 CA$2.35

-10.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.23 CA$8.77

$5.55 CA$7.82

12.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 CA$9.22

$6.06 CA$8.54

7.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 CA$3.33

$2.47 CA$3.48

-4.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 CA$4.58

$2.68 CA$3.77

21.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.40

$3.57 CA$5.03

7.28%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.86

$5.62 CA$7.92

-38.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.11 CA$22.69

$11.10 CA$15.63

45.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.91 CA$16.77

$11.69 CA$16.47

1.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.44 CA$21.75

$14.77 CA$20.80

4.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.18

$3.98 CA$5.61

-7.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 CA$2.28

$1.42 CA$1.99

14.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.81

$3.64 CA$5.12

13.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.28

$3.70 CA$5.22

20.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.79

$2.38 CA$3.35

13.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.59

$2.50 CA$3.52

2.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 CA$3.20

$2.52 CA$3.54

-9.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.45

$1.78 CA$2.51

-2.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.32 CA$18.76

$14.04 CA$19.78

-5.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.59 CA$14.91

$12.83 CA$18.08

-17.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 CA$4.26

$2.82 CA$3.97

7.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CA$4.95

$3.06 CA$4.31

14.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.96

$2.32 CA$3.27

21.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 CA$104

$62.1 CA$87.4

18.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 CA$4.91

$3.15 CA$4.44

10.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.98

$1.44 CA$2.03

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.86 CA$47.70

$25.65 CA$36.14

32.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

-0.04%

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

$21.4K CA$30.1K

$20.8K CA$29.3K

2.81%

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

$75.0 CA$106

$144 CA$203

-47.87%

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

$35.87 CA$50.5

$32.66 CA$46.00

9.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.06 CA$60.7

$87.3 CA$123

-50.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.58 CA$60.0

$41.22 CA$58.1

3.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.21 CA$24.24

Cinema Ticket

$11.01 CA$15.51

$11.53 CA$16.23

-4.51%

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

$621 CA$875

$740 CA$1,043

-16.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,904 CA$8,316

$11.8K CA$16.6K

-49.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 CA$87.9

$53.9 CA$75.9

15.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.39 CA$63.9

$40.18 CA$56.6

12.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$147

$84.7 CA$119

22.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 CA$169

$107 CA$150

12.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 CA$1,703

$973 CA$1,370

24.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 CA$1,345

$937 CA$1,320

1.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,103 CA$2,962

$1,394 CA$1,963

50.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 CA$2,249

$1,307 CA$1,840

22.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,209 CA$7,338

$4,779 CA$6,731

9.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,729 CA$5,253

$3,317 CA$4,672

12.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,950 CA$4,156

$3,127 CA$4,405

-5.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.46

-22.45%

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

Last update for Montreal: July 21, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,209 in Montreal versus $973 in Williams Lake, BC. 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 6% higher in Williams Lake, BC, 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $375 – making Williams Lake, BC 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 Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williams Lake, BC costs about 3% 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 $3,083 per month in Montreal and $3,191 in Williams Lake, BC. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Williams Lake, BC – 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 $74.0 in Montreal and $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC. 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 $2,055, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,127. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Williams Lake, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,055 versus $2,127 in Williams Lake, BC. 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, Williams Lake, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.