Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Williams Lake, BC

For one person, living costs are similar in Montreal and in Williams Lake, BC: $2,064 and $2,038 a month, rent and utilities included.

Montreal, Canada
Williams Lake, BC, Canada
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,064
/mo nomad
Williams Lake, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,038
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Williams Lake, BC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montreal and in Williams Lake, BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,064 per month in Montreal vs $2,038 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,064
  • Williams Lake, BC $2,038

A couple spends around $3,156 per month in Montreal vs $2,920 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,156
  • Williams Lake, BC $2,920

A family of three spends $4,247 per month in Montreal vs $3,801 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,247
  • Williams Lake, BC $3,801

Montreal and Williams Lake, BC have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Montreal and Williams Lake, BC sit above the global median – Montreal by 52%, Williams Lake, BC by 50%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.98 CA$26.64
$17.74 CA$24.90
6.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0 CA$102
$63.4 CA$89.0
15.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 CA$15.27
$10.62 CA$14.90
2.45%
Cappuccino
$3.81 CA$5.35
$3.61 CA$5.07
5.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.72
$2.08 CA$2.92
-6.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.22
$1.69 CA$2.37
-6.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.37 CA$8.94
$4.88 CA$6.84
30.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.26 CA$10.20
$5.36 CA$7.53
35.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 CA$3.13
$2.27 CA$3.19
-1.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 CA$4.45
$2.57 CA$3.61
23.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 CA$4.64
$3.80 CA$5.33
-12.89%
Eggs
$3.63 CA$5.09
$3.38 CA$4.74
7.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.16 CA$18.47
$10.16 CA$14.26
29.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 CA$16.22
$11.80 CA$16.56
-2.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 CA$19.25
$14.60 CA$20.49
-6.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 CA$4.62
$3.75 CA$5.26
-12.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 CA$2.05
$1.33 CA$1.87
9.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.73
$3.57 CA$5.01
-5.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.42
$3.86 CA$5.41
-18.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 CA$2.65
$2.43 CA$3.41
-22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 CA$2.52
$2.26 CA$3.18
-20.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 CA$3.47
$2.42 CA$3.40
2.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.22
$1.45 CA$2.03
8.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.28 CA$15.84
$12.42 CA$17.43
-9.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.49 CA$14.73
$14.53 CA$20.39
-27.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 CA$3.28
$2.60 CA$3.65
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.09
$2.70 CA$3.79
7.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.61 CA$3.66
$2.37 CA$3.32
10.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 CA$111
$60.6 CA$85.0
30.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 CA$4.57
$2.63 CA$3.69
23.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.02
$1.62 CA$2.27
-11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.43 CA$46.92
$25.61 CA$35.94
30.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 CA$1.87
$1.20 CA$1.68
10.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K CA$40.2K
$28.3K CA$39.7K
1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.6K
$22.1K CA$31.0K
-4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 CA$112
$138 CA$194
-42.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.30 CA$48.14
$32.57 CA$45.70
5.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.85 CA$60.1
$84.3 CA$118
-49.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.14 CA$43.71
$37.04 CA$52.0
-15.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41 CA$27.24
$17.65 CA$24.77
9.97%
Cinema Ticket
$11.23 CA$15.76
$10.59 CA$14.86
6.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$525 CA$737
$683 CA$959
-23.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K CA$22.9K
$14.7K CA$20.6K
11.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 CA$81.4
$56.2 CA$78.8
3.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 CA$53.5
$38.39 CA$53.9
-0.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 CA$131
$97.1 CA$136
-3.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$91.6 CA$128
20.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,285 CA$1,803
$936 CA$1,314
37.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 CA$1,371
$892 CA$1,252
9.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,271 CA$3,187
$1,339 CA$1,879
69.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 CA$2,336
$1,257 CA$1,764
32.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,139 CA$7,212
$4,775 CA$6,701
7.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,834 CA$5,381
$3,838 CA$5,387
-0.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Williams Lake, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,002 CA$4,213
$3,168 CA$4,445
-5.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
4.68
-4.27%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 25, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$977
Williams Lake, BC
$892 8.6% $84
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$351
Williams Lake, BC
$357 1.7% $5.9
Eating Out
Montreal
$291
Williams Lake, BC
$267 8.1% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$157
Williams Lake, BC
$255 62.2% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$135
Williams Lake, BC
$127 5.5% $7.4
Getting Around
Montreal
$100
Williams Lake, BC
$81 19.2% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$54
Williams Lake, BC
$58 8.6% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,285 in Montreal versus $936 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Montreal versus $63 in Williams Lake, BC. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Montreal vs $357 in Williams Lake, BC – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇨🇦 Williams Lake, BC
🕒 Local time
16:37 4:37 PM
13:37 1:37 PM
3 h behind Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
10,753
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montreal Williams Lake, BC 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Williams Lake, BC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Montreal vs Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal and in Williams Lake, BC?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,096 per month in Montreal and $3,057 in Williams Lake, BC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Williams Lake, BC?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Williams Lake, BC, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $936 there versus $1,285 in Montreal.
How expensive is transport in Montreal compared to Williams Lake, BC?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Williams Lake, BC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Williams Lake, BC?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Montreal and $63 in Williams Lake, BC. 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 in Williams Lake, BC?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,064 in Montreal and $2,038 in Williams Lake, BC. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Montreal or Williams Lake, BC?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,038 in Williams Lake, BC to $2,064 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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