Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Windsor Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Windsor

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,063 per month in Montreal vs $2,389 in Windsor, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,159 per month in Montreal vs $3,392 in Windsor, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,255 per month in Montreal vs $4,395 in Windsor, rent included.

Montreal is about 14% cheaper than Windsor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montreal and Windsor sit above the global median – Montreal by 54%, Windsor by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.92 CA$22.12

$11.23 CA$15.60

41.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.1 CA$102

$74.2 CA$103

-1.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$11.18 CA$15.53

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.28

$4.17 CA$5.79

-8.87%

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

$2.18 CA$3.03

$2.09 CA$2.90

4.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.88 CA$2.61

-22.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 CA$8.51

$5.11 CA$7.10

19.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 CA$9.41

$6.28 CA$8.72

7.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.23

$1.85 CA$2.57

25.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 CA$4.71

$2.17 CA$3.01

56.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.18

$3.95 CA$5.49

-5.57%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.70

$3.18 CA$4.42

6.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.58

$10.73 CA$14.90

51.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 CA$16.04

$10.86 CA$15.09

6.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.24 CA$21.17

$13.88 CA$19.29

9.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.93 CA$5.46

-4.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.37

$1.03 CA$1.43

65.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.70

$3.34 CA$4.64

23.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.84 CA$5.33

13.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 CA$3.76

$1.95 CA$2.70

38.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.63

$2.05 CA$2.84

27.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$2.34 CA$3.25

-3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.51 CA$2.10

14.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.31 CA$18.49

$13.11 CA$18.21

1.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$14.98

$11.66 CA$16.19

-7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.19

$2.90 CA$4.03

3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 CA$4.81

$2.83 CA$3.93

22.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.74 CA$3.80

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

$90.8 CA$126

-19.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.05

$3.34 CA$4.64

8.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.39 CA$1.93

5.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.44 CA$46.46

$22.27 CA$30.95

50.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.10 CA$1.53

10.00%

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

$24.6K CA$34.2K

$24.9K CA$34.6K

-1.04%

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

$21.7K CA$30.1K

$24.7K CA$34.4K

-12.32%

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

$76.0 CA$106

$202 CA$280

-62.32%

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

$35.72 CA$49.63

$54.2 CA$75.3

-34.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.86 CA$59.6

$60.8 CA$84.4

-29.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.92 CA$59.6

$45.96 CA$63.9

-6.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.94

$26.00 CA$36.12

-33.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.40

$10.06 CA$13.98

10.24%

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

$620 CA$861

$512 CA$711

20.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,834 CA$8,106

$4,450 CA$6,183

31.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$37.34 CA$51.9

67.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 CA$61.7

$35.19 CA$48.89

26.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$140

$82.5 CA$115

22.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 CA$165

$79.5 CA$110

49.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 CA$1,683

$1,228 CA$1,706

-1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$960 CA$1,333

$1,270 CA$1,765

-24.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,035 CA$2,828

$1,742 CA$2,421

16.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 CA$2,208

$1,858 CA$2,581

-14.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

$3,012 CA$4,184

72.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

$3,085 CA$4,286

27.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,960 CA$4,113

$3,047 CA$4,234

-2.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.01

6.66

-24.77%

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

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Last update for Windsor: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,211 in Montreal versus $1,228 in Windsor. 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 3% higher in Windsor, 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 Windsor. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Montreal vs $336 in Windsor – so Windsor 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 Windsor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Windsor costs about 16% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,584 in Windsor. 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 16% cheaper in Windsor – 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 $73.0 in Montreal and $74.0 in Windsor. 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 Windsor at $2,389. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windsor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,389 in Windsor. 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, Windsor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.