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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,085 per month in Montreal vs $2,423 in Windsor, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,174 per month in Montreal vs $3,467 in Windsor, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,262 per month in Montreal vs $4,511 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 56%, Windsor by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$23.24

$11.12 CA$15.65

48.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 CA$104

$73.4 CA$103

0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.40

$11.19 CA$15.75

-2.23%

Cappuccino

$3.84 CA$5.41

$4.00 CA$5.62

-4.00%

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

$2.14 CA$3.01

$2.07 CA$2.92

3.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$1.89 CA$2.67

-23.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 CA$8.63

$5.00 CA$7.03

22.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 CA$9.47

$6.04 CA$8.51

11.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.31

$1.86 CA$2.61

26.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 CA$4.69

$2.19 CA$3.08

52.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.27

$3.86 CA$5.43

-3.11%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.77

$3.18 CA$4.47

6.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.93

$10.62 CA$14.95

53.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.62

$10.95 CA$15.41

7.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 CA$22.01

$13.89 CA$19.54

12.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.20

$4.08 CA$5.74

-9.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$1.03 CA$1.45

65.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$3.37 CA$4.75

21.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.20

$3.78 CA$5.32

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.93

$1.94 CA$2.73

43.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.72

$2.03 CA$2.85

30.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.22

$2.27 CA$3.19

0.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.50 CA$2.11

18.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.17 CA$18.53

$13.43 CA$18.90

-1.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 CA$14.97

$11.68 CA$16.44

-8.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$2.79 CA$3.92

7.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CA$4.83

$2.88 CA$4.05

19.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.95

$2.83 CA$3.98

-0.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

$92.7 CA$130

-21.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.95

$3.34 CA$4.70

5.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 CA$2.05

$1.35 CA$1.90

7.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.29 CA$48.26

$21.68 CA$30.50

58.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.11 CA$1.56

9.91%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$25.3K CA$35.6K

-0.07%

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

$22.1K CA$31.1K

$24.5K CA$34.5K

-9.82%

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

$76.5 CA$108

$202 CA$284

-62.04%

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

$35.60 CA$50.1

$55.9 CA$78.6

-36.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.96 CA$60.5

$61.4 CA$86.4

-30.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.39 CA$61.1

$45.76 CA$64.4

-5.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.68

$25.46 CA$35.83

-33.90%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.60

$9.70 CA$13.65

14.33%

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

$625 CA$879

$505 CA$711

23.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 CA$8,296

$4,360 CA$6,135

35.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 CA$88.8

$37.40 CA$52.6

68.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.50 CA$62.6

$35.00 CA$49.24

27.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$145

$81.4 CA$115

26.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$166

$78.9 CA$111

49.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 CA$1,699

$1,240 CA$1,745

-2.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$965 CA$1,358

$1,250 CA$1,758

-22.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 CA$2,858

$1,700 CA$2,393

19.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 CA$2,219

$1,894 CA$2,665

-16.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,085 CA$7,155

$3,029 CA$4,263

67.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,324

$2,982 CA$4,196

26.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,890 CA$4,066

$3,024 CA$4,256

-4.45%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Windsor: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,207 in Montreal versus $1,240 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 5% 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 $74.0 in Montreal versus $73.0 in Windsor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $336 – making Windsor 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 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 $3,127 per month in Montreal and $3,634 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 18% 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 $74.0 in Montreal and $73.0 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 $2,085, than in Windsor at $2,423. 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 $2,085 versus $2,423 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.