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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,084 per month in Montreal vs $2,293 in Windsor, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,161 per month in Montreal vs $3,247 in Windsor, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,239 per month in Montreal vs $4,202 in Windsor, NS, rent included.

Montreal is about 9% cheaper than Windsor, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montreal and Windsor, NS sit above the global median – Montreal by 55%, Windsor, NS by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.97 CA$22.30

$14.84 CA$20.72

7.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.4 CA$102

$37.49 CA$52.4

95.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.32

$9.04 CA$12.62

21.35%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.29

$3.63 CA$5.08

4.41%

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

$2.16 CA$3.01

$1.66 CA$2.32

30.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.26 CA$1.76

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 CA$8.24

$5.97 CA$8.34

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 CA$9.52

$5.85 CA$8.17

16.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.23

$2.04 CA$2.84

13.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 CA$4.72

$2.80 CA$3.91

20.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.36

$4.04 CA$5.64

-5.20%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.75

$3.98 CA$5.56

-14.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.11 CA$22.50

$12.76 CA$17.82

26.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.46

$14.27 CA$19.93

-17.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 CA$21.40

$16.77 CA$23.42

-8.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.11

$4.07 CA$5.68

-10.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 CA$2.25

$1.62 CA$2.27

-0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 CA$5.68

$3.72 CA$5.20

9.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.40 CA$6.14

$5.37 CA$7.50

-18.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.14 CA$2.99

25.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.72

$2.17 CA$3.03

22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$2.64 CA$3.69

-13.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 CA$2.48

$1.86 CA$2.59

-4.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.07 CA$18.25

$18.49 CA$25.83

-29.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.70 CA$14.94

$11.30 CA$15.77

-5.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 CA$4.37

$3.42 CA$4.78

-8.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 CA$4.82

$3.31 CA$4.62

4.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$2.32 CA$3.24

22.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$102

$63.0 CA$87.9

15.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 CA$4.92

$7.64 CA$10.67

-53.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.29 CA$46.48

$29.91 CA$41.77

11.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.23 CA$1.72

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

$25.4K CA$35.4K

$24.9K CA$34.7K

2.02%

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

$21.5K CA$30.0K

$20.7K CA$28.9K

3.73%

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

$73.9 CA$103

$133 CA$185

-44.25%

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

$36.87 CA$51.5

$32.51 CA$45.40

13.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.97 CA$60.0

$36.26 CA$50.6

18.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.82 CA$59.8

$42.05 CA$58.7

1.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 CA$23.55

Cinema Ticket

$11.19 CA$15.63

$10.88 CA$15.20

2.85%

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

$608 CA$850

$165 CA$230

269.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,823 CA$8,132

$12.0K CA$16.8K

-51.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 CA$85.3

$40.58 CA$56.7

50.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.96 CA$62.8

$35.09 CA$49.00

28.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 CA$143

$85.2 CA$119

19.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$170

$137 CA$192

-11.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 CA$1,674

$1,314 CA$1,834

-8.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$942 CA$1,316

$1,162 CA$1,623

-18.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 CA$2,914

$1,976 CA$2,759

5.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 CA$2,178

$1,848 CA$2,581

-15.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,093 CA$7,112

$4,551 CA$6,355

11.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,283

$3,841 CA$5,364

-1.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,880 CA$4,022

$918 CA$1,282

213.87%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Windsor, NS: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Montreal versus $1,314 in Windsor, NS. 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 214% higher in Montreal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal versus $37.00 in Windsor, NS. Groceries tell a different story – $393 in Montreal vs $402 in Windsor, NS – so Montreal 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, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Windsor, NS costs about 10% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Montreal and $3,439 in Windsor, NS. 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.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Windsor, NS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Montreal and $37.00 in Windsor, NS. 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 $2,084, than in Windsor, NS at $2,293. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windsor, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,084 versus $2,293 in Windsor, NS. 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, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.