Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,391 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $2,088 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,507 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,622 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $4,157 in Montreal, rent included.

Nanaimo, BC costs about 15% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Nanaimo, BC and Montreal sit above the global median – Nanaimo, BC by 79%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.70 CA$25.62

$15.89 CA$21.77

17.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 CA$86.7

$74.7 CA$102

-15.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.43 CA$18.39

$10.83 CA$14.83

24.01%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.67

$3.80 CA$5.21

8.95%

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

$2.63 CA$3.60

$2.10 CA$2.88

25.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.51 CA$2.08

31.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 CA$8.17

$6.09 CA$8.34

-2.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 CA$8.09

$6.48 CA$8.88

-8.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.47

$2.32 CA$3.18

-21.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$3.26 CA$4.47

0.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.65

$3.79 CA$5.19

8.97%

Eggs

$3.96 CA$5.43

$3.46 CA$4.73

14.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.14

$16.07 CA$22.02

-26.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.57 CA$21.33

$11.78 CA$16.14

32.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.44 CA$25.26

$15.13 CA$20.73

21.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 CA$5.96

$3.74 CA$5.12

16.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.11

$1.71 CA$2.34

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.63

$3.92 CA$5.37

-13.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 CA$6.43

$4.28 CA$5.87

9.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 CA$4.25

$2.74 CA$3.75

13.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.88

$2.64 CA$3.62

7.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 CA$4.19

$2.28 CA$3.13

34.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.20

$1.71 CA$2.34

36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 CA$18.08

$13.39 CA$18.35

-1.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.03 CA$17.85

$10.95 CA$15.00

19.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$3.00 CA$4.11

-22.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 CA$4.64

$3.60 CA$4.94

-6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CA$2.62

$2.82 CA$3.86

-32.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.16 CA$66.0

$75.1 CA$103

-35.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.93

$3.52 CA$4.82

-18.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 CA$1.89

$1.46 CA$2.00

-5.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.13 CA$46.76

$34.29 CA$46.97

-0.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.86

$1.19 CA$1.63

14.29%

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

$25.0K CA$34.2K

$25.1K CA$34.3K

-0.38%

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

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$21.9K CA$30.0K

-8.45%

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

$117 CA$161

$74.7 CA$102

57.02%

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

$46.31 CA$63.5

$35.83 CA$49.09

29.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$90.6

$43.53 CA$59.6

51.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.75 CA$42.13

$43.06 CA$59.0

-28.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.17 CA$15.30

$16.90 CA$23.15

-33.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 CA$15.43

$11.10 CA$15.21

1.44%

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

$771 CA$1,056

$609 CA$834

26.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K CA$16.7K

$5,925 CA$8,117

106.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 CA$63.3

$62.8 CA$86.0

-26.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.25 CA$46.92

$44.85 CA$61.5

-23.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 CA$111

$101 CA$138

-19.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$138

$118 CA$162

-14.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 CA$1,813

$1,221 CA$1,673

8.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 CA$1,594

$955 CA$1,308

21.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 CA$2,849

$2,105 CA$2,883

-1.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 CA$2,657

$1,600 CA$2,192

21.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,950 CA$5,411

$5,308 CA$7,272

-25.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,573 CA$4,894

$4,045 CA$5,542

-11.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,197 CA$4,380

$3,031 CA$4,152

5.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

5.01

29.14%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: April 25, 2026

Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,324 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,221 in Montreal. 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 Nanaimo, 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 $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC versus $75.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $419 in Nanaimo, BC vs $391 in Montreal – 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

Nanaimo, BC vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nanaimo, BC costs about 15% 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 $3,587 per month in Nanaimo, BC and $3,132 in Montreal. 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 7% more in Nanaimo, BC, 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 $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC and $75.0 in Montreal. 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 $2,088, than in Nanaimo, BC at $2,391. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nanaimo, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,088 versus $2,391 in Nanaimo, 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, Nanaimo, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.