Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,472 per month in New Westminster vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,911 per month in New Westminster vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,351 per month in New Westminster vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

New Westminster costs about 20% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New Westminster and Montreal sit above the global median – New Westminster by 84%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.83 CA$20.63

$15.92 CA$22.14

-6.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.7 CA$101

$73.1 CA$102

-0.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 CA$13.43

$11.15 CA$15.50

-13.36%

Cappuccino

$3.88 CA$5.39

$3.80 CA$5.29

2.11%

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

$2.05 CA$2.85

$2.18 CA$3.03

-5.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.46 CA$2.03

-2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 CA$8.47

$6.12 CA$8.51

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.68 CA$9.28

$6.78 CA$9.42

-1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.25

$2.33 CA$3.24

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 CA$3.40

$3.39 CA$4.72

-28.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.21

$3.73 CA$5.19

0.27%

Eggs

$3.42 CA$4.76

$3.38 CA$4.70

1.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 CA$14.12

$16.25 CA$22.60

-37.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 CA$14.26

$11.54 CA$16.05

-11.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.01 CA$13.93

$15.24 CA$21.19

-34.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.28

$3.74 CA$5.20

-17.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.70 CA$2.37

-18.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$4.11 CA$5.71

-28.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$4.35 CA$6.05

-14.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.38

$2.71 CA$3.76

-10.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.62 CA$3.64

-15.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 CA$2.62

$2.25 CA$3.13

-16.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 CA$2.94

$1.73 CA$2.40

21.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.99 CA$22.23

$13.31 CA$18.51

20.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.60 CA$17.52

$10.78 CA$15.00

16.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.07

$3.01 CA$4.19

-26.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.05

$3.46 CA$4.82

-15.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$2.74 CA$3.81

-5.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.9 CA$133

$72.7 CA$101

31.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 CA$3.16

$3.63 CA$5.05

-37.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 CA$2.31

$1.46 CA$2.03

13.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.28 CA$32.37

$33.44 CA$46.50

-30.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CA$1.84

$1.21 CA$1.69

9.92%

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

$24.7K CA$34.4K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

0.31%

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

$20.2K CA$28.1K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

-6.85%

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

$117 CA$163

$76.0 CA$106

54.43%

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

$45.91 CA$63.8

$35.72 CA$49.68

28.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 CA$92.2

$42.86 CA$59.6

54.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.64 CA$48.17

$42.92 CA$59.7

-19.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.46 CA$25.67

$17.23 CA$23.97

7.14%

Cinema Ticket

$12.00 CA$16.69

$11.09 CA$15.42

8.21%

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

$820 CA$1,141

$620 CA$862

32.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,202 CA$11.4K

$5,834 CA$8,114

40.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 CA$65.8

$62.7 CA$87.1

-24.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.02 CA$47.31

$44.41 CA$61.8

-23.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 CA$114

$101 CA$140

-18.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$144

$119 CA$166

-12.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 CA$2,263

$1,211 CA$1,684

34.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 CA$1,885

$960 CA$1,334

41.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,968 CA$4,127

$2,035 CA$2,831

45.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,702 CA$3,758

$1,589 CA$2,210

70.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,826 CA$6,712

$5,181 CA$7,205

-6.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,068 CA$5,657

$3,934 CA$5,470

3.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,133 CA$4,356

$2,960 CA$4,116

5.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.01

28.54%

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

Last update for New Westminster: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in New Westminster versus $1,211 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 6% higher in New Westminster, 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 New Westminster versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $392 – making New Westminster 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

New Westminster vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Westminster costs about 20% 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 $3,707 per month in New Westminster and $3,094 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in New Westminster – 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 New Westminster and $73.0 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 $2,063, than in New Westminster at $2,472. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Westminster it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,472 in New Westminster. 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, New Westminster makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.