Cost of Living Comparison Between North Bay and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between North Bay and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,363 per month in North Bay vs $2,084 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,529 per month in North Bay vs $3,161 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,695 per month in North Bay vs $4,239 in Montreal, rent included.

North Bay costs about 13% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both North Bay and Montreal sit above the global median – North Bay by 76%, Montreal by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.75 CA$20.59

$15.97 CA$22.30

-7.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 CA$113

$73.4 CA$102

10.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.71 CA$12.17

$10.97 CA$15.32

-20.60%

Cappuccino

$3.16 CA$4.41

$3.79 CA$5.29

-16.62%

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

$2.12 CA$2.96

$2.16 CA$3.01

-1.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.95

$1.50 CA$2.09

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 CA$7.12

$5.90 CA$8.24

-13.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$9.01

$6.82 CA$9.52

-5.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$2.31 CA$3.23

-25.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 CA$3.26

$3.38 CA$4.72

-30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.97 CA$9.73

$3.83 CA$5.36

81.98%

Eggs

$3.39 CA$4.74

$3.40 CA$4.75

-0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.41 CA$28.51

$16.11 CA$22.50

26.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.70 CA$24.71

$11.78 CA$16.46

50.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 CA$15.30

$15.32 CA$21.40

-28.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 CA$6.35

$3.66 CA$5.11

24.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.03

$1.61 CA$2.25

-9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$4.07 CA$5.68

-8.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.72

$4.40 CA$6.14

-23.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.32

$2.68 CA$3.74

-11.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.07

$2.66 CA$3.72

-17.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 CA$4.16

$2.29 CA$3.20

30.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.74

$1.77 CA$2.48

50.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.11 CA$18.31

$13.07 CA$18.25

0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.92 CA$19.43

$10.70 CA$14.94

30.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 CA$3.55

$3.13 CA$4.37

-18.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 CA$4.75

$3.45 CA$4.82

-1.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.27

$2.84 CA$3.97

-17.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 CA$104

$72.7 CA$102

2.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 CA$5.68

$3.52 CA$4.92

15.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 CA$1.49

$1.44 CA$2.01

-25.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.72 CA$35.92

$33.29 CA$46.48

-22.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.60

$1.23 CA$1.71

-6.50%

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

$25.2K CA$35.2K

$25.4K CA$35.4K

-0.57%

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

$19.7K CA$27.6K

$21.5K CA$30.0K

-7.99%

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

$145 CA$202

$73.9 CA$103

95.67%

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

$33.16 CA$46.30

$36.87 CA$51.5

-10.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.8 CA$82.1

$42.97 CA$60.0

36.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.52 CA$35.64

$42.82 CA$59.8

-40.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.86 CA$23.55

Cinema Ticket

$10.67 CA$14.90

$11.19 CA$15.63

-4.65%

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

$904 CA$1,262

$608 CA$850

48.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K CA$40.9K

$5,823 CA$8,132

402.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.63 CA$62.3

$61.1 CA$85.3

-26.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.07 CA$25.23

$44.96 CA$62.8

-59.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 CA$83.9

$102 CA$143

-41.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 CA$111

$122 CA$170

-34.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 CA$1,910

$1,198 CA$1,674

14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 CA$1,724

$942 CA$1,316

30.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,237 CA$3,124

$2,087 CA$2,914

7.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,097 CA$2,929

$1,559 CA$2,178

34.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,093 CA$7,112

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,283

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,039 CA$4,244

$2,880 CA$4,022

5.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.01

28.74%

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

Last update for North Bay: June 7, 2026

Last update for Montreal: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,368 in North Bay versus $1,198 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 North Bay, 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 $81.0 in North Bay versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $431 vs $393 – making Montreal 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

North Bay vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Bay costs about 13% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,544 per month in North Bay and $3,126 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 10% more in North Bay, 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 $81.0 in North Bay 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 $2,084, than in North Bay at $2,363. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in North Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,084 versus $2,363 in North Bay. 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, North Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.