Cost of Living Comparison Between Northampton, MA and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Northampton, MA and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,965 per month in Northampton, MA vs $2,080 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,315 per month in Northampton, MA vs $3,136 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,664 per month in Northampton, MA vs $4,193 in Montreal, rent included.

Northampton, MA costs about 43% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Northampton, MA and Montreal sit above the global median – Northampton, MA by 121%, Montreal by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.23 $17.23

$16.16 CA$22.14

6.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$74.3 CA$102

7.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.53 $9.53

$10.94 CA$14.98

-12.89%

Cappuccino

$4.41 $4.41

$3.68 CA$5.05

19.84%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$2.07 CA$2.84

6.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.49 CA$2.05

8.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.98 CA$8.20

-16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.76 CA$9.27

-9.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.32 CA$3.18

-56.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.21 CA$4.40

24.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$3.74 CA$5.13

51.07%

Eggs

$5.45 $5.45

$3.27 CA$4.48

66.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$16.08 CA$22.02

-12.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.57 $14.57

$11.56 CA$15.84

26.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.75 $17.75

$15.66 CA$21.45

13.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$3.67 CA$5.03

29.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.70 CA$2.33

-13.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.06 CA$5.56

-11.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.25 CA$5.82

12.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.74 CA$3.76

6.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.66 CA$3.65

8.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.16 CA$2.96

50.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.72 CA$2.35

6.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.51 $14.51

$13.21 CA$18.10

9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.98 $14.98

$11.08 CA$15.19

35.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.97 CA$4.07

-40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.58 CA$4.91

-43.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.84 CA$3.89

-28.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 CA$103

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.62 CA$4.96

34.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.44 CA$1.98

44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.46 $27.46

$34.03 CA$46.62

-19.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.18 CA$1.61

-33.05%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$25.1K CA$34.4K

20.11%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$21.5K CA$29.4K

17.82%

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

$135 $135

$75.5 CA$103

78.15%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$35.70 CA$48.91

63.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$43.01 CA$58.9

77.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 $53.5

$42.58 CA$58.3

25.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.17 CA$23.53

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$11.07 CA$15.16

34.33%

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

$1,412 $1,412

$616 CA$844

129.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.3K $28.3K

$5,799 CA$7,945

388.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.16 $23.16

$62.3 CA$85.3

-62.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.04 $46.04

$43.77 CA$60.0

5.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 $84.5

$102 CA$140

-17.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$121 CA$166

-15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 $2,066

$1,209 CA$1,657

70.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,778 $1,778

$970 CA$1,329

83.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,677 $2,677

$2,085 CA$2,856

28.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,829 $2,829

$1,596 CA$2,186

77.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,442 CA$7,456

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,750 $2,750

$4,046 CA$5,543

-32.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,862 $3,862

$2,990 CA$4,096

29.18%

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 Northampton, MA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Montreal: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,066 in Northampton, MA versus $1,209 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 29% higher in Northampton, MA, 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 $80 in Northampton, MA versus $74 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $426 vs $389 – 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

Northampton, MA vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Northampton, MA costs about 43% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,448 per month in Northampton, MA and $3,120 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Northampton, MA and $74.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Northampton, MA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,080, than in Northampton, MA at $2,965. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Northampton, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,080 versus $2,965 in Northampton, MA. 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, Northampton, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.