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 $2,844 per month in Northampton, MA vs $2,108 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,091 per month in Northampton, MA vs $3,226 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,338 per month in Northampton, MA vs $4,344 in Montreal, rent included.

Northampton, MA costs about 35% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Northampton, MA and Montreal sit above the global median – Northampton, MA by 106%, Montreal by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.25 $18.25

$17.83 CA$24.73

2.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$73.6 CA$102

9.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.48 $10.48

$10.81 CA$15.00

-3.05%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$3.92 CA$5.44

14.29%

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

$2.79 $2.79

$2.04 CA$2.84

36.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.52 CA$2.11

50.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.04 $5.04

$6.59 CA$9.14

-23.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.14 CA$9.90

11.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.37 CA$3.28

-54.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.23 CA$4.48

27.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$2.95 CA$4.10

87.80%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$3.69 CA$5.12

27.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$13.65 CA$18.93

-18.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$11.94 CA$16.56

-43.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.77 $17.77

$14.07 CA$19.52

26.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$3.61 CA$5.01

63.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.55 CA$2.15

6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.29 CA$4.56

37.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.07 CA$4.26

76.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.00 CA$2.78

66.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.90 CA$2.64

90.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.64 CA$3.66

14.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 CA$1.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.39 $13.39

$11.80 CA$16.36

13.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.38 $13.38

$10.80 CA$14.98

23.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.37 CA$3.29

-22.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.90 CA$4.02

-30.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.1 CA$107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 CA$4.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.98 CA$45.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.31 CA$1.82

-36.64%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$28.7K CA$39.8K

27.97%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$20.4K CA$28.4K

20.91%

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

$135 $135

$79.9 CA$111

68.83%

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

$61.3 $61.3

$34.79 CA$48.25

76.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$42.55 CA$59.0

64.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 $52.2

$29.20 CA$40.50

78.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.33 CA$28.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$11.48 CA$15.93

28.83%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$565 CA$784

220.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K $30.3K

$16.6K CA$23.0K

82.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.52 $23.52

$60.2 CA$83.5

-60.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.65 $38.65

$41.87 CA$58.1

-7.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 $79.3

$104 CA$144

-23.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$113 CA$156

-9.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 $2,034

$1,294 CA$1,795

57.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,742 $1,742

$1,014 CA$1,407

71.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,656 $2,656

$2,271 CA$3,149

16.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,901 $2,901

$1,683 CA$2,334

72.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,156 CA$7,151

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,817 $2,817

$3,842 CA$5,328

-26.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,881 $3,881

$3,032 CA$4,205

27.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

4.44

36.04%

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

Last update for Northampton, MA: September 8, 2026

Last update for Montreal: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,034 in Northampton, MA versus $1,294 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 28% 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 $81.0 in Northampton, MA versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $358 – 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 35% 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 $4,266 per month in Northampton, MA and $3,163 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 $81.0 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 3% 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 $2,108, than in Northampton, MA at $2,844. 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 $2,108 versus $2,844 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.