Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,650 per month in Oakville vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,843 per month in Oakville vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,036 per month in Oakville vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Oakville costs about 27% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Oakville and Montreal sit above the global median – Oakville by 98%, Montreal by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.43 CA$25.93
$16.52 CA$23.24
11.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.9 CA$108
$74.0 CA$104
3.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 CA$15.59
$10.94 CA$15.40
1.28%
Cappuccino
$4.01 CA$5.64
$3.84 CA$5.41
4.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 CA$3.07
$2.14 CA$3.01
1.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.43
$1.45 CA$2.04
18.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.75 CA$8.10
$6.13 CA$8.63
-6.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45 CA$9.07
$6.73 CA$9.47
-4.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 CA$3.18
$2.35 CA$3.31
-3.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 CA$3.91
$3.34 CA$4.69
-16.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.94
$3.74 CA$5.27
-6.15%
Eggs
$3.36 CA$4.72
$3.39 CA$4.77
-0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 CA$19.03
$16.30 CA$22.93
-16.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.13
$11.81 CA$16.62
-2.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.42 CA$20.29
$15.64 CA$22.01
-7.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 CA$5.36
$3.69 CA$5.20
3.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.83
$1.70 CA$2.39
-23.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 CA$4.68
$4.11 CA$5.79
-18.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 CA$5.90
$4.41 CA$6.20
-4.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 CA$3.55
$2.79 CA$3.93
-9.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.10
$2.64 CA$3.72
10.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 CA$3.00
$2.29 CA$3.22
-6.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.80
$1.78 CA$2.51
11.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.48 CA$18.96
$13.17 CA$18.53
2.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.85 CA$19.49
$10.64 CA$14.97
30.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 CA$3.44
$2.99 CA$4.20
-18.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.23
$3.44 CA$4.83
-12.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 CA$4.12
$2.81 CA$3.95
4.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 CA$144
$72.8 CA$102
40.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.68 CA$5.18
$3.52 CA$4.95
4.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 CA$1.97
$1.45 CA$2.05
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.93 CA$33.67
$34.29 CA$48.26
-30.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.62
$1.22 CA$1.72
-5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.9K
$25.3K CA$35.5K
-1.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$30.3K
$22.1K CA$31.1K
-2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 CA$173
$76.5 CA$108
60.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.32 CA$55.3
$35.60 CA$50.1
10.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3 CA$76.4
$42.96 CA$60.5
26.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.49 CA$62.6
$43.39 CA$61.1
2.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.83 CA$23.68
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.73 CA$16.50
$11.09 CA$15.60
5.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,097 CA$1,543
$625 CA$879
75.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K CA$25.7K
$5,896 CA$8,296
210.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7 CA$81.2
$63.1 CA$88.8
-8.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 CA$54.9
$44.50 CA$62.6
-12.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 CA$139
$103 CA$145
-3.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 CA$162
$118 CA$166
-2.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 CA$2,403
$1,207 CA$1,699
41.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 CA$1,931
$965 CA$1,358
42.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 CA$3,626
$2,031 CA$2,858
26.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 CA$3,289
$1,577 CA$2,219
48.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,146 CA$5,834
$5,085 CA$7,155
-18.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,990 CA$9,835
$3,783 CA$5,324
84.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,159 CA$4,446
$2,890 CA$4,066
9.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
5.01
32.14%

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

Last update for Oakville: July 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Oakville versus $1,207 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 9% higher in Oakville, 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 $77.0 in Oakville versus $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $372 in Oakville vs $395 in Montreal – so Oakville 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
Oakville vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oakville or Montreal?
Oakville costs about 27% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Oakville and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,974 per month in Oakville and $3,127 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Oakville or Montreal?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Oakville or in Montreal?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Oakville – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Oakville and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Oakville and $74.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Oakville or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,085, than in Oakville at $2,650. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oakville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oakville or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,085 versus $2,650 in Oakville. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Oakville compared to Montreal?
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.
Should I move to Oakville or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oakville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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