Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Montreal: $2,059 a month against $2,641 in Oakville, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oakville
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,641
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Oakville and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Oakville and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,641 per month in Oakville vs $2,059 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Oakville $2,641
  • Montreal $2,059

A couple spends around $3,848 per month in Oakville vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Oakville $3,848
  • Montreal $3,123

A family of three spends $5,054 per month in Oakville vs $4,187 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Oakville $5,054
  • Montreal $4,187

Oakville costs about 28% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Oakville and Montreal sit above the global median – Oakville by 95%, Montreal by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.43 CA$20.39
$18.84 CA$26.63
-23.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.8 CA$102
$73.2 CA$104
-1.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.34 CA$13.20
$10.54 CA$14.90
-11.39%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.42
$3.97 CA$5.61
-3.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.10
$1.94 CA$2.74
13.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.45
$1.57 CA$2.22
10.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 CA$8.24
$6.42 CA$9.08
-9.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48 CA$9.17
$7.20 CA$10.19
-10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.56 CA$3.62
$2.32 CA$3.28
10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 CA$4.67
$3.19 CA$4.51
3.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.50 CA$4.94
$3.19 CA$4.50
9.72%
Eggs
$4.18 CA$5.91
$3.68 CA$5.20
13.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 CA$14.74
$13.24 CA$18.72
-21.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.95 CA$16.90
$11.69 CA$16.53
2.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.22 CA$27.17
$13.98 CA$19.76
37.48%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 CA$4.72
$3.14 CA$4.44
6.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$1.45 CA$2.05
33.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 CA$4.64
$3.38 CA$4.78
-2.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.93 CA$4.14
$3.11 CA$4.40
-5.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$1.93 CA$2.72
21.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 CA$3.68
$1.83 CA$2.58
42.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 CA$3.18
$2.36 CA$3.34
-4.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.45
$1.50 CA$2.12
15.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.25 CA$20.14
$11.12 CA$15.73
28.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.23 CA$18.71
$10.60 CA$14.98
24.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 CA$4.52
$2.22 CA$3.14
44.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 CA$3.41
$2.84 CA$4.01
-15.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.77 CA$3.92
$2.62 CA$3.71
5.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.2 CA$137
$79.1 CA$112
22.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.23 CA$4.56
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.48 CA$2.10
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$32.22 CA$45.55
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.64
$1.36 CA$1.92
-14.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K CA$39.7K
$27.6K CA$39.1K
1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K CA$30.1K
$21.2K CA$30.0K
0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.0 CA$129
$77.0 CA$109
18.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.41 CA$40.16
$34.14 CA$48.26
-16.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.95 CA$65.0
$42.19 CA$59.7
8.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.03 CA$59.4
$30.81 CA$43.56
36.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.66 CA$27.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.76 CA$13.80
$11.47 CA$16.22
-14.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,154 CA$1,632
$506 CA$716
128.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K CA$23.5K
$16.2K CA$23.0K
2.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 CA$96.3
$57.3 CA$81.0
19.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$93.2 CA$132
$38.10 CA$53.9
144.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 CA$181
$91.9 CA$130
39.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$152
$110 CA$155
-2.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,859 CA$2,628
$1,237 CA$1,748
50.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 CA$2,116
$977 CA$1,381
53.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,590 CA$5,075
$2,180 CA$3,082
64.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,384 CA$3,371
$1,608 CA$2,273
48.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,866 CA$6,879
$5,113 CA$7,228
-4.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,100 CA$8,623
$3,744 CA$5,293
62.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oakville
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,090 CA$4,369
$2,957 CA$4,180
4.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.26
4.48
17.41%

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

Last update for Oakville: October 19, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Oakville
$1.5K
Montreal
$977 34.8% $520
Groceries & Markets
Oakville
$383
Montreal
$351 8.4% $32
Eating Out
Oakville
$247
Montreal
$290 17.5% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Oakville
$178
Montreal
$134 25.1% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oakville
$165
Montreal
$153 7.2% $12
Getting Around
Oakville
$108 *
Montreal
$100 7.4% $8
Sport & Entertainment
Oakville
$62
Montreal
$54 12.7% $7.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,859 in Oakville versus $1,237 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 5% 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 $72.0 in Oakville versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $383 in Oakville vs $351 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Oakville
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
07:39 7:39 AM
07:39 7:39 AM
Same time as Oakville
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
193,832
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oakville Montreal 530 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Oakville
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 28% more than Montreal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 $3,962 per month in Oakville and $3,089 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?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Oakville, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Oakville and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Oakville and $73.0 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 $2,059, than in Oakville at $2,641. 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 $2,059 versus $2,641 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.

Oakville vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?