Cost of Living Comparison Between Ontario, CA and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Ontario, CA and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,671 per month in Ontario, CA vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,195 per month in Ontario, CA vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,718 per month in Ontario, CA vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Ontario, CA costs about 29% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ontario, CA and Montreal sit above the global median – Ontario, CA by 99%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.80 $17.80

$15.92 CA$22.05

11.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$73.1 CA$101

8.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.94 $11.94

$11.15 CA$15.43

7.09%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$3.80 CA$5.26

33.68%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.18 CA$3.01

23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.46 CA$2.02

39.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.12 CA$8.48

17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 $7.11

$6.78 CA$9.38

4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$2.33 CA$3.22

-54.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.39 CA$4.69

15.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.73 CA$5.16

7.51%

Eggs

$4.10 $4.10

$3.38 CA$4.68

21.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.53 $10.53

$16.25 CA$22.50

-35.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$11.54 CA$15.98

-24.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.49 $14.49

$15.24 CA$21.10

-4.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.74 CA$5.18

-6.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.70 CA$2.36

-2.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.11 CA$5.68

1.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.35 CA$6.02

25.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.71 CA$3.75

17.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.62 CA$3.62

11.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.25 CA$3.12

-36.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.73 CA$2.39

20.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$13.31 CA$18.43

-18.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.10 $16.10

$10.78 CA$14.93

49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.01 CA$4.17

-33.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.46 CA$4.80

0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.74 CA$3.79

-25.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.7 CA$101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 $6.46

$3.63 CA$5.03

77.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.46 CA$2.02

203.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.22 $29.22

$33.44 CA$46.30

-12.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.21 CA$1.68

7.44%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

4.89%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$21.7K CA$30.0K

31.25%

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

$248 $248

$76.0 CA$105

225.97%

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

$46.53 $46.53

$35.72 CA$49.46

30.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 $58.3

$42.86 CA$59.4

35.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.3 $98.3

$42.92 CA$59.4

128.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.23 CA$23.86

Cinema Ticket

$13.83 $13.83

$11.09 CA$15.35

24.71%

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

$1,228 $1,228

$620 CA$858

98.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$5,834 CA$8,078

299.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.94 $46.94

$62.7 CA$86.8

-25.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.77 $33.77

$44.41 CA$61.5

-23.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 $86.6

$101 CA$139

-14.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.6 $86.6

$119 CA$165

-27.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,881 $1,881

$1,211 CA$1,677

55.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$960 CA$1,329

38.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,808 $2,808

$2,035 CA$2,818

37.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,901 $2,901

$1,589 CA$2,201

82.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,015 $4,015

$5,181 CA$7,173

-22.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,603 $3,603

$3,934 CA$5,446

-8.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,620 $3,620

$2,960 CA$4,098

22.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

5.01

31.34%

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

Last update for Ontario, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,881 in Ontario, CA versus $1,211 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 22% higher in Ontario, CA, 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 $79.0 in Ontario, CA versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $368 in Ontario, CA vs $392 in Montreal – so Ontario, CA 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

Ontario, CA vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ontario, CA costs about 29% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,007 per month in Ontario, CA and $3,094 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 $79.0 in Ontario, CA and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Ontario, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Ontario, CA at $2,671. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ontario, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,671 in Ontario, CA. 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, Ontario, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.