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 $2,626 per month in Ontario, CA vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,222 per month in Ontario, CA vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,818 per month in Ontario, CA vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Ontario, CA costs about 26% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ontario, CA and Montreal sit above the global median – Ontario, CA by 97%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 $18.34

$16.52 CA$23.16

11.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$74.0 CA$104

8.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$10.94 CA$15.34

7.68%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.84 CA$5.39

33.07%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.14 CA$2.99

29.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.45 CA$2.03

39.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.94 $6.94

$6.13 CA$8.60

13.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$6.73 CA$9.44

6.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$2.35 CA$3.30

-52.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.34 CA$4.68

19.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.74 CA$5.25

11.50%

Eggs

$4.06 $4.06

$3.39 CA$4.76

19.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.45 $10.45

$16.30 CA$22.85

-35.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 $8.58

$11.81 CA$16.56

-27.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.26 $14.26

$15.64 CA$21.93

-8.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.69 CA$5.18

-6.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.70 CA$2.39

2.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.11 CA$5.76

-2.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$4.41 CA$6.18

28.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.79 CA$3.91

16.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.64 CA$3.70

10.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.29 CA$3.21

-36.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.78 CA$2.50

22.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.19 $11.19

$13.17 CA$18.47

-15.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$10.64 CA$14.92

53.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.99 CA$4.19

-36.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.44 CA$4.82

-1.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.81 CA$3.94

-30.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$102

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.48 $6.48

$3.52 CA$4.93

84.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.45 CA$2.04

206.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.92 $28.92

$34.29 CA$48.08

-15.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.22 CA$1.72

0.82%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-0.05%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

32.09%

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

$254 $254

$76.5 CA$107

231.50%

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

$47.22 $47.22

$35.60 CA$49.91

32.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$42.96 CA$60.2

38.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 $102

$43.39 CA$60.8

134.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$14.27 $14.27

$11.09 CA$15.55

28.67%

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

$1,228 $1,228

$625 CA$876

96.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$5,896 CA$8,266

296.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.20 $48.20

$63.1 CA$88.5

-23.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.96 $33.96

$44.50 CA$62.4

-23.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$103 CA$144

-16.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$118 CA$166

-28.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 $1,864

$1,207 CA$1,692

54.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$965 CA$1,353

40.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,829 $2,829

$2,031 CA$2,848

39.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,845 $2,845

$1,577 CA$2,211

80.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,997 $3,997

$5,085 CA$7,129

-21.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,587 $3,587

$3,783 CA$5,304

-5.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,624 $3,624

$2,890 CA$4,051

25.43%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,864 in Ontario, CA 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 25% 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 $81.0 in Ontario, CA versus $74.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $369 in Ontario, CA vs $395 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 26% 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 $3,939 per month in Ontario, CA and $3,127 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 Ontario, CA and $74.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% 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 $2,085, than in Ontario, CA at $2,626. 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 $2,085 versus $2,626 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.