Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Albert and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Prince Albert: $1,677 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Prince Albert
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,677
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Prince Albert 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 Prince Albert and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Prince Albert vs $2,018 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Prince Albert $1,677
  • Montreal $2,018

A couple spends around $2,409 per month in Prince Albert vs $3,085 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Prince Albert $2,409
  • Montreal $3,085

A family of three spends $3,141 per month in Prince Albert vs $4,152 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Prince Albert $3,141
  • Montreal $4,152

Prince Albert is about 17% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Prince Albert and Montreal sit above the global median – Prince Albert by 24%, Montreal by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.29 CA$24.44
$18.82 CA$26.61
-8.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 CA$98.8
$70.3 CA$99.4
-0.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 CA$12.92
$10.66 CA$15.06
-14.26%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.26
$3.84 CA$5.43
-3.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 CA$2.77
$1.92 CA$2.71
2.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 CA$2.44
$1.54 CA$2.18
12.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.21 CA$5.96
$6.23 CA$8.81
-32.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21 CA$8.78
$7.10 CA$10.03
-12.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$2.31 CA$3.27
-47.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$3.14 CA$4.44
-54.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 CA$3.52
$3.21 CA$4.54
-22.43%
Eggs
$3.59 CA$5.08
$3.52 CA$4.97
1.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.90 CA$9.75
$12.81 CA$18.11
-46.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.56 CA$12.10
$11.46 CA$16.20
-25.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.04
$13.39 CA$18.92
-68.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.68
$3.14 CA$4.43
28.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.04
$1.44 CA$2.03
0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 CA$6.12
$3.47 CA$4.91
24.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.16 CA$4.47
$3.07 CA$4.34
2.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 CA$2.95
$1.90 CA$2.69
10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 CA$2.90
$1.77 CA$2.50
15.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 CA$3.79
$2.34 CA$3.31
14.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 CA$1.99
$1.55 CA$2.19
-9.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.66 CA$15.07
$11.38 CA$16.09
-6.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.82 CA$19.54
$10.63 CA$15.03
30.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 CA$3.85
$2.27 CA$3.21
20.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 CA$4.85
$2.82 CA$3.99
21.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$2.66 CA$3.76
-40.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.45 CA$54.4
$77.3 CA$109
-50.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 CA$4.16
$3.20 CA$4.53
-8.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 CA$1.15
$1.48 CA$2.09
-45.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.99 CA$19.78
$32.88 CA$46.48
-57.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.57
$1.34 CA$1.90
-17.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K CA$31.0K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-22.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K CA$29.0K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
4.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.8 CA$74.7
$76.0 CA$107
-30.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.56 CA$67.2
$33.95 CA$48.00
40.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7 CA$83.1
$42.31 CA$59.8
38.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$115 CA$163
$29.76 CA$42.07
286.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.89 CA$22.47
$20.28 CA$28.67
-21.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.28 CA$13.12
$11.15 CA$15.77
-16.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$482 CA$681
$507 CA$717
-5.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K CA$20.0K
$16.1K CA$22.7K
-11.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.41 CA$69.9
$57.6 CA$81.4
-14.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.99 CA$49.47
$37.58 CA$53.1
-6.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 CA$120
$91.9 CA$130
-8.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$149
$110 CA$155
-4.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$903 CA$1,277
$1,260 CA$1,782
-28.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 CA$955
$948 CA$1,340
-28.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,377 CA$1,947
$2,137 CA$3,021
-35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 CA$1,101
$1,614 CA$2,281
-51.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,205 CA$5,945
$4,960 CA$7,011
-15.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,748 CA$5,298
$3,838 CA$5,425
-2.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prince Albert
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,750 CA$3,888
$2,827 CA$3,997
-2.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.48
7.14%

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

Last update for Prince Albert: October 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Prince Albert
$675
Montreal
$948 40.3% $272
Groceries & Markets
Prince Albert
$275
Montreal
$346 25.9% $71
Eating Out
Prince Albert
$259
Montreal
$288 11.3% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince Albert
$159
Montreal
$152 4.3% $6.9
Sport & Entertainment
Prince Albert
$134
Montreal
$52 61% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Prince Albert
$123
Montreal
$133 8.2% $10
Getting Around
Prince Albert
$52
Montreal
$99 90.5% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $903 in Prince Albert versus $1,260 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 3% higher in Montreal, 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 $70.0 in Prince Albert versus $70.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $346 – making Prince Albert the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Prince Albert
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
11:12 11:12 AM
13:12 1:12 PM
2 h ahead of Prince Albert
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
35,129
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Prince Albert Montreal 2,460 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Prince Albert
  • 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
Prince Albert vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Prince Albert or Montreal?
Montreal costs about 20% more than Prince Albert, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. 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 Prince Albert and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Prince Albert and $3,027 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Prince Albert or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Prince Albert, 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 Prince Albert or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Montreal, 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 Prince Albert and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Prince Albert and $70.0 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 Prince Albert or in Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Prince Albert, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Prince Albert it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Prince Albert or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Prince Albert costs $1,677 versus $2,018 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Prince Albert 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 Prince Albert or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Prince Albert. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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