Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince George and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince George and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,238 per month in Prince George vs $2,088 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,409 per month in Prince George vs $3,123 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,581 per month in Prince George vs $4,157 in Montreal, rent included.

Prince George costs about 7% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Prince George and Montreal sit above the global median – Prince George by 67%, Montreal by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19 CA$24.93
$15.89 CA$21.77
14.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 CA$101
$74.7 CA$102
-0.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 CA$11.86
$10.83 CA$14.83
-20.04%
Cappuccino
$3.99 CA$5.47
$3.80 CA$5.21
5.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 CA$3.12
$2.10 CA$2.88
8.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 CA$3.19
$1.51 CA$2.08
54.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 CA$8.05
$6.09 CA$8.34
-3.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.40 CA$11.51
$6.48 CA$8.88
29.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.77
$2.32 CA$3.18
-12.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 CA$3.22
$3.26 CA$4.47
-27.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 CA$6.67
$3.79 CA$5.19
28.50%
Eggs
$5.12 CA$7.01
$3.46 CA$4.73
47.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.80 CA$9.32
$16.07 CA$22.02
-57.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.27 CA$18.18
$11.78 CA$16.14
12.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.02 CA$23.32
$15.13 CA$20.73
12.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 CA$5.93
$3.74 CA$5.12
15.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 CA$3.98
$1.71 CA$2.34
69.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.06 CA$6.94
$3.92 CA$5.37
29.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.34 CA$7.32
$4.28 CA$5.87
24.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.12 CA$4.27
$2.74 CA$3.75
13.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.09
$2.64 CA$3.62
12.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 CA$4.20
$2.28 CA$3.13
34.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 CA$3.92
$1.71 CA$2.34
67.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.04 CA$20.61
$13.39 CA$18.35
12.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.14 CA$15.27
$10.95 CA$15.00
1.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.52 CA$7.56
$3.00 CA$4.11
84.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.13
$3.60 CA$4.94
-16.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.80 CA$3.83
$2.82 CA$3.86
-0.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.91 CA$61.5
$75.1 CA$103
-40.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 CA$5.69
$3.52 CA$4.82
17.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.02
$1.46 CA$2.00
0.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.79 CA$35.33
$34.29 CA$46.97
-24.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 CA$1.73
$1.19 CA$1.63
6.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K CA$35.1K
$25.1K CA$34.3K
2.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K CA$30.5K
$21.9K CA$30.0K
1.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 CA$238
$74.7 CA$102
132.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.44 CA$67.7
$35.83 CA$49.09
37.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.5 CA$84.3
$43.53 CA$59.6
41.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.36 CA$62.2
$43.06 CA$59.0
5.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$24.85
$16.90 CA$23.15
7.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27 CA$12.70
$11.10 CA$15.21
-16.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$606 CA$831
$609 CA$834
-0.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.2K
$5,925 CA$8,117
99.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 CA$86.5
$62.8 CA$86.0
0.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.34 CA$55.3
$44.85 CA$61.5
-10.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 CA$132
$101 CA$138
-4.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 CA$208
$118 CA$162
28.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 CA$1,309
$1,221 CA$1,673
-21.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$927 CA$1,269
$955 CA$1,308
-2.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,760 CA$2,412
$2,105 CA$2,883
-16.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 CA$2,184
$1,600 CA$2,192
-0.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,308 CA$7,272
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,045 CA$5,542
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prince George
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,224 CA$4,416
$3,031 CA$4,152
6.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
5.01
26.15%

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

Last update for Prince George: April 25, 2026

Last update for Montreal: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Prince George versus $1,221 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 6% higher in Prince George, 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 $74.0 in Prince George versus $75.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $425 in Prince George vs $391 in Montreal – so Montreal 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
Prince George vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Prince George or Montreal?
Prince George costs about 7% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 George vs Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,357 per month in Prince George and $3,132 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Prince George 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 Prince George or Montreal?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Prince George, 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 George vs Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Prince George and $75.0 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 George or Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,088, than in Prince George at $2,238. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Prince George it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Prince George or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,088 versus $2,238 in Prince George. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Prince George 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 George or Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Prince George makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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