Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Rupert, BC and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince Rupert, BC and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,007 per month in Prince Rupert, BC vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,124 per month in Prince Rupert, BC vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,241 per month in Prince Rupert, BC vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Prince Rupert, BC is about 2% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Prince Rupert, BC and Montreal sit above the global median – Prince Rupert, BC by 46%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.38 CA$25.34

$17.85 CA$24.62

2.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.7 CA$92.0

$72.3 CA$99.7

-7.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 CA$14.99

$10.92 CA$15.06

-0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.64 CA$5.02

$3.97 CA$5.47

-8.31%

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

$2.07 CA$2.86

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.25

$1.55 CA$2.13

5.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.25 CA$7.24

$6.41 CA$8.85

-18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 CA$7.94

$7.29 CA$10.05

-20.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.77

$2.39 CA$3.29

-15.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 CA$3.62

$3.21 CA$4.42

-18.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 CA$4.58

$3.07 CA$4.23

8.14%

Eggs

$5.09 CA$7.02

$3.68 CA$5.07

38.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 CA$14.74

$13.57 CA$18.72

-21.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.74 CA$17.57

$11.63 CA$16.03

9.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 CA$17.61

$13.97 CA$19.27

-8.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 CA$2.51

$3.68 CA$5.08

-50.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.56 CA$2.15

-29.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.11

$3.41 CA$4.70

8.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.20

$3.03 CA$4.17

24.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.50

$1.98 CA$2.74

28.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.03

$1.82 CA$2.52

20.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.58

$2.56 CA$3.53

1.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.51

$1.39 CA$1.92

30.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.94 CA$17.85

$11.49 CA$15.85

12.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 CA$17.15

$10.92 CA$15.06

13.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 CA$3.81

$2.26 CA$3.12

22.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.99

$3.01 CA$4.15

-3.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.41 CA$3.32

$2.69 CA$3.71

-10.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.9 CA$99.1

$75.3 CA$104

-4.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 CA$4.15

$3.35 CA$4.62

-10.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.87

$1.50 CA$2.07

-9.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.79 CA$31.42

$33.70 CA$46.47

-32.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 CA$1.70

$1.29 CA$1.78

-4.65%

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

$28.2K CA$38.9K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

-0.22%

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

$18.9K CA$26.0K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

-5.46%

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

$154 CA$212

$80.4 CA$111

91.66%

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

$39.70 CA$54.7

$34.23 CA$47.21

15.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 CA$75.6

$41.39 CA$57.1

32.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.79 CA$61.8

$29.24 CA$40.32

53.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.69 CA$24.39

$19.89 CA$27.43

-11.06%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 CA$15.56

$11.71 CA$16.15

-3.67%

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

$831 CA$1,146

$564 CA$778

47.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K CA$18.5K

$16.8K CA$23.2K

-20.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.93 CA$64.7

$59.5 CA$82.1

-21.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 CA$61.0

$42.13 CA$58.1

4.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 CA$120

$107 CA$148

-19.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 CA$136

$111 CA$153

-11.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,097 CA$1,513

$1,284 CA$1,770

-14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$863 CA$1,189

$990 CA$1,365

-12.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 CA$2,763

$2,260 CA$3,116

-11.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,900 CA$2,620

$1,667 CA$2,299

13.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,883 CA$5,355

$5,287 CA$7,291

-26.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,319 CA$4,577

$3,813 CA$5,258

-12.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,250 CA$4,482

$3,019 CA$4,163

7.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.68

4.41

6.12%

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

Last update for Prince Rupert, BC: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,097 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $1,284 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 8% higher in Prince Rupert, BC, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $72.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $356 – making Prince Rupert, BC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rupert, BC vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 2% more than Prince Rupert, BC, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,011 per month in Prince Rupert, BC and $3,084 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Prince Rupert, BC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Prince Rupert, BC and $72.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Prince Rupert, BC, where all-in costs run around $2,007, than in Montreal at $2,056. In Prince Rupert, BC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Prince Rupert, BC costs $2,007 versus $2,056 in Montreal. 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 Prince Rupert, BC. 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.