Cost of Living Comparison Between Quesnel and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Quesnel and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,440 per month in Quesnel vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,444 per month in Quesnel vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Quesnel vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Quesnel costs about 19% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quesnel and Montreal sit above the global median – Quesnel by 78%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.70 CA$23.02

$17.85 CA$24.62

-6.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.70 CA$64.4

$72.3 CA$99.7

-35.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.19 CA$15.43

$10.92 CA$15.06

2.47%

Cappuccino

$4.32 CA$5.95

$3.97 CA$5.47

8.82%

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

$2.56 CA$3.53

$2.07 CA$2.86

23.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CA$2.93

$1.55 CA$2.13

36.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.78 CA$6.60

$6.41 CA$8.85

-25.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.68 CA$7.84

$7.29 CA$10.05

-22.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.35 CA$3.24

$2.39 CA$3.29

-1.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 CA$3.38

$3.21 CA$4.42

-23.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.89

$3.07 CA$4.23

39.09%

Eggs

$5.03 CA$6.94

$3.68 CA$5.07

36.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 CA$17.23

$13.57 CA$18.72

-7.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.98 CA$23.42

$11.63 CA$16.03

46.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.22 CA$23.74

$13.97 CA$19.27

23.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.19 CA$5.77

$3.68 CA$5.08

13.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.56 CA$2.15

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 CA$6.49

$3.41 CA$4.70

38.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 CA$5.98

$3.03 CA$4.17

43.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.46

$1.98 CA$2.74

63.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.11

$1.82 CA$2.52

103.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.57

$2.56 CA$3.53

1.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.43

$1.39 CA$1.92

26.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.94 CA$16.47

$11.49 CA$15.85

3.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.67 CA$14.72

$10.92 CA$15.06

-2.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 CA$3.67

$2.26 CA$3.12

17.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 CA$4.76

$3.01 CA$4.15

14.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 CA$3.30

$2.69 CA$3.71

-11.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.5 CA$80.6

$75.3 CA$104

-22.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 CA$3.52

$3.35 CA$4.62

-23.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 CA$3.05

$1.50 CA$2.07

47.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.38 CA$59.8

$33.70 CA$46.47

28.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.65

$1.29 CA$1.78

-6.98%

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

$29.3K CA$40.5K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

3.73%

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

$23.4K CA$32.3K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

17.41%

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

$179 CA$247

$80.4 CA$111

122.75%

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

$39.51 CA$54.5

$34.23 CA$47.21

15.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 CA$101

$41.39 CA$57.1

77.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.02 CA$56.6

$29.24 CA$40.32

40.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.43 CA$25.42

$19.89 CA$27.43

-7.34%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 CA$10.63

$11.71 CA$16.15

-34.16%

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

$783 CA$1,080

$564 CA$778

38.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K CA$19.7K

$16.8K CA$23.2K

-15.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.51 CA$51.7

$59.5 CA$82.1

-36.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.80 CA$64.5

$42.13 CA$58.1

11.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 CA$109

$107 CA$148

-26.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$147

$111 CA$153

-4.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 CA$1,104

$1,284 CA$1,770

-37.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,155 CA$1,593

$990 CA$1,365

16.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 CA$2,756

$2,260 CA$3,116

-11.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,744 CA$2,405

$1,667 CA$2,299

4.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,846 CA$6,683

$5,287 CA$7,291

-8.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,186 CA$4,393

$3,813 CA$5,258

-16.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,490 CA$3,433

$3,019 CA$4,163

-17.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.35

4.41

21.32%

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

Last update for Quesnel: August 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $800 in Quesnel 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 21% higher in Montreal, 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 $47.00 in Quesnel versus $72.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $419 in Quesnel vs $356 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

Quesnel vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quesnel costs about 19% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,660 per month in Quesnel 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 Montreal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Quesnel, 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 $47.00 in Quesnel and $72.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,056, than in Quesnel at $2,440. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quesnel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,056 versus $2,440 in Quesnel. 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, Quesnel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.