πA single person spends $3,028 per month in Richmond Hill vs $2,065 in Montreal, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,193 per month in Richmond Hill vs $3,180 in Montreal, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,358 per month in Richmond Hill vs $4,296 in Montreal, rent included.
πRichmond Hill costs about 47% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Richmond Hill and Montreal sit above the global median β Richmond Hill by 125%, Montreal by 53%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33CA$25.11
$16.08CA$22.03
13.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.5CA$113
$73.8CA$101
11.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94CA$12.25
$10.91CA$14.95
-18.06%
Cappuccino
$3.25CA$4.45
$3.67CA$5.03
-11.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08CA$2.85
$2.06CA$2.83
0.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47CA$2.02
$1.44CA$1.97
2.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75CA$7.87
$6.21CA$8.50
-7.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34CA$10.05
$6.44CA$8.82
13.98%
π Groceries & Markets
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31CA$3.16
$2.34CA$3.21
-1.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.58CA$3.53
$3.23CA$4.42
-20.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19CA$2.99
$3.84CA$5.26
-42.97%
Eggs
$3.79CA$5.19
$3.32CA$4.54
14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.77CA$18.86
$16.35CA$22.40
-15.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.31CA$15.49
$11.92CA$16.33
-5.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.75CA$20.20
$15.10CA$20.69
-2.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.56CA$6.25
$3.68CA$5.04
23.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27CA$1.75
$1.69CA$2.32
-24.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.97CA$4.07
$4.12CA$5.64
-27.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56CA$4.88
$4.29CA$5.88
-17.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.49CA$3.41
$2.79CA$3.82
-10.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16CA$2.96
$2.70CA$3.70
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89CA$2.59
$2.17CA$2.97
-12.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88CA$1.20
$1.78CA$2.44
-50.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.98CA$16.41
$13.22CA$18.12
-9.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.12CA$17.97
$11.04CA$15.12
18.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99CA$2.72
$2.97CA$4.07
-33.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39CA$3.27
$3.44CA$4.71
-30.52%
π Getting Around
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.75CA$3.76
$2.80CA$3.84
-1.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114CA$156
$72.2CA$98.9
58.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21CA$4.39
$3.67CA$5.03
-12.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11CA$1.52
$1.40CA$1.92
-20.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.79CA$29.85
$34.07CA$46.68
-36.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.58
$1.21CA$1.66
-4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$33.7K
$25.3KCA$34.7K
-2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$27.5K
$21.9KCA$30.0K
-8.07%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179CA$245
$74.4CA$102
140.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.14CA$57.7
$36.64CA$50.2
15.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4CA$79.9
$43.41CA$59.5
34.42%
π Sport & Entertainment
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.99CA$60.3
$43.20CA$59.2
1.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18CA$23.54
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68CA$17.37
$10.99CA$15.06
15.38%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422CA$577
$614CA$842
-31.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.4KCA$21.1K
$5,855CA$8,022
162.96%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.67CA$63.9
$62.6CA$85.8
-25.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.89CA$58.8
$44.25CA$60.6
-3.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.7CA$84.6
$103CA$142
-40.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5CA$123
$122CA$167
-26.42%
π Accommodation & Living
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,786CA$2,447
$1,190CA$1,631
50.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,826CA$2,501
$946CA$1,296
92.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,072CA$4,208
$2,037CA$2,791
50.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,553CA$3,498
$1,548CA$2,120
64.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,681CA$9,153
$5,398CA$7,395
23.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,493CA$7,525
$4,014CA$5,499
36.86%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Richmond Hill
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,052CA$4,181
$3,013CA$4,128
1.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.59
5.01
31.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Richmond Hill: April 12, 2026
Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,786 in Richmond Hill versus $1,190 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 1% higher in Richmond Hill, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $82 in Richmond Hill versus $74 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story β $346 in Richmond Hill vs $392 in Montreal β so Richmond Hill 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
Richmond Hill vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Richmond Hill or Montreal?
Richmond Hill costs about 47% 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 Richmond Hill vs Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,543 per month in Richmond Hill and $3,097 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Richmond Hill 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 Richmond Hill or Montreal?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Richmond Hill β one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Richmond Hill vs Montreal?
Can you live on $2,000/month in Richmond Hill or Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,065, than in Richmond Hill at $3,028. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Richmond Hill it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Richmond Hill or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,065 versus $3,028 in Richmond Hill. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Richmond Hill 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 β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Richmond Hill or Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Richmond Hill makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Richmond Hill vs other spots: cost of living compared