Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,305 per month in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,365 per month in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,424 per month in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me costs about 12% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me and Montreal sit above the global median – Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me by 72%, Montreal by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08 CA$23.75
$15.92 CA$22.14
7.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6 CA$96.8
$73.1 CA$102
-4.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.00 CA$15.30
$11.15 CA$15.50
-1.35%
Cappuccino
$3.74 CA$5.20
$3.80 CA$5.29
-1.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.76
$2.18 CA$3.03
-8.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.28
$1.46 CA$2.03
12.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.58 CA$7.77
$6.12 CA$8.51
-8.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 CA$8.43
$6.78 CA$9.42
-10.62%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 CA$2.96
$2.33 CA$3.24
-8.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 CA$3.76
$3.39 CA$4.72
-20.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.63 CA$5.06
$3.73 CA$5.19
-2.68%
Eggs
$3.53 CA$4.91
$3.38 CA$4.70
4.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.27 CA$15.68
$16.25 CA$22.60
-30.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.94 CA$16.60
$11.54 CA$16.05
3.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.51 CA$20.17
$15.24 CA$21.19
-4.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.01 CA$5.58
$3.74 CA$5.20
7.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 CA$1.98
$1.70 CA$2.37
-15.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.15
$4.11 CA$5.71
-9.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.15
$4.35 CA$6.05
-14.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.45
$2.71 CA$3.76
-8.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.45
$2.62 CA$3.64
-5.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 CA$3.52
$2.25 CA$3.13
12.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.39
$1.73 CA$2.40
-0.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06 CA$19.56
$13.31 CA$18.51
5.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.43 CA$20.07
$10.78 CA$15.00
33.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 CA$3.97
$3.01 CA$4.19
-4.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 CA$4.17
$3.46 CA$4.82
-13.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.34
$2.74 CA$3.81
-12.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 CA$88.9
$72.7 CA$101
-12.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 CA$4.33
$3.63 CA$5.05
-14.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 CA$2.08
$1.46 CA$2.03
2.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.53 CA$35.51
$33.44 CA$46.50
-23.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.51
$1.21 CA$1.69
-9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.3K
$24.6K CA$34.3K
3.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.2K
$21.7K CA$30.2K
-6.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 CA$199
$76.0 CA$106
88.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.41 CA$61.8
$35.72 CA$49.68
24.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2 CA$87.9
$42.86 CA$59.6
47.43%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.36 CA$58.9
$42.92 CA$59.7
-1.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.23 CA$23.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.60 CA$16.13
$11.09 CA$15.42
4.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$730 CA$1,016
$620 CA$862
17.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K CA$16.1K
$5,834 CA$8,114
98.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 CA$74.6
$62.7 CA$87.1
-14.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 CA$56.1
$44.41 CA$61.8
-9.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 CA$122
$101 CA$140
-12.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$151
$119 CA$166
-9.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,314 CA$1,828
$1,211 CA$1,684
8.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,168 CA$1,624
$960 CA$1,334
21.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,003 CA$2,785
$2,035 CA$2,831
-1.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,818 CA$2,528
$1,589 CA$2,210
14.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,181 CA$7,205
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,934 CA$5,470
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,775 CA$3,859
$2,960 CA$4,116
-6.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
5.01
28.94%

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

Last update for Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,314 in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me versus $1,211 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 7% 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 $70.0 in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $392 – making Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me 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
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me or Montreal?
Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me costs about 12% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me vs Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,458 per month in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me 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 Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me or Montreal?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me – 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 Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me vs Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me or Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me at $2,305. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,305 in Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me 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 Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me or Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint-JΓ©rΓ΄me makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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