Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarnia and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarnia and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,998 per month in Sarnia vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,894 per month in Sarnia vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,791 per month in Sarnia vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Sarnia is about 3% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sarnia and Montreal sit above the global median – Sarnia by 49%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.76 CA$20.51

$15.92 CA$22.12

-7.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.14 CA$65.5

$73.1 CA$102

-35.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.38 CA$13.04

$11.15 CA$15.49

-15.87%

Cappuccino

$2.57 CA$3.58

$3.80 CA$5.28

-32.37%

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

$1.55 CA$2.15

$2.18 CA$3.03

-28.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 CA$2.22

$1.46 CA$2.03

9.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 CA$6.63

$6.12 CA$8.51

-22.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 CA$8.22

$6.78 CA$9.41

-12.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.94

$2.33 CA$3.23

-9.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 CA$3.27

$3.39 CA$4.71

-30.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.59

$3.73 CA$5.18

-30.83%

Eggs

$3.16 CA$4.39

$3.38 CA$4.70

-6.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 CA$11.44

$16.25 CA$22.58

-49.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 CA$20.00

$11.54 CA$16.04

24.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.98

$15.24 CA$21.17

-10.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.73

$3.74 CA$5.20

10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.70 CA$2.37

-30.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 CA$4.54

$4.11 CA$5.70

-20.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.14

$4.35 CA$6.05

-14.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 CA$3.27

$2.71 CA$3.76

-13.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 CA$3.91

$2.62 CA$3.63

7.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$2.25 CA$3.13

-13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CA$1.67

$1.73 CA$2.40

-30.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.82 CA$15.03

$13.31 CA$18.49

-18.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.06 CA$13.98

$10.78 CA$14.98

-6.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$3.01 CA$4.19

-18.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 CA$4.11

$3.46 CA$4.81

-14.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.04

$2.74 CA$3.81

-20.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.4 CA$77.0

$72.7 CA$101

-23.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 CA$3.54

$3.63 CA$5.05

-29.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 CA$2.38

$1.46 CA$2.03

17.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.94 CA$41.60

$33.44 CA$46.46

-10.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.51

$1.21 CA$1.68

-10.74%

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

$24.7K CA$34.3K

$24.6K CA$34.2K

0.30%

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

$19.9K CA$27.7K

$21.7K CA$30.1K

-8.06%

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

$146 CA$203

$76.0 CA$106

92.48%

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

$37.40 CA$52.0

$35.72 CA$49.63

4.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.0 CA$76.5

$42.86 CA$59.6

28.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.45 CA$31.19

$42.92 CA$59.6

-47.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.49 CA$25.69

$17.23 CA$23.94

7.31%

Cinema Ticket

$12.07 CA$16.77

$11.09 CA$15.40

8.84%

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

$293 CA$407

$620 CA$861

-52.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K CA$14.5K

$5,834 CA$8,106

78.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 CA$75.3

$62.7 CA$87.1

-13.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.82 CA$35.88

$44.41 CA$61.7

-41.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.9 CA$98.5

$101 CA$140

-29.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.6 CA$120

$119 CA$165

-27.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,785

$1,211 CA$1,683

6.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$949 CA$1,319

$960 CA$1,333

-1.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,415 CA$3,356

$2,035 CA$2,828

18.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 CA$2,086

$1,589 CA$2,208

-5.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,198

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,465

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,053 CA$4,242

$2,960 CA$4,113

3.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

5.01

26.35%

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

Last update for Sarnia: May 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Sarnia 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 3% higher in Sarnia, 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 Sarnia versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $392 – making Sarnia 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

Sarnia vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 3% more than Sarnia, 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 $2,997 per month in Sarnia and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $47.00 in Sarnia and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sarnia, where all-in costs run around $1,998, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Sarnia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sarnia costs $1,998 versus $2,063 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 Sarnia. 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.