Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,745 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,085 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,106 per month in Squamish, BC vs $3,174 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,467 per month in Squamish, BC vs $4,262 in Montreal, rent included.

Squamish, BC costs about 32% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Squamish, BC and Montreal sit above the global median – Squamish, BC by 105%, Montreal by 56%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 CA$21.29

$16.52 CA$23.16

-8.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.8 CA$103

$74.0 CA$104

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 CA$15.45

$10.94 CA$15.34

0.73%

Cappuccino

$4.24 CA$5.94

$3.84 CA$5.39

10.42%

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

$2.02 CA$2.84

$2.14 CA$2.99

-5.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$1.45 CA$2.03

-0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 CA$8.33

$6.13 CA$8.60

-3.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 CA$8.20

$6.73 CA$9.44

-13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 CA$2.56

$2.35 CA$3.30

-22.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 CA$3.72

$3.34 CA$4.68

-20.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.29

$3.74 CA$5.25

0.80%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.10

$3.39 CA$4.76

7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.36 CA$14.52

$16.30 CA$22.85

-36.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.71 CA$16.42

$11.81 CA$16.56

-0.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 CA$28.34

$15.64 CA$21.93

29.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.73

$3.69 CA$5.18

-8.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 CA$1.70

$1.70 CA$2.39

-28.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$4.11 CA$5.76

-27.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.71

$4.41 CA$6.18

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 CA$3.29

$2.79 CA$3.91

-15.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 CA$2.90

$2.64 CA$3.70

-21.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.50 CA$3.51

$2.29 CA$3.21

9.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.70

$1.78 CA$2.50

8.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.28

$13.17 CA$18.47

9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 CA$14.78

$10.64 CA$14.92

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.22

$2.99 CA$4.19

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 CA$5.21

$3.44 CA$4.82

8.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$2.81 CA$3.94

-46.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.24 CA$43.80

$72.8 CA$102

-57.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.80

$3.52 CA$4.93

-23.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.08

$1.45 CA$2.04

2.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.62 CA$40.13

$34.29 CA$48.08

-16.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.22 CA$1.72

3.28%

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

$25.3K CA$35.5K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

0.35%

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

$20.2K CA$28.3K

$22.1K CA$31.0K

-8.81%

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

$124 CA$174

$76.5 CA$107

62.20%

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

$41.80 CA$58.6

$35.60 CA$49.91

17.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 CA$93.5

$42.96 CA$60.2

55.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.1 CA$74.5

$43.39 CA$60.8

22.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.83 CA$23.60

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.48

$11.09 CA$15.55

12.44%

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

$1,118 CA$1,567

$625 CA$876

78.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K CA$17.6K

$5,896 CA$8,266

112.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 CA$78.1

$63.1 CA$88.5

-11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.42 CA$62.3

$44.50 CA$62.4

-0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$146

$103 CA$144

1.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 CA$131

$118 CA$166

-20.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,676 CA$2,349

$1,207 CA$1,692

38.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 CA$2,226

$965 CA$1,353

64.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,371 CA$4,726

$2,031 CA$2,848

65.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,961 CA$4,152

$1,577 CA$2,211

87.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,834 CA$8,179

$5,085 CA$7,129

14.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,783 CA$5,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,067 CA$4,299

$2,890 CA$4,051

6.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.01

30.54%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: July 11, 2026

Last update for Montreal: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,676 in Squamish, BC versus $1,207 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 6% higher in Squamish, BC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Squamish, BC versus $74.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $395 – making Squamish, 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

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

Squamish, BC costs about 32% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,117 per month in Squamish, BC and $3,127 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Squamish, BC – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Squamish, BC and $74.0 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 $2,085, than in Squamish, BC at $2,745. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Squamish, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,085 versus $2,745 in Squamish, BC. 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, Squamish, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.