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 $2,714 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,074 per month in Squamish, BC vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,433 per month in Squamish, BC vs $4,167 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 98%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.11 CA$20.92

$17.85 CA$24.72

-15.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.5 CA$80.9

$72.3 CA$100

-19.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.33 CA$14.31

$10.92 CA$15.12

-5.40%

Cappuccino

$3.96 CA$5.48

$3.97 CA$5.49

-0.25%

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

$1.82 CA$2.52

$2.07 CA$2.87

-12.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.55 CA$2.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.96

$6.41 CA$8.88

-10.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 CA$8.05

$7.29 CA$10.10

-20.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 CA$2.41

$2.39 CA$3.30

-27.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 CA$3.07

$3.21 CA$4.44

-30.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.14

$3.07 CA$4.25

20.85%

Eggs

$3.25 CA$4.50

$3.68 CA$5.09

-11.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 CA$17.44

$13.57 CA$18.79

-7.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.30 CA$21.18

$11.63 CA$16.10

31.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.64 CA$27.20

$13.97 CA$19.34

40.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 CA$7.72

$3.68 CA$5.10

51.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.56 CA$2.16

-23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.22

$3.41 CA$4.72

10.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.12

$3.03 CA$4.19

22.11%

Potato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.70

$1.98 CA$2.75

108.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 CA$3.58

$1.82 CA$2.53

42.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.69

$2.56 CA$3.54

3.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.58

$1.39 CA$1.92

33.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.00 CA$22.15

$11.49 CA$15.91

39.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.02 CA$15.26

$10.92 CA$15.12

0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.02

$2.26 CA$3.13

28.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 CA$5.12

$3.01 CA$4.16

22.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$2.69 CA$3.72

-47.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.62 CA$42.39

$75.3 CA$104

-59.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.94

$3.35 CA$4.63

6.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 CA$2.03

$1.50 CA$2.08

-2.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.87 CA$34.43

$33.70 CA$46.66

-26.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.56

$1.29 CA$1.79

-12.40%

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

$26.9K CA$37.2K

$28.3K CA$39.2K

-5.01%

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

$19.3K CA$26.7K

$20.0K CA$27.6K

-3.42%

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

$119 CA$164

$80.4 CA$111

47.52%

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

$45.01 CA$62.3

$34.23 CA$47.40

31.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 CA$89.3

$41.39 CA$57.3

55.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 CA$71.8

$29.24 CA$40.49

77.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.89 CA$27.54

Cinema Ticket

$11.35 CA$15.72

$11.71 CA$16.21

-3.07%

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

$371 CA$514

$564 CA$781

-34.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,922 CA$11.0K

$16.8K CA$23.3K

-52.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 CA$75.3

$59.5 CA$82.4

-8.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.83 CA$49.61

$42.13 CA$58.3

-14.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 CA$112

$107 CA$148

-24.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CA$141

$111 CA$153

-8.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,655 CA$2,292

$1,284 CA$1,778

28.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,541 CA$2,134

$990 CA$1,371

55.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,311 CA$4,585

$2,260 CA$3,129

46.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,805 CA$3,884

$1,667 CA$2,308

68.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,964 CA$8,257

$5,287 CA$7,321

12.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,279

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,361

$3,019 CA$4,180

4.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

4.41

7.03%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: September 1, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,655 in Squamish, BC 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 4% 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 $58.0 in Squamish, BC versus $72.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $404 in Squamish, BC 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

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 $4,071 per month in Squamish, BC 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 13% more in Squamish, BC, 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 $58.0 in Squamish, BC 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 Squamish, BC at $2,714. 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 $2,056 versus $2,714 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.