Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney, NS and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,863 per month in Sydney, NS vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,830 per month in Sydney, NS vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,796 per month in Sydney, NS vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Sydney, NS is about 10% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sydney, NS and Montreal sit above the global median – Sydney, NS by 39%, Montreal by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 CA$16.53

$15.92 CA$22.14

-25.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CA$87.1

$73.1 CA$102

-14.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 CA$9.87

$11.15 CA$15.50

-36.32%

Cappuccino

$2.98 CA$4.15

$3.80 CA$5.29

-21.58%

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

$2.20 CA$3.06

$2.18 CA$3.03

0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.77

$1.46 CA$2.03

36.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 CA$7.81

$6.12 CA$8.51

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 CA$8.35

$6.78 CA$9.42

-11.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 CA$3.30

$2.33 CA$3.24

1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.74

$3.39 CA$4.72

-20.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 CA$3.66

$3.73 CA$5.19

-29.49%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.92

$3.38 CA$4.70

4.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 CA$9.27

$16.25 CA$22.60

-58.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CA$11.56

$11.54 CA$16.05

-27.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 CA$18.63

$15.24 CA$21.19

-12.14%

Apples (1kg)

$7.52 CA$10.46

$3.74 CA$5.20

101.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.71

$1.70 CA$2.37

-27.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.23

$4.11 CA$5.71

-8.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$4.35 CA$6.05

-66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 CA$1.25

$2.71 CA$3.76

-66.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$2.62 CA$3.64

1.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 CA$3.46

$2.25 CA$3.13

10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$1.73 CA$2.40

3.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.53 CA$25.77

$13.31 CA$18.51

39.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 CA$15.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$3.01 CA$4.19

-6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 CA$6.05

$3.46 CA$4.82

25.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$2.74 CA$3.81

-59.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.6 CA$70.4

$72.7 CA$101

-30.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 CA$6.12

$3.63 CA$5.05

21.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.06

$1.46 CA$2.03

1.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.32 CA$35.22

$33.44 CA$46.50

-24.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.67

$1.21 CA$1.69

-0.83%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$24.6K CA$34.3K

2.44%

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

$20.5K CA$28.5K

$21.7K CA$30.2K

-5.38%

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

$91.9 CA$128

$76.0 CA$106

20.86%

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

$46.94 CA$65.3

$35.72 CA$49.68

31.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 CA$104

$42.86 CA$59.6

74.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.4 CA$70.1

$42.92 CA$59.7

17.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.64 CA$5.07

$17.23 CA$23.97

-78.87%

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 CA$11.38

$11.09 CA$15.42

-26.24%

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

$748 CA$1,040

$620 CA$862

20.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$5,834 CA$8,114

100.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 CA$101

$62.7 CA$87.1

15.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 CA$96.8

$44.41 CA$61.8

56.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$141

$101 CA$140

0.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$119 CA$166

-9.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,100 CA$1,530

$1,211 CA$1,684

-9.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$814 CA$1,131

$960 CA$1,334

-15.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 CA$2,679

$2,035 CA$2,831

-5.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 CA$1,996

$1,589 CA$2,210

-9.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,181 CA$7,205

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,934 CA$5,470

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,630 CA$3,657

$2,960 CA$4,116

-11.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

5.01

36.73%

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

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,100 in Sydney, NS 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 13% higher in Montreal, 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 $63.0 in Sydney, NS versus $73.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $392 – making Sydney, NS 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

Sydney, NS vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 11% more than Sydney, NS, 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 $2,795 per month in Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $63.0 in Sydney, NS and $73.0 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 Sydney, NS, where all-in costs run around $1,863, than in Montreal at $2,063. In Sydney, NS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sydney, NS costs $1,863 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 Sydney, NS. 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.