Cost of Living Comparison Between Terrace and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Terrace and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,918 per month in Terrace vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,938 per month in Terrace vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,958 per month in Terrace vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Terrace is about 7% cheaper than Montreal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Terrace and Montreal sit above the global median – Terrace by 40%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.93 CA$24.73

$17.85 CA$24.62

0.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.4 CA$114

$72.3 CA$99.7

13.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.28 CA$14.17

$10.92 CA$15.06

-5.86%

Cappuccino

$4.12 CA$5.68

$3.97 CA$5.47

3.78%

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

$2.18 CA$3.01

$2.07 CA$2.86

5.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.51

$1.55 CA$2.13

17.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.31 CA$7.33

$6.41 CA$8.85

-17.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 CA$7.27

$7.29 CA$10.05

-27.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 CA$3.29

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 CA$3.61

$3.21 CA$4.42

-18.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.51

$3.07 CA$4.23

77.20%

Eggs

$3.71 CA$5.11

$3.68 CA$5.07

0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 CA$12.38

$13.57 CA$18.72

-33.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.72 CA$21.68

$11.63 CA$16.03

35.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.78

$13.97 CA$19.27

-2.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 CA$5.98

$3.68 CA$5.08

17.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.56 CA$2.15

-20.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.44

$3.41 CA$4.70

-5.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.36

$3.03 CA$4.17

28.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 CA$4.61

$1.98 CA$2.74

68.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 CA$4.31

$1.82 CA$2.52

71.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.40

$2.56 CA$3.53

-3.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CA$1.39

$1.39 CA$1.92

-27.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.67 CA$16.09

$11.49 CA$15.85

1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.66 CA$18.83

$10.92 CA$15.06

25.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 CA$3.10

$2.26 CA$3.12

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CA$2.53

$3.01 CA$4.15

-39.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 CA$2.00

$2.69 CA$3.71

-46.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.34 CA$43.22

$75.3 CA$104

-58.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 CA$4.59

$3.35 CA$4.62

-0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 CA$2.19

$1.50 CA$2.07

6.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.79 CA$30.05

$33.70 CA$46.47

-35.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.29 CA$1.78

-6.20%

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

$28.0K CA$38.6K

$28.3K CA$39.0K

-1.11%

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

$19.3K CA$26.6K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

-3.24%

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

$95.3 CA$131

$80.4 CA$111

18.59%

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

$39.88 CA$55.0

$34.23 CA$47.21

16.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 CA$85.7

$41.39 CA$57.1

50.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.51 CA$58.6

$29.24 CA$40.32

45.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.92 CA$23.34

$19.89 CA$27.43

-14.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.11 CA$12.56

$11.71 CA$16.15

-22.20%

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

$774 CA$1,068

$564 CA$778

37.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K CA$20.1K

$16.8K CA$23.2K

-13.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.31 CA$51.4

$59.5 CA$82.1

-37.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.94 CA$42.66

$42.13 CA$58.1

-26.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 CA$111

$107 CA$148

-24.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CA$141

$111 CA$153

-7.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 CA$1,442

$1,284 CA$1,770

-18.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 CA$1,191

$990 CA$1,365

-12.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 CA$2,273

$2,260 CA$3,116

-27.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 CA$1,851

$1,667 CA$2,299

-19.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,352 CA$6,002

$5,287 CA$7,291

-17.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,082 CA$5,630

$3,813 CA$5,258

7.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,266 CA$4,504

$3,019 CA$4,163

8.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.05

4.41

14.51%

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

Last update for Terrace: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,046 in Terrace 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 8% higher in Terrace, 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 $82.0 in Terrace versus $72.0 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $356 – making Montreal 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

Terrace vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montreal costs about 7% more than Terrace, 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 $2,877 per month in Terrace 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 Terrace, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Montreal – 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 $82.0 in Terrace 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 Terrace, where all-in costs run around $1,918, than in Montreal at $2,056. In Terrace it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Terrace costs $1,918 versus $2,056 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 Terrace. 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.