Cost of Living Comparison Between Thunder Bay and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Thunder Bay and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,269 per month in Thunder Bay vs $2,056 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,424 per month in Thunder Bay vs $3,112 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,579 per month in Thunder Bay vs $4,167 in Montreal, rent included.

Thunder Bay costs about 10% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Thunder Bay and Montreal sit above the global median – Thunder Bay by 65%, Montreal by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.82 CA$24.66

$17.85 CA$24.70

-0.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.3 CA$83.5

$72.3 CA$100

-16.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.45 CA$17.23

$10.92 CA$15.11

14.01%

Cappuccino

$3.47 CA$4.80

$3.97 CA$5.49

-12.59%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$2.07 CA$2.87

-3.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.17

$1.55 CA$2.14

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 CA$7.39

$6.41 CA$8.88

-16.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 CA$7.14

$7.29 CA$10.09

-29.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CA$3.15

$2.39 CA$3.30

-4.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$3.21 CA$4.44

-16.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.55

$3.07 CA$4.25

7.17%

Eggs

$3.87 CA$5.36

$3.68 CA$5.09

5.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 CA$23.96

$13.57 CA$18.78

27.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.47 CA$22.79

$11.63 CA$16.09

41.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.82 CA$23.27

$13.97 CA$19.33

20.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 CA$4.64

$3.68 CA$5.10

-8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.70

$1.56 CA$2.16

-21.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.35

$3.41 CA$4.72

13.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.88

$3.03 CA$4.19

16.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CA$3.38

$1.98 CA$2.74

23.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.08 CA$2.88

$1.82 CA$2.52

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$2.56 CA$3.54

17.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 CA$3.22

$1.39 CA$1.92

67.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 CA$15.26

$11.49 CA$15.90

-4.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 CA$12.36

$10.92 CA$15.11

-18.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.77

$2.26 CA$3.13

-11.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 CA$4.23

$3.01 CA$4.16

1.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.29

$2.69 CA$3.72

-11.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.2 CA$88.8

$75.3 CA$104

-14.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 CA$7.44

$3.35 CA$4.63

60.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 CA$2.91

$1.50 CA$2.08

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.67 CA$49.36

$33.70 CA$46.63

5.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.54

$1.29 CA$1.79

-13.18%

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

$28.0K CA$38.7K

$28.3K CA$39.1K

-0.98%

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

$19.4K CA$26.9K

$20.0K CA$27.6K

-2.58%

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

$160 CA$221

$80.4 CA$111

98.78%

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

$58.2 CA$80.5

$34.23 CA$47.37

69.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.0 CA$112

$41.39 CA$57.3

95.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.68 CA$41.07

$29.24 CA$40.46

1.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.98 CA$24.88

$19.89 CA$27.52

-9.60%

Cinema Ticket

$17.72 CA$24.53

$11.71 CA$16.20

51.32%

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

$692 CA$958

$564 CA$781

22.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K CA$23.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.7 CA$107

$59.5 CA$82.3

30.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.80 CA$49.53

$42.13 CA$58.3

-15.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 CA$108

$107 CA$148

-27.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 CA$187

$111 CA$153

21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,079 CA$1,492

$1,284 CA$1,776

-15.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$951 CA$1,316

$990 CA$1,370

-3.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 CA$2,670

$2,260 CA$3,127

-14.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,705 CA$2,360

$1,667 CA$2,307

2.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,287 CA$7,316

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,813 CA$5,276

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,743 CA$3,796

$3,019 CA$4,177

-9.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

4.41

3.85%

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

Last update for Thunder Bay: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montreal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,079 in Thunder Bay 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 10% higher in Montreal, 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 $60.0 in Thunder Bay versus $72.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $406 in Thunder Bay 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

Thunder Bay vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thunder Bay costs about 10% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,404 per month in Thunder Bay 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 14% more in Thunder Bay, 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 $60.0 in Thunder Bay 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 Thunder Bay at $2,269. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thunder Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,056 versus $2,269 in Thunder Bay. 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, Thunder Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.