Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Montreal Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Montreal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,551 per month in Vaughan vs $2,063 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,782 per month in Vaughan vs $3,159 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,013 per month in Vaughan vs $4,255 in Montreal, rent included.

Vaughan costs about 24% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vaughan and Montreal sit above the global median – Vaughan by 90%, Montreal by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.57 CA$20.26
$15.92 CA$22.14
-8.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 CA$105
$73.1 CA$102
3.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 CA$14.48
$11.15 CA$15.50
-6.64%
Cappuccino
$3.54 CA$4.92
$3.80 CA$5.29
-6.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.92
$2.18 CA$3.03
-3.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.37
$1.46 CA$2.03
17.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.31 CA$8.77
$6.12 CA$8.51
3.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 CA$7.18
$6.78 CA$9.42
-23.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 CA$2.44
$2.33 CA$3.24
-24.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 CA$3.13
$3.39 CA$4.72
-33.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.29
$3.73 CA$5.19
1.88%
Eggs
$3.41 CA$4.74
$3.38 CA$4.70
0.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.66 CA$12.04
$16.25 CA$22.60
-46.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.81 CA$15.04
$11.54 CA$16.05
-6.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.60 CA$9.18
$15.24 CA$21.19
-56.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.14
$3.74 CA$5.20
-20.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 CA$2.14
$1.70 CA$2.37
-9.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 CA$3.88
$4.11 CA$5.71
-32.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.72
$4.35 CA$6.05
-21.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 CA$2.70
$2.71 CA$3.76
-28.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 CA$2.84
$2.62 CA$3.64
-22.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 CA$2.50
$2.25 CA$3.13
-20.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$1.73 CA$2.40
-2.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.99 CA$18.07
$13.31 CA$18.51
-2.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.00 CA$16.69
$10.78 CA$15.00
11.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$2.98
$3.01 CA$4.19
-28.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$2.97
$3.46 CA$4.82
-38.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.92
$2.74 CA$3.81
2.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$154
$72.7 CA$101
52.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 CA$4.40
$3.63 CA$5.05
-12.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 CA$1.90
$1.46 CA$2.03
-6.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.62 CA$31.46
$33.44 CA$46.50
-32.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.60
$1.21 CA$1.69
-4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.5K
$24.6K CA$34.3K
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K CA$27.4K
$21.7K CA$30.2K
-9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 CA$184
$76.0 CA$106
74.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.47 CA$46.55
$35.72 CA$49.68
-6.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 CA$71.0
$42.86 CA$59.6
19.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.59 CA$45.33
$42.92 CA$59.7
-24.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.71 CA$30.19
$17.23 CA$23.97
26.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.72 CA$14.91
$11.09 CA$15.42
-3.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$815 CA$1,133
$620 CA$862
31.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K CA$25.8K
$5,834 CA$8,114
218.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.55 CA$60.6
$62.7 CA$87.1
-30.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.06 CA$51.5
$44.41 CA$61.8
-16.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 CA$83.5
$101 CA$140
-40.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$146
$119 CA$166
-11.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 CA$2,380
$1,211 CA$1,684
41.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 CA$2,104
$960 CA$1,334
57.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,092 CA$4,300
$2,035 CA$2,831
51.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,483 CA$3,453
$1,589 CA$2,210
56.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,784 CA$12.2K
$5,181 CA$7,205
69.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,361 CA$8,846
$3,934 CA$5,470
61.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaughan
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,036 CA$4,222
$2,960 CA$4,116
2.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.73
5.01
34.33%

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

Last update for Vaughan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Montreal: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,712 in Vaughan 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 3% higher in Vaughan, 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 $76.0 in Vaughan versus $73.0 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Vaughan vs $392 in Montreal – so Vaughan 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
Vaughan vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vaughan or Montreal?
Vaughan costs about 24% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Vaughan vs Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,826 per month in Vaughan and $3,094 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vaughan or Montreal?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Vaughan or Montreal?
Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Vaughan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Vaughan vs Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Vaughan and $73.0 in Montreal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vaughan or Montreal?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Montreal, where all-in costs run around $2,063, than in Vaughan at $2,551. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vaughan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vaughan or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,063 versus $2,551 in Vaughan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Vaughan compared to Montreal?
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.
Should I move to Vaughan or Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Montreal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vaughan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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