Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Williams Lake, BC and Montreal

For one person, living costs are similar in Williams Lake, BC and in Montreal: $2,038 and $2,064 a month, rent and utilities included.

Williams Lake, BC, Canada
Montreal, Canada
Williams Lake, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,038
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,064
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Williams Lake, BC and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Williams Lake, BC and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,038 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $2,064 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Williams Lake, BC $2,038
  • Montreal $2,064

A couple spends around $2,920 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $3,156 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Williams Lake, BC $2,920
  • Montreal $3,156

A family of three spends $3,801 per month in Williams Lake, BC vs $4,247 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Williams Lake, BC $3,801
  • Montreal $4,247

Williams Lake, BC is about 1% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Williams Lake, BC and Montreal sit above the global median – Williams Lake, BC by 50%, Montreal by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 CA$24.90
$18.98 CA$26.64
-6.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 CA$89.0
$73.0 CA$102
-13.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.62 CA$14.90
$10.88 CA$15.27
-2.39%
Cappuccino
$3.61 CA$5.07
$3.81 CA$5.35
-5.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 CA$2.92
$1.94 CA$2.72
7.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.37
$1.58 CA$2.22
6.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.88 CA$6.84
$6.37 CA$8.94
-23.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36 CA$7.53
$7.26 CA$10.20
-26.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 CA$3.19
$2.23 CA$3.13
1.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 CA$3.61
$3.17 CA$4.45
-18.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.80 CA$5.33
$3.31 CA$4.64
14.80%
Eggs
$3.38 CA$4.74
$3.63 CA$5.09
-6.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.16 CA$14.26
$13.16 CA$18.47
-22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 CA$16.56
$11.56 CA$16.22
2.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.60 CA$20.49
$13.71 CA$19.25
6.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.26
$3.29 CA$4.62
13.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 CA$1.87
$1.46 CA$2.05
-8.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 CA$5.01
$3.37 CA$4.73
5.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.86 CA$5.41
$3.15 CA$4.42
22.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.41
$1.89 CA$2.65
28.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 CA$3.18
$1.79 CA$2.52
26.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 CA$3.40
$2.47 CA$3.47
-2.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.03
$1.58 CA$2.22
-8.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.42 CA$17.43
$11.28 CA$15.84
10.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.53 CA$20.39
$10.49 CA$14.73
38.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 CA$3.65
$2.34 CA$3.28
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 CA$3.79
$2.91 CA$4.09
-7.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 CA$3.32
$2.61 CA$3.66
-9.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.6 CA$85.0
$79.1 CA$111
-23.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 CA$3.69
$3.26 CA$4.57
-19.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 CA$2.27
$1.44 CA$2.02
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.61 CA$35.94
$33.43 CA$46.92
-23.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.68
$1.33 CA$1.87
-9.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K CA$39.7K
$28.6K CA$40.2K
-1.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K CA$31.0K
$21.1K CA$29.6K
4.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 CA$194
$80.1 CA$112
72.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.57 CA$45.70
$34.30 CA$48.14
-5.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.3 CA$118
$42.85 CA$60.1
96.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.04 CA$52.0
$31.14 CA$43.71
18.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 CA$24.77
$19.41 CA$27.24
-9.07%
Cinema Ticket
$10.59 CA$14.86
$11.23 CA$15.76
-5.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$683 CA$959
$525 CA$737
30.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K CA$20.6K
$16.3K CA$22.9K
-10.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 CA$78.8
$58.0 CA$81.4
-3.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.39 CA$53.9
$38.11 CA$53.5
0.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 CA$136
$93.4 CA$131
3.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6 CA$128
$110 CA$155
-16.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$936 CA$1,314
$1,285 CA$1,803
-27.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 CA$1,252
$977 CA$1,371
-8.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 CA$1,879
$2,271 CA$3,187
-41.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 CA$1,764
$1,665 CA$2,336
-24.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,775 CA$6,701
$5,139 CA$7,212
-7.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,387
$3,834 CA$5,381
0.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Williams Lake, BC
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,168 CA$4,445
$3,002 CA$4,213
5.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
4.48
4.46%

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

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: October 25, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Williams Lake, BC
$892
Montreal
$977 9.5% $84
Groceries & Markets
Williams Lake, BC
$357
Montreal
$351 1.7% $5.9
Eating Out
Williams Lake, BC
$267
Montreal
$291 8.8% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williams Lake, BC
$255
Montreal
$157 38.3% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Williams Lake, BC
$127
Montreal
$135 5.8% $7.4
Getting Around
Williams Lake, BC
$81
Montreal
$100 23.8% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Williams Lake, BC
$58
Montreal
$54 7.9% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $936 in Williams Lake, BC versus $1,285 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 6% higher in Williams Lake, BC, 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 $63 in Williams Lake, BC versus $73 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $357 in Williams Lake, BC vs $351 in Montreal – so Montreal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Williams Lake, BC
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
11:28 11:28 AM
14:28 2:28 PM
3 h ahead of Williams Lake, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,753
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Williams Lake, BC Montreal 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Williams Lake, BC
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Williams Lake, BC vs Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Williams Lake, BC or Montreal?
Montreal costs about 1% more than Williams Lake, BC, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Williams Lake, BC and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,057 per month in Williams Lake, BC and $3,096 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Williams Lake, BC or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Williams Lake, BC, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $936 there versus $1,285 in Montreal.
How do dining costs compare in Williams Lake, BC and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63 in Williams Lake, BC and $73 in Montreal. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Williams Lake, BC compared to Montreal?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Williams Lake, BC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Williams Lake, BC or in Montreal?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,038 in Williams Lake, BC and $2,064 in Montreal. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Williams Lake, BC or Montreal?
It depends on your priorities. Montreal has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,038 in Williams Lake, BC to $2,064 in Montreal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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