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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,345 per month in Windsor, NS vs $2,065 in Montreal, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,293 per month in Windsor, NS vs $3,180 in Montreal, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,241 per month in Windsor, NS vs $4,296 in Montreal, rent included.

Windsor, NS costs about 14% more than Montreal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Windsor, NS and Montreal sit above the global median – Windsor, NS by 74%, Montreal by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.66 CA$20.09

$16.08 CA$22.03

-8.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.46 CA$51.3

$73.8 CA$101

-49.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.95 CA$12.27

$10.91 CA$14.95

-17.97%

Cappuccino

$3.64 CA$4.98

$3.67 CA$5.03

-0.82%

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

$1.70 CA$2.33

$2.06 CA$2.83

-17.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 CA$1.83

$1.44 CA$1.97

-7.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CA$7.83

$6.21 CA$8.50

-7.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.04

$6.44 CA$8.82

-8.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 CA$2.76

$2.34 CA$3.21

-13.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$3.23 CA$4.42

-10.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.57

$3.84 CA$5.26

5.73%

Eggs

$3.97 CA$5.44

$3.32 CA$4.54

19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 CA$16.84

$16.35 CA$22.40

-24.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.66 CA$20.08

$11.92 CA$16.33

22.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$22.97

$15.10 CA$20.69

11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.63

$3.68 CA$5.04

11.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 CA$2.14

$1.69 CA$2.32

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$4.12 CA$5.64

-6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 CA$7.37

$4.29 CA$5.88

25.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 CA$2.93

$2.79 CA$3.82

-23.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.01

$2.70 CA$3.70

-18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.68

$2.17 CA$2.97

23.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 CA$2.64

$1.78 CA$2.44

8.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.53 CA$25.39

$13.22 CA$18.12

40.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.58 CA$15.87

$11.04 CA$15.12

4.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 CA$4.60

$2.97 CA$4.07

13.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$3.44 CA$4.71

-4.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$2.80 CA$3.84

-16.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.4 CA$86.8

$72.2 CA$98.9

-12.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.71 CA$10.57

$3.67 CA$5.03

110.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$1.98

$1.40 CA$1.92

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.62 CA$40.57

$34.07 CA$46.68

-13.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.65

$1.21 CA$1.66

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

$25.0K CA$34.3K

$25.3K CA$34.7K

-1.22%

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

$20.6K CA$28.3K

$21.9K CA$30.0K

-5.65%

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

$131 CA$179

$74.4 CA$102

76.08%

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

$33.19 CA$45.47

$36.64 CA$50.2

-9.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.46 CA$49.95

$43.41 CA$59.5

-16.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 CA$58.2

$43.20 CA$59.2

-1.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.18 CA$23.54

Cinema Ticket

$11.14 CA$15.27

$10.99 CA$15.06

1.36%

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

$167 CA$228

$614 CA$842

-72.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.0K

$5,855 CA$8,022

99.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.75 CA$55.8

$62.6 CA$85.8

-34.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.60 CA$47.40

$44.25 CA$60.6

-21.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 CA$116

$103 CA$142

-17.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 CA$188

$122 CA$167

12.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 CA$1,780

$1,190 CA$1,631

9.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 CA$1,595

$946 CA$1,296

23.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 CA$2,734

$2,037 CA$2,791

-2.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 CA$2,487

$1,548 CA$2,120

17.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,281 CA$5,865

$5,398 CA$7,395

-20.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,174 CA$4,348

$4,014 CA$5,499

-20.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$948 CA$1,299

$3,013 CA$4,128

-68.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.01

28.94%

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

Last update for Windsor, NS: April 12, 2026

Last update for Montreal: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,299 in Windsor, NS versus $1,190 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 218% 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 $37 in Windsor, NS versus $74 in Montreal. Groceries tell a different story – $405 in Windsor, NS vs $392 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

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

Windsor, NS costs about 14% more than Montreal, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,518 per month in Windsor, NS and $3,097 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 3% more in Windsor, NS, 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 $37.00 in Windsor, NS and $74.0 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 $2,065, than in Windsor, NS at $2,345. In Montreal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Windsor, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montreal costs $2,065 versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS. 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, Windsor, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.