✦ Cost of living
Montreal
Montreal, Canada
US = 100
In plain terms: Montreal is about 1% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,150/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing102+2%
- Food & groceries106+6%
- Transport80−20%
- Utilities98−2%
- Healthcare80−20%
- Goods & services105+5%
Good to know before you move to Montreal
A bilingual, European-flavoured metropolis and the most affordable of Canada's big cities — rents well below Toronto or Vancouver, a huge festival and food culture, and cheap universities. The catch is the long, brutally cold winter and Quebec's French-first bureaucracy.
- Currency
- Canadian dollar ($ CAD)
- Languages
- English, French
- Time zone
- UTC-5
- Internet
- 180 Mbps
- English
- Widely spoken
- Safety
- 72/100
- Climate
- ❄ -9°C · ☀ 21°C · 160 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B · 120V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Plateau-Mont-Royal · Mile End · Griffintown · Rosemont
About
“Canada's cultural capital”
A bilingual, European-flavoured metropolis and the most affordable of Canada's big cities — rents well below Toronto or Vancouver, a huge festival and food culture, and cheap universities. The catch is the long, brutally cold winter and Quebec's French-first bureaucracy.
- Currency
- Canadian dollar · CAD
- Languages
- English, French
- Coordinates
- 45.50, -73.57
- Emergency
- 911
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
33%
Income tax
progressive
5%
VAT / sales
26.5%
Corporate
$3,300
Avg net salary
per month
Federal; provinces add ~10–25%.
Visas & residency
Express Entry points system; Provincial Nominee Programs.
✈ eTA for short visits from many countries.
Permanent residence after ~0 yrs. Citizenship after ~3 yrs. PR via Express Entry; citizenship after ~3 years.
Quality of life
Safety
72/100
Healthcare
78/100
Pollution
35/100
Internet
180 Mbps
Jan avg
-9 °C
Jul avg
+21 °C
Sunny days
160/yr
Walkability
78/100
Public transit
78/100
Family-friendly
74/100
Living there
- English spoken
- High
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 50
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
? Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Montreal, CA?
Montreal, CA's cost-of-living index is 99 (US average = 100) — about 1% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,150 per month.
What are the average living costs in Montreal, CA?
Living costs in Montreal, CA are about 1% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 99 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,150. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Montreal, CA?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,150 per month, and around $900 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Canada?
Canada has a top income-tax rate of 33% and a VAT or sales tax of 5%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Montreal, CA?
Montreal, CA averages around -9 °C in January and +21 °C in July, with roughly 160 sunny days a year.
Is Montreal, CA safe?
Montreal, CA scores 72 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
❖ Compare Montreal with…
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.