✦ 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%
Is Montreal expensive?
Not really — Montreal indexes at 99 against a US average of 100, so a month here lands within a few percent of a typical US city. Expect the surprises in individual lines rather than in the total.
Of the 87 cities we track, Montreal ranks #45 by overall cost — 42 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Montreal costs
One person
$2,660/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$3,720/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$6,510/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $900 | $1,150 | $2,200 |
| Food & groceries | $490 | $710 | $1,190 |
| Transport | $480 | $700 | $1,180 |
| Utilities | $200 | $290 | $490 |
| Healthcare | $220 | $330 | $550 |
| Goods & services | $370 | $540 | $900 |
| Total per month | $2,660 | $3,720 | $6,510 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Montreal
A bilingual, European-flavoured metropolis and the most affordable of Canada's big cities — rents well below Toronto or Vancouver, a huge festival and food culture, and cheap universities. The catch is the long, brutally cold winter and Quebec's French-first bureaucracy.
- Currency
- Canadian dollar ($ 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
Quality of life
71/100
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) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Montreal without a car?
78/100
Car-free score
78/100
Walkability
78/100
Public transport
Yes — Montreal scores 78/100 on our car-free score, so commuting, errands and nights out all work on foot or by public transport. Most residents here can skip car ownership entirely, and the savings go straight into the rest of the budget.
Transport in Montreal indexes at 80 against a US average of 100 — about 20% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Montreal ranks #42 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Montreal — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,150
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$900
- Inexpensive meal$18
- Monthly transit pass$70
- Utilities (monthly)$110
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Montreal, CA expensive to live in?
Montreal, CA's cost-of-living index is 99 (US average = 100) — about 1% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #45 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,660 a month and a family of four around $6,510, rent included.
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.
Can you live in Montreal, CA without a car?
Montreal, CA scores 78/100 on our car-free score — 78/100 for walkability and 78/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.