πŸ”΄
#21 Worldwide

Montreal Cost of Living 2026

Canada β€’ North America

Anchor Cost Index

85

Very Expensive

#21
of 160 cities
88%
More expensive than
#11
in North America
Very Expensive
Cost Level

πŸ“‰Anchor Price Breakdown β€” vs Global Average

πŸ”Big Mac
$5.85+43%
MontrealGlobal avg: $4.09
🏠1BR Rent
$1,365.00+44%
MontrealGlobal avg: $950.72
πŸš—Uber 5km
$8.00+77%
MontrealGlobal avg: $4.51
β˜•Starbucks Latte
$6.70+63%
MontrealGlobal avg: $4.10
πŸ“ΊYouTube Premium
$13.99+86%
MontrealGlobal avg: $7.51
Below average
Above average
Global average

πŸ“ŠAnchor Price Breakdown

ℹ️Sources: Public economic data, market research
πŸ”
Big Mac
McDonald's signature burger
$5.85
+43% vs avg
96
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.09
🏠
1BR Rent
City-wide median monthly
$1,365.00/mo
+44% vs avg
77
Weight: 30%Global avg: $950.72
πŸš—
Uber 5km
Average 5km ride fare
$8.00
+77% vs avg
83
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.51
β˜•
Starbucks Latte
Tall Latte price
$6.70
+63% vs avg
85
Weight: 15%Global avg: $4.10
πŸ“Ί
YouTube Premium
Monthly subscription
$13.99/mo
+86% vs avg
88
Weight: 15%Global avg: $7.51

πŸ“ˆKey Metrics

ℹ️Calculated from verified cost data
🏠
23%
Rent Burden
Rent as % of avg salary
🍽️
10%
Food Affordability
Food as % of avg salary
πŸ’»
78/100
Nomad Score
Digital nomad friendliness
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
75/100
Family Score
Family friendliness

πŸ’΅Monthly Budget Scenarios

ℹ️Based on crowdsourced price data
πŸŽ’
Backpacker
Hostels, street food, public transit
$2,983/mo
Housing
$1080
Food
$1574
Transport
$108
Utilities
$0
Entertainment
$122
Other
$99
πŸ’»
Digital Nomad
Coliving, coworking, mix of cooking & dining
$3,820/mo
Housing
$1170
Food
$1671
Transport
$154
Utilities
$113
Entertainment
$282
Other
$430
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
Small Family
2 adults + 1 child, outside center apartment
$6,308/mo
Housing
$2080
Food
$1775
Transport
$315
Utilities
$448
Entertainment
$220
Other
$1470
🏒
Expat Professional
City center, quality lifestyle
$4,555/mo
Housing
$1638
Food
$1770
Transport
$325
Utilities
$323
Entertainment
$311
Other
$188

Monthly Budget Range

πŸŽ’ Backpacker

$2,983

🏒 Professional

$4,555

βš–οΈCompare Montreal with Other Cities

πŸ“‹Extended Costs (60+ Items)

ℹ️Aggregated from public sources
1BR Apartment (City Center)$1,820.00/mo
1BR Apartment (Outside Center)$910.00/mo
3BR Apartment (City Center)$3,640.00/mo
3BR Apartment (Outside Center)$2,080.00/mo
Price per mΒ² (Buy, City)$12,400.00/mΒ²
Price per mΒ² (Buy, Outside)$7,500.00/mΒ²
Airbnb (1BR, Monthly)$2,340.00/mo
Coliving Space$1,170.00/mo
Hostel/Dormitory$36.00/night

πŸ“ˆ How Montreal Compares

Cheaper than
20cities
More expensive than
139cities
Rank in North America
#11/14

Understanding Cost Index

0-20
Very Affordable
21-40
Affordable
41-60
Moderate
61-80
Expensive
81-100
Very Expensive

πŸ’‘Tips for Living in Montreal

Moderate Housing Costs: Rent in Montreal averages $1,365.00/month. Look at neighborhoods slightly outside the center for 20-30% savings on rent.

Food & Drinks: A Big Mac costs $5.85 and a Starbucks latte goes for $6.70 in Montreal. Eating at local restaurants instead of international chains can save 40-60% on food costs.

Getting Around: A 5km Uber ride costs $8.00 in Montreal. Consider public transit or cycling to save on transport costs.

Digital Nomad Budget: Plan for approximately $3,820/month as a digital nomad in Montreal, covering coworking, accommodation, food, and local transport.

Best Time to Move: Research visa requirements for Canada well in advance. Costs shown are in USD and may fluctuate with exchange rates.

❓Frequently Asked Questions About Montreal

What is the cost of living in Montreal, Canada?

Montreal has an Anchor Cost Index of 85/100, making it very expensive. A 1-bedroom apartment costs $1,365.00/month, a Big Mac is $5.85, and an Uber ride (5km) costs $8.00.Montreal ranks #21 out of 160 cities worldwide.

How much does rent cost in Montreal?

The average 1-bedroom apartment in Montreal costs $1,365.00/month. This is above the global average of $950.72/month. A digital nomad can expect to spend around $3,820/month total in Montreal.

Is Montreal expensive compared to other cities?

Montreal is more expensive than 139 cities and cheaper than 20 cities in our database. In North America, it ranks #11 out of 14 cities. Cities with similar costs include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver.

How much money do I need to live in Montreal?

Monthly budgets vary by lifestyle: a backpacker needs ~$2,983/mo, a digital nomad ~$3,820/mo, a small family ~$6,308/mo, and an expat professional ~$4,555/mo. These include housing, food, transport, and lifestyle expenses.

πŸ“Š Data Sources

We aggregate data from trusted sources to provide accurate cost of living comparisons. All prices are converted to USD.

πŸ”
Big Mac Index
Global purchasing power indicator (2024)

Purchasing power parity indicator

🏠
Cost of Living & Rent
Crowdsourced global cost data (2024)

Verified price data from multiple sources

πŸš—
Transport & Services
Regional transport pricing data (2024)

Taxi, rideshare, public transit prices

πŸ“Ί
Digital Subscriptions
Regional pricing data (2024)

Streaming services, digital platforms

Data is updated periodically. Prices may vary based on location, promotions, and exchange rates.