Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa and Montreal 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Montreal is 3.4% lower than in Ottawa (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Montreal is 6.8% lower than in Ottawa | |
| Rent Prices in Montreal are 14.5% lower than in Ottawa | |
| Restaurant Prices in Montreal are 1.5% higher than in Ottawa | |
| Groceries Prices in Montreal are 2.2% lower than in Ottawa | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Montreal is 15.3% lower than in Ottawa | |
Restaurants | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 25.00 C$ | 25.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 96.00 C$ | 100.00 C$ | +4.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 C$ | 15.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 C$ | 8.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 9.00 C$ | 9.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.17 C$ | 5.37 C$ | +4.0 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.82 C$ | 2.81 C$ | -0.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.24 C$ | 2.00 C$ | -10.7 % |
Markets | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 3.10 C$ | 3.15 C$ | +1.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.45 C$ | 3.73 C$ | +8.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.03 C$ | 2.05 C$ | +0.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 4.69 C$ | 4.45 C$ | -5.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.54 C$ | 8.79 C$ | +16.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 7.75 C$ | 7.06 C$ | -8.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 9.64 C$ | 9.52 C$ | -1.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.60 C$ | 2.06 C$ | -20.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.80 C$ | 0.98 C$ | +22.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.17 C$ | 2.25 C$ | +3.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.22 C$ | 2.29 C$ | +3.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.37 C$ | 1.79 C$ | +30.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.91 C$ | 1.48 C$ | -22.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.21 C$ | 3.06 C$ | -4.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.03 C$ | 2.19 C$ | +7.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 18.25 C$ | 16.00 C$ | -12.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 3.52 C$ | 3.65 C$ | +3.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 4.15 C$ | 4.54 C$ | +9.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 20.00 C$ | 16.50 C$ | -17.5 % |
Transportation | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.00 C$ | 3.75 C$ | -6.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 135.00 C$ | 104.50 C$ | -22.6 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 3.80 C$ | 4.88 C$ | +28.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.38 C$ | 3.54 C$ | +4.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 27.00 C$ | 46.20 C$ | +71.1 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.44 C$ | 1.56 C$ | +8.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 38,300.00 C$ | 37,000.00 C$ | -3.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 28,142.15 C$ | 29,053.15 C$ | +3.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 217.10 C$ | 105.34 C$ | -51.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 55.96 C$ | 50.30 C$ | -10.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 71.03 C$ | 56.82 C$ | -20.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 64.46 C$ | 54.02 C$ | -16.2 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 36.38 C$ | 24.74 C$ | -32.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 15.00 C$ | 15.50 C$ | +3.3 % |
Childcare | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,181.54 C$ | 758.43 C$ | -35.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 23,750.00 C$ | 18,232.89 C$ | -23.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 70.01 C$ | 74.27 C$ | +6.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 50.71 C$ | 56.14 C$ | +10.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 115.12 C$ | 139.46 C$ | +21.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 127.38 C$ | 171.38 C$ | +34.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,020.41 C$ | 1,725.00 C$ | -14.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,708.75 C$ | 1,313.50 C$ | -23.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,128.15 C$ | 2,828.18 C$ | -9.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,555.89 C$ | 2,180.00 C$ | -14.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 533.44 C$ | 697.46 C$ | +30.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 472.21 C$ | 526.08 C$ | +11.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Ottawa Edit |
Montreal Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,216.93 C$ | 4,121.38 C$ | -21.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.70 | 4.64 | -1.2 % |
| Last update: | 14 December 2025 | 13 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 235 | 325 |
Moving to Ottawa? Explore:
Moving to Montreal? Explore:
Cities near Ottawa: | Cost of Living in Gatineau | 8.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sainte-Martine | 118.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Laval | 119.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Montreal | 120.61 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingston | 120.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Longueuil | 128.91 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belleville | 164.78 miles |
| Cost of Living in Peterborough | 167.80 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sherbrooke | 212.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in North Bay | 221.58 miles |
Cities near Montreal: | Cost of Living in Longueuil | 8.36 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sainte-Martine | 25.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sherbrooke | 99.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Gatineau | 112.36 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ottawa | 119.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Quebec City | 157.18 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingston | 176.74 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belleville | 220.82 miles |