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cost of living montreal

In today's economic climate, where the cost of living continues to put pressure on Canadian wallets, it's normal to wonder whether your income is enough to keep pace.

With everything from rent and groceries to fuel putting pressure on household budgets, understanding how your salary compares to the average can provide some much-needed perspective.

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If you've been dreaming of a fresh start in a city where salaries are higher and house prices are affordable(ish) then you might want to look west of Montreal — 2.5 hours west, to be specific.

On August 18, Global Citizen Solutions released its latest list of the top 15 best places to live in Canada, based on factors like employment opportunities, average salaries and home prices, cost of living, and crime rates, among others.

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Thinking about what it costs to live in Montreal? Whether you're budgeting your next move, rethinking your spending, or just trying to make peace with your grocery bill, it helps to have a clear picture of the essentials (and a few extras).

Using up-to-date data (as of July 2025), we've crunched the numbers to estimate what a single person needs to live reasonably in the city. This breakdown assumes you're living alone, and not in a luxury condo or a shoebox apartment with four roommates. It includes rent, transportation, food, and some breathing room for going out, staying caffeinated, and occasionally pretending you can afford to party.

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Tenants looking to rent a new place in Montreal are facing another price increase this March. The average cost of a one-bedroom unfurnished apartment now stands at $1,769 per month, up 1.3% from last month and $151 higher than this time last year.

These figures come from Liv.rent's latest market report, which compiles rental data from its own listings as well as manually collected data from other popular rental sites. Liv.rent's March report analyzed a range of property types, excluding luxury rentals over $5,000 and shared accommodations.

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As the cost of living continues to rise in Quebec, many residents are exploring ways to manage the growing impact of inflation — whether by taking on multiple jobs, working extra hours, or seeking financial assistance through the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec. But would it surprise you to learn that Montreal is actually one of Canada's most affordable cities when compared to other urban centres?

MovingWaldo, a tech company focused on streamlining the residential moving process, recently ranked Canada’s 10 most populous cities based on their affordability. Using data from sources like the Canadian Real Estate Association, Realtor.ca, Zumper, and Numbeo, the report compared the cost of buying a home, renting a one-bedroom apartment, and the overall cost of living in each city.

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Complaining about the cost of food can often feel like screaming into a vacuum, and dining out in this economy may feel like an impossible feat. But one of Quebec's most iconic restaurant chains, St-Hubert, just announced a bold new initiative to help ease the burden of rising prices.

The beloved rotisserie chicken and ribs restaurant launched a revamped menu on October 8, specifically aimed at "helping customers navigate the current economic challenges" by bringing "more competitive and flexible pricing" to its tables, a press release says.

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Living in one of Canada's biggest cities might come with perks, but it also comes with a hefty price tag.

A recent report from MovingWaldo ranked the top 10 most populous cities in Canada by how expensive they are to live in, and let's just say, your wallet might be thanking you for living in Montreal. From the scenic mountains of Vancouver to the hustle and bustle of Toronto, the most expensive cities in Canada have a lot to offer — but some of the more affordable spots are hidden gems.

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In many ways, Montreal is the perfect place to be single. The city is known for its bustling nightlife, there's an amazing kaleidoscope of artists, expats, immigrants, and locals, and with the rising popularity of polyamory, you're almost guaranteed to have a great time playing the field and meeting fascinating people.

The problem, as it is so often, is money. Independence is expensive.Obviously, it's easier to get by with multiple earners in the household—you can share the cost of rent, bills, groceries and subscriptions, to name just a few things.

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With prices for everything from groceries to entertainment skyrocketing, many Montrealers are cutting back on the stuff they once enjoyed.

MTL Blog recently asked our audience, "What's gotten so expensive in Montreal that you no longer purchase it?" The response was significant, with hundreds of people responding within just a few hours.

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As Canadians struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living, a charity is giving each province its own "Poverty Report Card" — and, when it comes to issues like food insecurity and welfare, Quebec's grade stands out.

While the overall results paint a bleak picture, and Quebec's poverty reduction efforts are far from A+ worthy, we also aren't graduating at the bottom of this year's class. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

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As May rolls in, Quebec's minimum wage workers will see a modest paycheck increase. The provincial minimum wage is set to rise by $0.50, bringing it to $15.75 per hour.

But, according to a new study by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socio-économiques (IRIS), that boost is more of a Band-Aid fix than a cure for the financial woes many face.

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Canada was once renowned for its reasonable cost of living: minimal credit card fees, more affordable health care than the U.S., and budget-friendly housing, especially in Quebec. However, the things are changing. In 2023, when measured against the 50 priciest countries globally, Canada ranks in 25th place — nine spots below its southern neighbour.

Many countries face high inflation, but in Canada, these everyday items are especially costly:

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