Montreal remains the most affordable big city in Canada, with cheap transit and rents far below Toronto despite recent increases. A single person can budget around $2,850 a month before savings.
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Single person
$2,790/mo
Essentials plus modest fun money, before savings.
Couple
$3,980/mo combined
Sharing a home cuts the per-person cost sharply.
Biggest expense
$1,700/mo rent
Average asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment.
Rounded 2026 averages. Your numbers will differ by neighbourhood and lifestyle, which is exactly why a budget you actually track beats any table.
| Category | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
Rent (1-bedroom average) | $1,700 | $2,150 |
Groceries | $420 | $760 |
Transit (STM adult monthly pass) | $110 | $220 |
Utilities (heat, hydro, water) | $130 | $160 |
Phone + internet | $130 | $190 |
Entertainment + dining out | $300 | $500 |
| Monthly total | $2,790 | $3,980 |
Totals exclude savings, debt payments, insurance, and car costs. Couple transit assumes two STM passes.
Quebec rental norms are different. Leases traditionally turn over on July 1, and many older apartments come unheated (chauffage not included) or even without a fridge or stove, so read the lease carefully.
The Tribunal administratif du logement publishes suggested annual rent increase guidelines, and lease transfers are common. Long-term tenants often pay well below asking rents.
Quebec income tax is the highest in Canada, but it funds cheap daycare ($9 a day subsidized spots) and low tuition. Your take-home pay is smaller, so budget from net income.
Averages get you in the ballpark. Waypoint connects to major Canadian banks, auto-categorizes your real spending, and shows how your real costs compare to the plan you set. Pricing is in CAD.
See how Montreal stacks up before you sign a lease.
Free forever. No credit card. Connect your bank, set targets for rent, groceries, and STM passes, and see where every dollar goes.
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