Montreal ranks as third most expensive city in Canada

Montreal isn’t as expensive to live in as a couple of our neighbours to the west but it’s also not cheap.

According to Mercer’s annual Cost of Living Index, Montreal is the third most expensive city in Canada.

In a shuffle at the top, Toronto has dethroned Vancouver as the most expensive city in the country.

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Toronto jumped nine places in the global rankings and is now the 89th most expensive city in the world. Vancouver came in at 108, down from 93rd place in June 2021. Montreal climbed four spots since last year and ranks 125th globally.

“Although Canada continues to be a relatively affordable place to live and an attractive destination for remote workers, like other advanced economies, it is seeing significant price increases in goods and services,” said Nicole Stewart, Principal, Career at Mercer Canada.

The Cost of Living Index evaluates the price of more than 200 goods and services, including food, transportation, and housing, while also examining factors such as currency fluctuation and cost inflation.

“Amplified by the global health crisis and the conflict in Ukraine, skyrocketing inflation and currency volatility are affecting international economic balances and the cost of living for each of us,” the report reads.

Mercer ranked Hong Kong as the most expensive city in the world. Swiss cities rounded out the top five: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern, respectively.

The least expensive city in the world was Ankara, the capital of Turkey, followed by Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan and Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Top 5 most expensive cities in Canada:

1. Toronto
2. Vancouver
3. Montreal
4. Ottawa
5. Calgary

Top 10 most expensive cities in the world:

1. Hong Kong
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Geneva, Switzerland
4. Basel, Switzerland
5. Bern, Switzerland
6. Tel Aviv, Israel
7. New York City, United States
8. Singapore, Singapore
9. Tokyo, Japan
10. Beijing, China

Top 10 least expensive cities in the world

1. Ankara, Turkey (least expensive)
2. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
3. Dushanbe, Tajikistan
4. Islamabad, Pakistan
5. Karachi, Pakistan
6. Istanbul, Turkey
7. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
8. Tunis, Tunisia
9. Almaty, Kazakhstan
10. Algiers, Algeria