This is how much money you need to make (on average) to live alone in Montreal
Isn’t this the dream? Move to Montreal as a young adult, get a good-paying job, catch a Canadiens game every once in a while, and ride off into the la belle province sunset.
Speaking of La Belle Province, fitting those $2 hot dogs into your monthly budget might not be a bad idea, at least for your wallet.
Montreal is a vibrant city. It’s full of culture, history, beautiful landmarks, and good people, and it’s not overly expensive to live in.
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According to Numbeo, a website that compares the cost of living in cities around the world, the average for a single person in Montreal costs $1,144.77 monthly (rent excluded).
Simply put, it’s not cheap living in Montreal but it could be worse (you could live in Toronto).
Gone are the days of hand-me-down homes from parents, constantly-full gas tanks, and fridges full of food — adulthood is real.
To show just how expensive living in this city can be, we broke down monthly costs based on the averages of a single person living and renting in downtown Montreal (while trying to have any kind of life).
Housing = $1,551 per month
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Numbeo averages the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Montreal at $1,387.
But that cost doesn’t include hydro or internet. Considering heating, hot water, and Instagram are equally important, we’re going to average Numbeo’s basic utility averages as well.
Toss on an average of $102 for basic utilities and another $62 for internet, according to Numbeo, and the total spikes up to $1,551.
Phone = $65 per month
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Gone are the glory days of having a home phone. You know, a phone that answered and made calls, sometimes kept voice messages, and that’s it.
These days, even though service providers dangle $35 per month deals in front of us, usage charges usually hover around the $65 per month range, according to PlanHub’s Quebec averages.
And since we’re looking at minimum costs, $65 is being lenient — too much YouTube-watching on the bus can make these monthly costs skyrocket.
Transportation = $90 per month
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We’re going to hold off on buying/leasing cars and renting taxis/Ubers for this one.
Many downtowners know that Montreal is small enough to generally walk from point A to B in the city’s core. Plus, when the weather gets nice, the bike paths are perfect travel alternatives.
For people who use public transit, however, Montreal has an effective and relatively inexpensive public transport system, considering you can get all over the island. Monthly passes cost $94 per month, according to the STM.
Groceries and household items = $497 per month
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Considering those $2 steamy hot dogs, yet?
Taking in Numbeo’s average Montreal prices for the basic market items being purchased once a week comes to a total monthly average of $497 for a single, early 30-year-old on a basic diet.
That includes all the basics: milk, bread, eggs, chicken, beef, apples, bananas, lettuce, and rice — along with meat, cheese, and wine/beer.
We’ll hold off on the May Wests and Froot Loops, for now.
Entertainment and dining out = $240 per month
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One of the most exciting things about living downtown is you can walk to any and every bar or restaurant in the area. Of course, this can also be the downfall to your savings.
According to Numbeo, the average price of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant is $90 – a figure that seems pretty low, especially considering the cost of booze. To make it more realistic, add another $30 to the tab and assume the lowest you’ll pay is roughly $120 if you want a drink.
And that’s for just one night out.
Realistically, a month includes at least one dinner, a brunch or two, some food delivery apps, and a couple of movie nights. You’re looking at a minimum of $240 per month, and that’s if you’re forcing yourself to stay in most nights (you are paying over $1,400 a month for an apartment, so why not stay in?)
Partying = $120 per month
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Because the party never really stops, we’re giving this its own category. Heading out for a drink (or seven) keeps many downtown dwellers sane and it’s one expense we happily choose to cover.
On average, expect to fork out $10 per drink in downtown Montreal, including a tip. And since there are generally four weekends per month, if we average going out one night per weekend (again, important for staying sane), and having two to three drinks per outing, we’re looking at $90 to $120 at least.
Bottle service is not included. (Nor is your late-night poutine.)
Health and fitness = $43 per month
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One of the major attractive features for many living in Montreal is the healthy lifestyle the city offers. From the multitude of gyms, spin classes, and yoga studios, there’s no shortage of options to stay in shape.
According to Numbeo, fitness clubs average $43 per month for adults in Montreal.
Coffee (not from your home) = $40 per month
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We wouldn’t be true downtown residents without supporting our local coffee shops, and there are so many gems to choose from — sorry, Starbucks.
Keeping the coffee purchases minimal (sans fancy sprinkly drinks), just a large coffee here, and an Americano there ($3), it adds up to about $4o monthly for the nectar of the caffeine gods.
Extras = $125 per month
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Sticking to the bare minimum, and not counting what most of us would consider essentials (think haircuts and clothes), there are often unexpected extra costs that come up. From a broken phone screen to suddenly needing a space heater, we’re filing these as monthly “extra” miscellaneous costs.
We’re going to average this to about $125 a month.
The Grand Total
So what does this look like when it all adds up? Way too real, that’s what:
Housing/Utilities: $1,551
Phone: $65
Transportation: $90
Groceries/Household Items: $497
Dining Out: $240
Partying: $120
Health and Fitness: $43
Coffee: $40
Extras: $125
Total: $2,771 per month/ $33,252 annually
Considering Numbeo averages a monthly Montreal salary at $3,796 (after taxes) that leaves an average of $1,000 a month to be split between paying off credit cards, school debt, and a mythical bank account called “savings.”
In other words, if you’re a single, young adult looking to live alone in downtown Montreal, it can get pretty expensive, and moving in with significant others or roommates is not a bad idea.
Or, you can seriously consider those $2 Belle Pro hot dogs.
These numbers are accurate as of September 2022.
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