Traditionally, Montreal is an inexpensive city to call home when it comes to the cost of living.

According to Numbeo, a website that compares the cost of living in cities around the world, the average monthly expenses for a single person’s costs in Montreal is just over $2,350 a month (rent included).

But those numbers include a budget for entertainment and dining out, gym memberships, and miscellaneous socializing.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has pretty much frozen everything in citizen’s day-to-day routines, we’ve readjusted the numbers to include only rent, cell phone bills/internet, and groceries.

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Especially during a time of the uncertain economy and idle workplaces, here’s an average of how much Montrealers should be spending on the three big essentials during the coronavirus pandemic.

Housing = $1,365.27 per month

Numbeo averages the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Montreal at $1.302.07.

We’ll keep the utilities bill out of this one since Hydro-Québec announced financial measures for its customers.

Numbeo concluded a medium average of $63.20 a month for internet services bringing Montrealer’s average monthly housing bill to $1,365.27.

Phone = $65 per month

With major cell phone companies announcing a freeze of overage charges during the quarantine, an average monthly billing of $65 a month seems reasonable and is in line with PlanHub’s Quebec averages.

Groceries and household items = $299.92 per month

Taking in Numbeo’s average Montreal prices for the basic market items, being purchased once a week, comes to a total monthly average of $299.92 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.

We’ll hold off on panic-buying too much toilet paper — for now.

The Grand Total

On average, Montrealers’ monthly bills are as follows:

Housing & Internet: $1,365.27
Phone: $65.00
Groceries/Household Items: $299.92

Total: $1,730.19 per month

According to Numbeo’s numbers (which were posted pre-pandemic), a single Montreal should expect to pay $1,730.19 a month towards essential bills while in quarantine.

Transportation, entertainment, socializing, and extras*

According to Numbeo, transportation, entertainment, socializing, and extra costs add up to $624.90 a month, which haven’t been added to the quarantine budget.*

Those usual costs include monthly STM passes at $86.50 per month, $215 for entertainment and dining out, $120 for partying/socializing, a $40 monthly coffee budget, $38.40 for health and fitness, and $125 for miscellaneous costs.

For reference, the average Montrealer was spending $2,355.09 (rent included) a month pre-quarantine, according to Numbeo.

Montrealers who are out of work as a result of the coronavirus can visit Quebec’s Temporary Aid for Workers Program website for information on how to apply for financial aid.