How much do you need to earn to live here, after Canada takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Canada's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Montreal is roughly $3,026/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think $3,956/month gross ($2,945 net after ~26% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,400 Cheapest neighborhood (Verdun) | $1,850 Median neighborhood | $2,100 Premium neighborhood (Griffintown) |
| Groceries | $450 | $540 | $675 |
| Transport | $99 | $99 | $99 |
| Utilities | $155 | $155 | $155 |
| Dining & Entertainment | $250 | $300 | $375 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | $2,354 | $2,944 | $3,404 |
$3,026/month gross
$3,956/month gross
$4,706/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 6 neighborhoods in Montreal.
Verdun
20 min by metro
$1,400 - $1,800
Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie
20 min by metro
$1,500 - $1,900
Mile End
18 min by metro
$1,600 - $2,000
Griffintown
12 min by walk
$1,900 - $2,300
Downtown
5 min by walk
$1,800 - $2,200
Plateau Mont-Royal
15 min by metro
$1,700 - $2,100
All 6 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
Explore MontrealPlug in what you'd really earn. Get your take-home pay, neighborhoods within reach, and monthly savings.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Canada's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least $3,026/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Montreal. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $3,956/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Canada.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 6 neighborhoods in Montreal is approximately $1,850/month. Rents range from $1,400 in Verdun to $2,300 in Griffintown.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Montreal cost approximately $450. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Canada are progressive. At the budget salary level of $3,026/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 22%. At the comfortable level of $3,956/month, it rises to approximately 26%. This includes income tax and social contributions.