How much do you need to earn to live in Montreal? We calculate the gross monthly salary required to cover rent, food, transport, and utilities — accounting for Canada's tax system.
You need at least $3,026/month gross to live in Montreal on a budget.
For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for $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
1-bedroom second-hand 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
See all 6 neighborhoods, detailed expense breakdowns, and savings projections.
Explore MontrealEnter your actual salary to see your take-home pay, affordable neighborhoods, and savings potential.
Open calculatorWe total monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then reverse-calculate the gross salary needed to cover those expenses after Canada's income tax and social contributions. Rent data comes from second-hand market listings (what expats actually pay). All figures are based on 2026 data from official government statistics. See our data sources for full attribution.
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.