What is MovingWaldo?
MovingWaldo is a one-stop-shop that simplifies tackling moving tasks
Easily compare multiple quotes
Guided through a checklist
Get up to speed on the new deals
Update your address in a few clicks
Are you a company or real estate professional?
Timing is everything, connect with people weeks before they move
Become a trusted vendor in your service area
Extend your customer relationship with your own branded moving platform
Suppose you’re considering relocating to a cosmopolitan city on the eastern side of Canada. In that case, only one question must have popped into your mind. Living in Montreal vs. Toronto: Where Should You Live? The brief answer is that, when it comes to making money, Toronto is the finest city with a population of 2,731,571. Montreal, on the other hand, has a population of 1,704,694. The largest francophone metropolis in North America is more laid-back and relaxing, with a distinctly European feel thanks to the tremendous cultural influence in the city.
Moving to a new city can be one of the hardest decisions of your life. Our comparison guide will help you make the right choice for you between living in Montreal vs. Toronto.
Compare multiple moving quotes calculated across the same metrics
The public transit in Montreal is known as Société de transport de Montréal (STM). Whereas public transit in Toronto is known as Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). If you heavily rely on public transit for your daily commute, it’s important that you know the cost of public transit in Montreal vs. the cost of public transit in Toronto.
Keep scrolling to see all you need to know about these transits and their fares.
The Société de transport de Montréal is a government-owned corporation that runs transit bus and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The subway has been expanded to include four lines with 68 stations, more than 186 bus routes, and 23-night services. It is the most critical urban mass transit system in Canada and one of the largest rapid transit networks in North America.
Here are all the essential fares that you can consider while traveling within Montreal.
BUS AND METRO FARES IN MONTREAL
TRANSIT-FARES | REGULAR FARE | 6-11 YEARS OLD 12-17 YEARS OLD | STUDENTS 18 YEARS OLD AND OVER | 65 YEARS OLD AND OVER |
1 trip | $3.50 | $2.50 | – | $1 |
1-day pass | $10 | – | – | – |
Weekly pass | $28 | $16.75 | – | $8.50 |
Monthly pass | $90.50 | $54 | $54 | $27 |
(*STM)
What Are the Subway Opening Hours in Montreal?
The metro operates daily between 5:30 am to 1 am. On Saturdays, the metro operates until 1:30 am. The exact times vary by station.
TTC or Toronto Transit Commission runs three modes; subway, streetcars, and buses. The subway is served by two major lines. The Yellow Line (from northern Yonge Street to Union Station, back north once again) and Green Line (beginning in the Etobicoke neighborhood and running through Central Toronto to the Scarborough district).
Checkout the table below to find out the average cost of public transportation in Toronto.
BUS AND METRO
|
TRANSIT-FARES |
REGULAR FARE |
STUDENTS (18+) |
YOUTH (13-19 YEARS OLD) AND SENIOR (65+) |
|
1 trip |
$3.25 |
– |
$2.30 |
|
1-day pass |
$13.50 |
– |
– |
|
Monthly pass |
$156 |
$128.15 |
$128.15 |
Note: There is no fee for children between the ages of 12 and under.
(*TTC)
What Are the Subway Opening Hours in Toronto?
The metro operates daily between 6 am to 2 am Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, the metro operates between 8 am to 2 am. The exact time varies by station.
We can see that public transit is cheaper in Montreal compared to Toronto. If you pick Montreal, traveling from one place to another won’t be an issue. The STM has a solid network efficiency. However, Toronto does provide an added advantage of making traveling free of cost for children under 12. So, if you decide to move to Toronto and have kids, you can save money through this. TTC is trying to catch up gradually but for now, STM is more organized and has longer rapid transit system lengths.
Groceries include items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, and others. Here is the average cost of groceries in Montreal and the average cost of groceries in Toronto for a few items.
Average Cost Of Groceries In Montreal | Average Cost Of Groceries In Toronto | ||
Items (1 kg) | Prices | Items (1 kg) | Prices |
Milk (1 Liter) | $2.51 | Milk (1 Liter) | $3.90 |
Loaf of bread | $3.49 | Loaf of bread | $2.84 |
Rice | $2.98 | Rice | $3.57 |
Dozen Eggs | $3.35 | Dozen Eggs | $3.40 |
Local Cheese | $16.29 | Local Cheese | $13.64 |
Chicken | $14.40 | Chicken | $13.58 |
Beef round | $19.43 | Beef round | $16.41 |
Apple | $3.94 | Apple | $4.14 |
Banana | $1.92 | Banana | $1.60 |
Orange | $4.35 | Orange | $3.65 |
Tomatoes | $2.39 | Tomatoes | $3.66 |
Potatoes | $2.39 | Potatoes | $2.92 |
Onions | $2.66 | Onions | $2.50 |
Head of Lettuce | $2.55 | Head of Lettuce | $2.46 |
Water Bottle 1.5L | $1.95 | Water Bottle 1.5L | $2.23 |
Grocery for 1 person | $350 per month. | Grocery for 1 person | $283.60 per month. |
As a result, the cost of groceries for one person living in Montreal is more expensive than the cost of groceries for one person living in Toronto.
When it comes to entertainment in Montreal vs. Toronto, each has its fair share of amusements for its inhabitants. So, let’s review it one by one:
Montreal is filled with history. Walking through the Old Port of Montreal, you’ll get to see cobbled streets and historical monuments. French cafés are also scattered throughout the town providing a lovely way to spend an afternoon. There are also multiple street fairs throughout the year that offer music, food and drink to take in.
Montreal takes the lead when it comes to sightseeing. If you are looking to be in nature outside of the town, there are several hiking trails and nature parks just beyond it. With Mount-Royal in the middle of the city, it is much easier to take a hike during the middle of the day compared to Toronto. Moreover, if you are a nature lover, Montreal Biodome is one of the most beautiful indoor zoos and aquariums you’ll ever visit. You can experience the greenery and humidity of its tropical rainforest in the depths of winter.
Toronto is famous for its high-rise buildings and skyscrapers. Numerous walking tours will take you through the city at eye level from several hundred meters up. The breathtaking sights and sounds of the towering structures, like the CN Tower, don’t stop once the sun sets.
Excursions up the Humber River and fine dining on the picturesque Humber River are also some of the favorite activities of people living in Toronto. Moreover, the biggest city in Canada is never devoid of activity throughout the year, owing to a variety of festivals held in the city like the Toronto International Film Festival, Ashkenaz Festival of Yiddish Culture, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, etc.
Cost Of Entertainment In Montreal | Cost Of Entertainment In Toronto |
The cost of keeping yourself amused in Montreal is not all that expensive. When you narrow down your search to only the essentials, the average expense of entertainment throughout the city of Montreal is as follows:
Now let’s consider the average cost. Suppose you purchase 4 beers, 1 restaurant visit with friends, visit the cinema twice, and consume 4 regular restaurant meals each month. In that case, it will cost you $170. | Entertainment is what makes living in Toronto a joy! The cost of entertainment throughout Toronto is as follows:
Now let’s consider the average cost. For example, you may spend $230 on yourself if you have had 4 beers, a restaurant trip with friends, seen the cinema twice, and eaten four regular restaurant meals every month. |
Consequently, you will get to do more at less cost in Montreal, whereas entertainment in Toronto is a little expensive.
At the time when cities were denser, walkable places, Montreal was Canada’s largest city. It has hundreds of thousands of prewar triplex and walk-up apartment buildings with stunning and affordable housing. All these provide an attractive and affordable experience for almost a century.
As for Toronto, when you stroll about much of the city, you’ll notice a suburban streetscape with two- and three-story detached homes divided into tiny apartments. Pockmarked by gray concrete high-rises and glass luxury condo towers that most people cannot afford to live in.
In the table below, you’ll find a chart that displays the average cost of housing in Montreal, including various apartment types, as well as their rents and expenditures in three critical zones of Montreal.
City District | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 + Bedroom |
Montreal CMA | $1038 | $1360 | $1665 | $2095 |
Cotes-des-Neiges | $1045 | $1210 | $1650 | $1700 |
Notre-Dame-De-Grace | $1050 | $1297 | $1525 | $1900 |
Verdun/Lasalle | $850 | $1125 | $1750 | $1892 |
Plateau-Mont-Royal | $1098 | $1254 | $1851 | $2953 |
Rosemont/La Petite-Patrie | $1046 | $1109 | $1615 | $2272 |
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve | $1053 | $1325 | $1220 | $1550 |
Villeray/Parc-Extension | $1052 | $1600 | $1925 | $2087 |
How Much Is a House in Montreal?
The average price of a house in Montreal is $512,400.
The following is a table summarizing the cost of housing in Toronto, including various apartment types and pricing.
City District | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 + Bedroom |
Liberty Village | $1400 | $1850 | $2500 | $4700 |
Kensington | – | $1525 | $2350 | $2400 |
Parkdale | $1295 | $1563 | $2099 | $2897 |
Yorkville | $1525 | $2069 | $3600 | $7800 |
Runnymede | – | $1498 | $2200 | $3525 |
Riverdale | $1550 | $1915 | $2450 | $4025 |
The Beaches | $1288 | $1695 | $2450 | $3850 |
East Danforth | $1295 | $1550 | $1860 | $3250 |
Even if rent prices have risen in Montreal over the last decade, they are still only two-thirds of what they are in Toronto. Housing in Montreal is still cheaper compared to the housing in Toronto.
How Much Is a House in Toronto?
The average price of a house in Toronto is $1,172,900.
Montreal and Toronto offer the same number of opportunities. Both cities are home to high-tech (particularly cybersecurity and AI), financial services/fintech, live sciences/healthcare technologies, and fashion/retail businesses.
In the field of artificial intelligence, Montreal is comparable to Toronto. A large number of software and fintech firms can be found in both cities. For example, Facebook AI Research (FAIR) has a lab in Montreal, as do Google Brain, Microsoft Research, and DeepMind.
Here is a list of all the top professions and their average salary.
Average salary | Montreal | Toronto |
Physician | $92,585 | $89,224 |
Teacher | $37,889 | $40,439 |
Software Engineer | $52,127 | $57,673 |
Hardware Engineer | $62,004 | $62,548 |
Lawyer | $57,629 | $72,036 |
Sales Manager | $54,183 | $59,519 |
Architect | $52,066 | $47,727 |
Accountant | $40,054 | $44,617 |
Fashion Designer | $32,528 | $39,376 |
Chef | $28,620 | $31,969 |
(*Teleport Toronto & * Montreal)
Looking at the table below, you see that the cost of living in Toronto is more expensive, being the biggest city. Housing, insurance, transportation, entertainment, and communication costs are higher in Toronto. However, Montreal imposes higher provincial taxes because of additional services offered by the provincial government to the residents. Even so, in the end, the cost of living in Montreal is cheaper than Toronto.
Category | Montreal | Toronto |
Housing | $1285 / Month for a 1-bedroom apartment | $1708 / Month For a 1-bedroom apartment |
Housing Utilities and Insurance | $160 / Month | $215 / Month |
Transportation | $90.50 / Month (STM) | $156 / Month (TCC Pass) |
Car Insurance | $717 / Year | $1528 |
Entertainment | $170 / Month | $230 |
Grocery Cost for 1 Person | $350 / Month | $283.60 |
Communication (Phone and Internet) | $65 Unlimited talk, text, and data included | $80 Unlimited talk, text, and data included |
Health and Fitness | $35 for the membership | $55 for the membership |
Provincial Taxes | About 14.975% | About 13% |
In people’s minds, the biggest difference between the two metropolises is that they evoke very different images. While Toronto is modern, tall, and appeals to Americans, Montreal is considered more traditional, cultural, and European in nature. Moreover, the first language spoken in Montreal and in the province of Quebec is French. However, they are two cosmopolitan and dynamic cities to live in.
Lifestyle | Neighborhood |
Young Professionals and Singles | Ville-Marie, Old Montreal, Outremont and Rosemont |
Families | Griffintown, Villeray & NDG |
Students | Plateau Mont-Royal and Milton Park |
Lifestyle | Neighborhood |
Young Professionals | Yonge-Eglinton, Liberty Village and King West. |
Families | Leslieville, Allenby and Deer Park. |
Students | Harbourfront, Cabbagetown and Church-Wellesley. |
Income tax rates in Montreal (Quebec)
Applicable tax on the taxable income includes:
Income tax rates in Toronto (Ontario)
Applicable tax on the taxable income includes:
Federal tax rates
The federal tax rate is the same in Montreal and in Toronto. Applicable tax on the taxable income includes:
Sales tax rates in Montreal
There are three types of sales taxes in Canada. In the province of Quebec, they have GST as well as PST which are set at about 9.975% and 5% respectively, coming to a total of 14.975%.
Sales tax rates in Toronto
There are three types of sales taxes in Canada. In Ontario, they have HST which is set at about 13%.
Taxes are higher in Montreal compared to Toronto. However, keep in mind that the cost of living is cheaper in Montreal and services such as the educational system is cheaper in the province of Quebec.
Toronto is all about skyscrapers and the busy life of a big metropolitan city, while Montreal is on a slower pace. Being the biggest city in Canada, Toronto is also more expensive compared to Montreal. It all depends on what your preferences are, as both the cities offer tremendous opportunities to grow and make a living for yourself. Both cities have similarities, and both provide a wealth of exciting things to do and experiences you may have there. But there is a significant gap in living costs and the way of life. If you are planning to move soon, check out the 5 best moving companies in Toronto and the 5 best moving companies in Montreal.
Everything You Must Know Before Moving from Toronto to Calgary Calgary is a relatively young city that houses the financial and administrative headquarters of Canada’s petroleum industry. The city sits where the Bow River and Elbow
Living in Calgary vs. Toronto: Where Should You Live? Calgary, the third most livable city in the world, holds the title of being the Canadian city with the most sprawling architecture. It’s a small city with
Tips to Find Affordable Rental Housing in Toronto Affordable housing might be a familiar term; however, every person or organization can interpret its meaning differently. When talking about affordable housing, Toronto is one of the most
Everything You Must Know Before Moving From Toronto to Montreal Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, with over six million people. During the late 1800s, the city experienced several economic growths, where the Toronto
If you’re looking for plenty of transportation options, vibrant culture life and the best career opportunities, Toronto is for you. However, Toronto’s vast options can make moving to a new neighbourhood tricky. Here is a complete guide to finding your ideal Toronto neighbourhood.
We’ve all wondered what it’s like to live in Montreal. This city, being the second largest in Canada, has about 1,704,694 citizens.
Easily compare multiple quotes
Guided through a checklist
Get up to speed on the new deals
Update your address in a few clicks
Become a trusted vendor in your service area
MovingWaldo is a one-stop-shop that simplifies tackling moving tasks
What is MovingWaldo?
We guide millions of families through each step of their moving process, helping them save time and money, and making sure nothing gets left behind.
Comparez plusieurs devis
Guidé à travers une checklist
Mettez à jour votre adresse en quelques clics
Soyez au courant des nouvelles offres internet à domicile
Devenez un fournisseur de confiance pour desservir votre région
Prolongez la relation avec vos clients grâce à votre propre plateforme de déménagement personnalisé
Qu'est-ce que MovingWaldo ?
MovingWaldo est un guichet unique qui simplifie la planification du déménagement
Talk to our experts about your moving project.
Great ! Expect a call shortly. Our moving expert are available during business hours, Monday to Friday 9AM to 5PM EST.
Enter your promo code and update your cart.
