Cost of Living

One of Greater Montréal’s assets is unquestionably its affordable cost of living. Whether for accommodation, food, clothing, medical care or raising a family, costs in Montréal are far less than in other major cities. 

• The Québec health system is based on the principle of universality, thus ensuring free basic medical care to every resident in the province.
• Public education is also free of charge from kindergarten to college, in both French and English. Greater Montréal also has four first-class universities where tuition fees are among the lowest in North America.
• The metropolitan area also benefits from daycare fees that are among the lowest in North America.
• Montréal is one of the large cities in the world that offers the most affordable prices according to Prices and Earnings: A Comparison of Purchasing Power Around the Globe, a study conducted by the Union des Banques Suisses (2008).
• Compared with other major cities in North America and Europe, Montréal is one of the few metropolitan areas in the world where the cost of housing remains affordable. Housing prices in many American cities are double those in Montréal.
• The metropolis ranks 1st in Canada for its low housing prices and apartment rentals (CMHC, 2008).