Cost of living comparison

compared to

Rochester vs. Montreal Cost of Living Summary

Rochester is 49.4% more expensive than Montreal.

Restaurants
pay 29.9% more in Rochester
Groceries
pay 4.1% more in Rochester
Transportation
pay 2.8% less in Rochester
Housing
pay 43.7% more in Rochester
Childcare
pay 3.8 times more in Rochester
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.4% more in Rochester
Clothing
pay 24.4% less in Rochester

The cost of childcare, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Rochester are more expensive than in Montreal. Expenses including clothing and transportation are lower in Rochester. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Rochester.

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Rochester vs. Montreal Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Rochester instead of Montreal, you would:

pay 29.9% more for restaurants

 
Montreal
Rochester
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.93
CA$25.54
$25.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
 $11.48
CA$16.35
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.97
CA$2.81
$3.29
 
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pay 4.1% more for groceries

 
Montreal
Rochester
Bread
1 loaf
 $2.92
CA$4.16
$3.01
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.37
CA$10.50
$5.49
 
Milk (1 gallon) $8.70
CA$12.39
$3.61
 
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pay 2.8% less for transportation

 
Montreal
Rochester
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.27
CA$6.09
$3.35
 
Monthly public transit pass $74.95
CA$106.78
$42.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $24,369.83
CA$34,718.48
$36,344.69
 
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pay 43.7% more for housing

 
Montreal
Rochester
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
 $41.37
CA$58.94
$58.66
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,201.35
CA$1,711.50
$1,462.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $961.99
CA$1,370.49
$1,132.00
 
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pay 3.8 times more for childcare

 
Montreal
Rochester
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $518.92
CA$739.28
$1,356.50
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $5,750.83
CA$8,192.92
$29,200.00
 
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pay 10.4% more for entertainment and sports

 
Montreal
Rochester
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.74
CA$8.17
$4.25
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.76
CA$5.36
$5.00
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
 $12.19
CA$17.37
$15.00
 
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pay 24.4% less for clothing

 
Montreal
Rochester
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
 $58.20
CA$82.91
$40.71
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
 $43.37
CA$61.79
$33.30
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
 $102.59
CA$146.16
$84.47
 
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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: October 2026

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