Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Montreal is 16% cheaper than Edinburgh based on our cost of living index. Montreal has a COLI of 52.1, while Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1. 16% cheaper
Overall, Montreal is approximately 16% cheaper than Edinburgh based on our cost of living index. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1 (ranked #41 of 182 cities), while Montreal has a COLI of 52.1 (ranked #53).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Edinburgh averages $1,300/month compared to $1,400/month in Montreal. That makes Edinburgh approximately 7% cheaper for rent alone.
Edinburgh has lower total deductions (25.1%) compared to Montreal (36.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Edinburgh. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn £56,476 in Edinburgh, you would need approximately C$85,192 in Montreal to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 16% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Edinburgh (GBP) | Montreal (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | £84,172 | C$126,970 |
| Software Engineer | £39,748 | C$59,958 |
| Product Manager | £46,762 | C$70,539 |
| Lawyer | £46,762 | C$70,539 |
| Data Scientist | £44,424 | C$67,012 |
| Marketing Manager | £33,669 | C$50,788 |
| Teacher | £22,446 | C$33,859 |
| Nurse | £27,122 | C$40,913 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| New Town | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Old Town | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Stockbridge | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Dean Village | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Morningside | 1.10x (+10%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Westmount | 1.30x (+30%) |
| Old Montreal | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Outremont | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Plateau Mont-Royal | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Griffintown | 1.15x (+15%) |
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Open Salary ConverterEdinburgh is more expensive overall. Edinburgh has a COLI of 62.1 while Montreal has a COLI of 52.1, making Montreal approximately 16% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as £56,476 in Edinburgh, you would need approximately C$85,192 in Montreal.
Average one-bedroom rent in Edinburgh is $1,300/month compared to $1,400/month in Montreal. Edinburgh has lower rent by approximately 7%.
Edinburgh has lower total deductions (25.1%) compared to Montreal (36.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Edinburgh.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.