Townleap

Cost of Living: Montreal vs Perth (2026)

Canada vs Australia — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Montreal
Perth
$1309/mo
Rent
$1821/mo
78/100
Livability
68/100
83/100
Safety
92/100
85/100
Healthcare
86/100
3 yr
PR path
112 Mbps
Internet
Freelance setup
Sole Proprietorship
  • VAT-free under €20k
  • 12% social
  • €800/yr accountant
WiseStripe
Sole Trader with ABN
  • VAT-free under €46k
  • €600/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated April 2026

TL;DRMontreal is 28% cheaper on rent ($1309/mo vs $1821/mo). Perth is safer — homicide rate 0.8 vs 2.3 per 100k. Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
Montreal scores 78 to Perth's 68 on livability — the gap is real. Perth has its charms, but the numbers favor Montreal.
Household
Montreal
Metric
Perth
$1309/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$616/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$611/mo
$4,288
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
2.3 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
33 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
25°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
-10°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
112 Mbps
Internet speed
11 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
5.3 μg/m³
8.7 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.8 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
100/100
$65k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
2.4% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
3.2% · Boringly steady
78 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
68 / 100
92/100 — Reliable
Grid reliability
97/100
🗽
Freedom House
3 years
📋
Time to PR
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated April 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Montreal
$512/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Perth
0.8 homicides per 100k
☀️
Weather
25°C vs 29°C summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

47% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
78% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.7h
Shortest day
Dec
14.2h
15.7h
Longest day
Jun
10.1h

Sun clocks out early in Montreal's winter. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

declining
Democracy trend
stable
improving
Inflation trend
improving
aigamingaerospacepharma
Industries
hub
Startup ecosystem
92/100
Grid reliability
3 yrs
Time to PR
Easy
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Moderate
UA visa
Partner can work immediately
Spouse works
Recognized (1+ yr)
common-law partner / conjoint de fait
Partner pathway

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
Gestational limit
24 wk

No legal gestational limit. Fully decriminalized since 1988.

Legal in all states/territories; gestational limits vary by state (16-24 weeks on request).

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

78/100
Rainbow Index
78/100
Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Source: Rainbow Europe (ILGA-Europe)

The Short Version

  • Rent is 28% cheaper in Montreal ($1309/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Perth (29°C vs 25°C).
  • Perth is safer by homicide rate (0.8 vs 2.3 per 100k).

Montreal vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Montreal cheaper than Perth?

Montreal is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1309/month in Montreal vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Montreal or Perth?

Perth is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Montreal has a rate of 2.27 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Montreal or Perth?

Montreal scores 78 to Perth's 68 on livability — the gap is real. Perth has its charms, but the numbers favor Montreal. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Montreal or Perth?

Montreal: Canada Express Entry (complex process, Permanent residence). Perth: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Montreal or Perth?

Perth is warmer in summer (29°C vs 25°C). Montreal has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Montreal vs Perth?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1309/month in Montreal, $1821/month in Perth (Numbeo). That's 28% cheaper rent in Montreal.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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