Average and Median Income in Montreal

Montreal is Canada’s second-largest city and Quebec’s economic engine. Its 2020 median household income was $65,500, against $85,000 in Toronto and $87,000 in Calgary, and housing costs and extensive government-subsidized services are part of the comparison.

Household income data on this page is from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census, Focus on Geography Series, which reports median after-tax household income by Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) for the 2020 reference year — the most recent year Statistics Canada has published this figure at the city level. For the province-wide figure, see our Quebec income guide.

Median household income in Montreal

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Focus on Geography Series, “Median after-tax income of households,” Montréal (CMA), 2015 to 2020 (2020 constant dollars).

Montreal’s median household income in 2020 was 12.9% higher than in 2015; the national median was 9.8% higher than in 2015. Montreal’s 2020 median of $65,500 compares with the national figure of $73,000. For a more recent (but differently defined) figure, Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey puts the median after-tax income of economic families and unattached individuals combined at $70,100 for Montreal in 2024. Quebec’s province-wide figure on the same basis was $68,800; see our Quebec income guide for that figure.

Income vs. housing affordability in Montreal

Montreal’s real estate board (QPAREB) publishes median prices by property type, not an average or an MLS HPI benchmark, so the price above is a single third-party estimate and the ratio is approximate. It also compares a 2020 household income figure to an August 2026 home price, so read it as directional. On this measure Montreal’s ratio is lower than Toronto’s, lower than Vancouver’s, higher than Calgary’s and higher than Edmonton’s.

How Montreal compares to other major cities

Prices are each board’s own published measure where one exists: an average (all sales divided by the number of sales) for Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa. Neither Montreal’s board nor Nova Scotia’s publishes a city-level average or benchmark, so the Montreal and Halifax figures are single third-party estimates and only approximate.

Use our mortgage affordability calculator to see what you can afford on a Montreal income today.

Key industries driving Montreal income

• Aerospace — Montreal is Canada’s aerospace capital, home to Bombardier, CAE, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Bell Textron Canada (formerly Bell Helicopter). The sector employs tens of thousands of people.
• Artificial intelligence — Anchored by Mila (the Quebec AI Institute), Montreal has attracted major AI investment from international tech companies.
• Video games — Ubisoft Montreal, EA, Warner Bros. Games, and dozens of indie studios make Montreal a major game development hub in Canada.
• Financial services — National Bank, Desjardins Group, Caisse de dépôt, and a strong insurance sector.
• Life sciences and pharma — Major pharmaceutical companies and research institutions.
• Film and VFX — Growing production industry supported by Quebec tax credits.

Quebec’s tax impact on Montreal income

Montreal residents pay Quebec’s taxes and receive significant services in return:

Costs:

• Provincial income tax rates up to 25.75% (2026)
• QST of 9.975% (combined with the 5% GST for 14.975% in total)
• Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) contributions, a separate plan from CPP

Offsetting benefits:

• Subsidized childcare — Quebec’s low-cost educational childcare program meaningfully reduces family costs compared to most other provinces
• Lower university tuition for Quebec residents than most other provinces
• Comprehensive prescription drug coverage through RAMQ
• Generous parental leave through QPIP

Calculate your Montreal take-home pay with our income tax calculator.

Rental affordability in Montreal

Per the CMHC Rental Market Survey (October 2025), the average 1-bedroom rent in purpose-built structures of six or more units in Montreal was $1,200/month. The vacancy rate for those buildings was 3.3% in October 2025 (against 2.5% a year earlier). See our Montreal rental market page for the full breakdown, and our rent affordability calculator for a personalized estimate.

Income trends in Montreal

• 2015–2018: Montreal’s unemployment rate fell from 8.4% in 2015 to 6.1% in 2018, its lowest annual rate in the Labour Force Survey series back to 2001 up to then (the previous low was 7.1% in 2007). The AI sector’s emergence brought international attention and investment.
• 2019 — Montreal’s economy diversified further, with gaming, aerospace, and AI all contributing to income growth
• 2020–2021 — The pandemic hit Montreal’s tourism, hospitality, and arts sectors hard, but tech, gaming, and government employment provided stability
• 2022–2025: Continued growth in AI investment and the gaming industry, alongside a rising population through immigration.

Related tools and resources

• Montreal Mortgage Rates — Find the best mortgage rates
• Montreal Housing Market — Current home prices and trends
• Montreal Rental Market — Current average rents and vacancy rates
• Income Percentile Calculator — See where your income ranks
• Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your Quebec income tax
• Salary Calculator — Calculate your Quebec after-tax pay
• Mortgage Affordability Calculator — How much home can you afford