Hello people from the Lemmyverse.
This September I will move out to Montreal for a Ph.D. Internship program that lasts until December. I have searched the costs of living but much of the content is outdated and not trusty enough for my taste.
How much should I expect to pay in Rent, Groceries, Transportation and in a Gym membership? Given that I will be there for work, I will not make tourism in anywhere fancy or expensive, I hope.
What I am most worried is the costs of rent. I am ok in sharing a place, not a room, with a bunch of people - needing only to be cheap.
My total budget is between 1400~1800 CAD per month.
If anyone can help me with that, I would be glad. Thanks :)
Depends entirely what area you’re in. Public transit passes tend to be $100-$150 per month, depending what zones you’re going. More on that here.
Gym memberships can typically be $40-$70 per month, which will, again, depend on your area.
Groceries and rent are really what vary the most, and are the hardest to answer, especially when you’re just looking for a room. You won’t be able to find a 3 1/2 for less than $750-800 (and that’s far from the city,) but finding a room for $500-600 a month (nothing included) is a bit easier, if you put in the research and time.
For groceries, if you decide to hit up places like IGA, you can easily spend $150 to fill up just a grocery bag or two. If you can get to a Sami’s Fruits, however, you can walk away with a full shopping cart of produce for that much.
I haven’t lived in or near the city in years, as I’m in the west suburbs right now, but from what I can pull and what I can adjust for inflation, you may have something that looks like that.
Your best bet is to make as many new friends as possible with punks, hippies, and the rest of the misfits - they’ve always got the best spots with the cheapest things.
I will be far from IGA and closer to Sami’s Fruit, for sure. I was thinking to live in the suburbs. The worst places to live in Montreal is incredibly cozy for my standards.
And, yeah, will try to make friends with the punks and co. Wish they accept me with my rusty français