Montreal now most expensive city in Quebec for family of four: income study

Montreal has now become the most expensive city in Quebec to raise a family.

That’s according to a study published by the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS) that shows what someone must earn to have a living income to escape poverty.

A living income, according to IRIS, is one that allows for adequate housing, a varied diet, transportation and money for vacations, cultural outings, as well as to save for unexpected events and education.

In Montreal, a living income for a family of four is just over $88,800 after taxes, a 4.2 per cent jump from last year. That makes it more expensive to live in than Sept-Îles, where two vehicles are required to meet household needs. IRIS began publishing its annual report in 2015.

“The first time since 2015, Montreal is the most expensive for two adults and two children,” said Eve-Lyne Couturier, the IRIS researcher who authored the study. “The cost of housing is so high that it trumps the cost of having two cars in Sept-Îles. So that was one of our big realizations this year. It’s the first time that it happens, and we saw that it was getting higher and higher year after year.

“It’s getting so expensive that it’s very hard for families to build a life in Montreal.”

The IRIS study also shows that the living income after taxes for a single person in Montreal is just over $41,500, an increase of 3.7 per cent compared to last year.

“Right now everything is expensive,” said Montrealer Murad Hossain. “Most expensive is house, apartment and the food.”

The report comes as the minimum wage is set to increase in Quebec to $16.60 per hour on May 1. A minimum wage salary would allow a Montrealer to earn about two-thirds of what IRIS defines as a living income.

“It’s about time that the minimum wage would start at a more respectable level. It’s been quite stagnant,” said Adrienne Johnson.

“I sincerely believe that cost of living has increased dramatically. It’s just been relentless in terms of the increases, inflation.”

“Four years ago, I had a three-and-a-half and I paid $800. Now it’s $1,400,” added Maxim Couillard.

“I go to the grocery shop, I buy four things, and my bill is like more than $100. And it’s crazy,” said Maham Ahmad.

Couturier suggests better wages, as well as more initiatives to decrease living expenses, would allow more people to have access to a living income.

“We need to work on out of market housing,” she said. “We need to work on public transit. We need to work on lowering the food cost for the majority of the population. Some people are talking about public food stores, public groceries. Those are solutions that we can put in place that would affect the people living around poverty but would also help middle class and the whole population of Quebec.”