Dump truck full of crushed concrete rolls over on I-90 in Hoffman Estates

Think a $40K salary is enough to live in Montreal? That’s actually the bare minimum

<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/montreal-metro-at-place-des-arts-subway-station-montreal-quebec-canada.jpg?id=60067703&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C12%2C0%2C12"/><br/><br/><p>Thinking of living solo in Montreal? You'll want to take a close look at your income, because even just getting by isn't cheap.</p><p>According to a <a href="https://iris-recherche.qc.ca/publications/revenu-viable-2025/" target="_blank">new report from the Institut de recherche et d’informations socioéconomiques (IRIS)</a>, the minimum after-tax income needed to live with dignity in Montreal has jumped to $40,084 (after tax) in 2025. That's a 4.2% increase from last year and reflects the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-rent" target="_blank">rising cost of housing</a>, food, and basic essentials.</p><p>To be clear, this number doesn't reflect luxury — it's just what IRIS considers the minimum to avoid poverty without relying on food banks or skipping rent.</p><p><span style="background-color: initial;">While Montreal's viable income requirements are among the highest in the province, other cities also reflect the growing cost of living:</span><span></span></p><ul><li><strong>Gatineau</strong>: Single individual requires $42,110 (up 9.5% from 2024)</li><li><strong>Quebec City</strong>: Single individual requires $35,872</li><li><strong>Sherbrooke</strong>: Single individual requires $33,878</li><li><strong>Saguenay</strong>: Single individual requires $32,077</li><li><strong>Trois-Rivières</strong>: Single individual requires $31,696</li></ul> <p>In Montreal, housing costs are the biggest factor driving the increase. IRIS points out that recurring rent hikes continue to outpace inflation, making it harder for low-income residents to keep up.</p><p>It's even tougher for families. To meet the revenue threshold in Montreal, a couple with two kids in daycare would need to earn at least $85,200 after taxes. Meanwhile, a single parent with one child needs to take home at least $52,285 after tax. With 18% of Quebecers living below that income line, IRIS argues that <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-minimum-wage-2025-may" target="_blank">Quebec's current minimum wage</a><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-minimum-wage-2025-may">s current minimum wage</a> and income supports fall short of ensuring a decent standard of living.</p><p>For context, the province's minimum wage was just <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-minimum-wage-2025-may" target="_blank">raised to $16.10 an hour</a>, which equates to an annual gross income of about $33,000.</p><p>Some good news? <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/stm-montreal-price-increase-2025" target="_blank">Transportation costs</a> for drivers have dipped slightly due to lower gas prices. But overall, the rising cost of living is still outpacing wage growth — especially for renters and single earners.</p><p>IRIS releases its liveable income report annually as a way to highlight income needs in real terms, city by city. It's often used by community groups, researchers, and policymakers to push for wage increases and stronger public services.</p><p>You can view the full report and breakdown by city at <a href="https://iris-recherche.qc.ca/publications/revenu-viable-2025/" target="_blank">iris-recherche.qc.ca</a>.</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p> <p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>