Montrealers have nothing to envy in Toronto
If one considers the gross hourly wage, it is true that it is slightly higher in Toronto ($ 13.10) compared to Montreal ($ 12.90). But it is the net salary (after taxes) that matters, it is identical in the two cities at $ 9.80.
At least this is indicated by the latest international survey on wages and prices in 73 cities conducted by the Swiss bank UBS.
Another misconception is that Montrealers are more heavily taxed than Torontonians. Well, no. According to UBS, taxes and social contributions of Montreal accounted for 24% of their gross salary, compared to 25% in Toronto. Even excluding rents, which are lower in Montreal, the net purchasing power of Montrealers is higher than in Toronto. It corresponds to an index of 78.5 in Montreal, according to UBS, while the index is 75.3 in Toronto.
In 1976, Montreal had an index of purchasing power of 101 and Toronto, 109.
Article translated from: Les Affaires