Cost of Living in Canada

Cost of Living in Canada depends on Province and Lifestyle. Here, Living cost in Canada is listed under budget, moderate and luxury lifestyles across 10 Canadian provinces - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

Table of Content

Monthly Expenses to Consider in Canada
Highest Home Cost in Canada
Average Salary in Canada
Health Expenses in Canada
Cost of Living in Different Canadian Provinces

Living Cost in Alberta
Living Cost in British Columbia
Living Cost in Manitoba
Living Cost in Ontario
Living Cost in Quebec
Living Cost in New Brunswick
Living Cost in Newfoundland and Labrador
Living Cost in Nova Scotia
Living Cost in Prince Edward Island
Living Cost in Saskatchewan

Cost of Living in Canada
List of Cheapest Province in Canada

Canada is an amazing place to live in, especially due to its numerous opportunities in the IT and scientific world. There are also lots of other growing industries in Canada too. It’s important to check those out as the salaries are great and the living conditions are impressive.

With that in mind, we created a list with the type of expenses in Canada that you will expect. Canada is widely known for the great quality of life, so this is indeed a great place to live in.

However, knowing the Cost of living in Canada is very important. As you do want to know the complete costs before you move there.

Monthly Expenses to Consider in Canada

One thing to keep in mind is that at least in Canada, the household expenses can be around half your net salary. According to Statcan.gc.ca, Canada household spending in 2019 was $93,724 per year on average. So as you can imagine, the costs can be quite large.

Out of that number, $20,806 was shelter related, $15,417 income taxes, $13,104 transportation, $8,713 on food, $4,924 on household operations and $3,950 on recreation. These are average numbers, and they vary quite a bit based on the city. Cities like Ontario, Toronto, or Vancouver come with even higher living expenses. But then, the business opportunities are better there. It all comes down to risk and reward, and it will totally be worth it.

Electricity costs vary by province too. In Ontario for example you end up paying the higher rates. The average cost is 17.81¢/kWh in Toronto or 16.15¢/kWh in Ottawa, which is quite a lot of money. See Ontario Energy Board for electricity rate breakdown.

This is a bit high when compared to Winnipeg or Montreal which average at roughly 8.43¢/kWh. Of course, when compared to New York or San Francisco the total costs are way lower, but even so, it all depends on where you live.

If you live on the outskirts of a city or even in smaller cities, prices in Canada are lower. But you can expect higher costs depending on where you live, as we saw above.

And aside from the costs mentioned above, you also have to think about insurance fees, feeding expenses, clothes, personal care, not to mention furniture. These costs can easily add up, which is why it can be very expensive for a lot of people to actually live in Canada.

Accommodation Cost in Canada

At this time, the cost of living in Canada is highest in Toronto (Ontario) and Vancouver (British Columbia). They are in a tie when it comes to the highest living costs.

A two bedroom apartment costs CAN$1,327 per month on rental. However the average asking price is around CAN$2,252. So, the costs are extremely high.

Ontario, as well as Ottawa are coming with some very affordable options, as the monthly rental cost is CAN$1,201 in Ottawa for example. You have Montreal where the costs are basically half of what you will find in Toronto, around CAN$791.

This goes to show that the home expenses vary a lot based on where you live and other factors. You can expect high living costs all round, but with the right amount of focus and commitment, you will be just fine. Try to consider that, focus on results and the payoff alone can be second to none if you do it properly.

The benefit is that despite the higher costs, living in Canada is a lot more affordable when it comes to other cities that you can find out there. And it’s definitely something you will enjoy quite a bit. More so, the numerous business opportunities make living in Canada a dream.

It’s also a good idea to understand the Canadian banking system as it ends up being very challenging and confusing. But with the right guidelines and assistance from finance professionals you should be able to get it done fast and easy. If you want to live in Canada you have to open a bank account, and thankfully you can do that online.

Checkout the best accommodation tips for Canada Immigrants.

Average Salary in Canada

That depends on many factors, the industry being one of them. Research from different job sites (Indeed.com, jobbank) shows that a copywriter will earn around $35,130 per year in Canada. A graphic designer earns $37,966 on average, mobile developers $53,257, teachers $40,439, a product manager can earn up to $69,402 and sometimes even more.

See the list of jobs in Canada with their salaries.

These are average salaries in Toronto, so the average might be a bit smaller in other regions. But still, it’s safe to say that salaries are quite good and that explains while the food and rental prices in Canada are the way we showed above.

Health expenses in Canada

When it comes to other expenses in Canada, health related costs are very important. According to Canadian Institute for Health Information, The total Canada expenditure on Health is about $308 billion for year 2021. This will amount to $8,019/Year per Canadian.

However, health cost varies according to the well being of an individual. The average person will pay around C$4,222 per year for the no cost system. And a family of 4 might have to pay around C$11,735.

Taxes might seem high for the foreigners, but the reality is that this is well worth it. Most Canadians tend to agree that the healthcare system is very helpful, it doesn’t impose any limits and that helps a lot. It basically means you can enjoy a great life and immediately address any issues without problems.

The cost of living in Canada might seem high when compared to third world countries for example. But if you compare with the US and more specifically the large cities in the US, prices in Canada and the overall costs are not that high. Sure, some costs might be higher than expected, but for the most part you will be quite happy and impressed with the value you receive here. So you should totally check it out for yourself and see how you enjoy it.

Since Canada offers so many great opportunities especially for foreigners, it’s safe to say that you should consider relocating to Canada. That’s why we created this quick outline with the cost of living in Canada, so you can have a good understanding of costs before you commit to such an idea!

Cost of Living in Different Canadian Provinces

Below comprises of monthly living cost across all Canadian province. These expense data was firmed up from 8 basic requirement for Living in Canada. These are accommodation, feeding, phone and internet, gas, electricity, water, transport and health costs.

The considerations for this Canada living cost report is a single person living in 2 bedroom accommodation with 1 bath. Again, the individual is assumed to take regular breakfast, lunch and dinner with combined eating out in restaurants and making home food. Also, it is assumed that 60 litres of gas is consumed every month.

Again, cost of residing in Canada also depends on the individual's lifestyle. On this note, we also considered the 3 major possible lifestyles under budget, moderate and Luxury lifestyles.

That notwithstanding, one can decide to cutdown or increase level of spending to either achieve lower or higher values as stated here. It all depends on you.

Cost of Living in Alberta

Alberta have two major cities which are Calgary and Edmonton. The Alberta average living cost ranks 4th among other Canada Province. This implies that living in Alberta is relatively moderate.

However, to live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you are expected to spend about $2,428, $3,035 or $3,521 Canadian dollars monthly respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Alberta
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	1,150	1,438	1,668
Feeding	310	388	450
Phone and internet	151	189	219
Gas	151	189	219
Electricity	140	175	203
Water	78	98	113
Transport	96	120	139
Health	352	440	510
TOTAL	2,428	3,035	3,521

Cost of Living in British Columbia

The major cities in British Columbia are Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, Surrey, Kamloops, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Prince George. British Columbia's average living cost ranks 1st among other Canadian Province. This shows that British Columbia is the costliest province to live in Canada. In the same vein, the standard of living is high.

Also, to live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you are expected to spend around $3,124, $3,905 or $4,530 Canadian dollars per month respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in British Columbia
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	1,830	2,288	2,654
Feeding	317	396	460
Phone and internet	141	176	204
Gas	153	191	222
Electricity	102	128	148
Water	81	101	117
Transport	140	175	203
Health	360	450	522
TOTAL	3,124	3,905	4,530

Cost of Living in Manitoba

The major cities in Manitoba are Winniepeg and Selkirk. The average living cost in Manitoba ranks 3rd among other Canadian Province. Therefore, the cost to live in Manitoba is relatively high.

To live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you are expected to spend around $2,610, $3,263 or $3,785 Canadian dollars per month respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Manitoba
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	1,390	1,738	2,016
Feeding	310	388	450
Phone and internet	140	175	203
Gas	149	186	216
Electricity	80	100	116
Water	78	98	113
Transport	110	138	160
Health	353	441	512
TOTAL	2,610	3,263	3,785

Cost of Living in New Brunswick

The major cities in Manitoba are Fredericton, saint John, Moncton, Saint John County and Gloucester County. The average living cost in New Brunswick ranks 10th among other Canadian Province. Hence, It is the Cheapest Province to live in Canada.

To live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you will spend around $1,922, $2,306 or $2,691 Canadian dollars per month respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in New Brunswick
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	750	900	1,050
Feeding	281	337	393
Phone and internet	145	174	203
Gas	145	174	203
Electricity	105	126	147
Water	68	82	95
Transport	88	106	123
Health	340	408	476
TOTAL	1,922	2,306	2,691
		1.2	1.4

Cost of Living in Newfoundland and Labrador

The major cities in Newfoundland and Labrador are St. John's, Mount Pearl, Corner Brook and Paradise. The average living cost in Newfoundland and Labrador ranks 9th among other Canadian Province. Therefore, It is a relatively cheap city to settle in.

For budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you will have a monthly expenditure of about $1,925, $2,406 or $2,791 Canadian dollars respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Newfoundland and Labrador
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	730	876	1,022
Feeding	290	348	406
Phone and internet	150	180	210
Gas	144	173	202
Electricity	118	142	165
Water	67	80	94
Transport	85	102	119
Health	341	426	494
TOTAL	1,925	2,406	2,791
		1.2	1.4

Cost of Living in Nova Scotia

The major cities in Nova Scotia are Halifax, Sydney, Glasgow and Bridgetown. The average living cost in Nova Scotia ranks 6th among other Canadian Province. Therefore, It is a relatively moderate city to settle-in.

To live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you should expect a monthly expenditure of around $2,244, $2,805 or $3,254 Canadian dollars respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Nova Scotia
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	1,050	1,260	1,470
Feeding	265	318	371
Phone and internet	155	186	217
Gas	146	175	204
Electricity	141	169	197
Water	68	82	95
Transport	84	101	118
Health	335	419	486
TOTAL	2,244	2,805	3,254

Cost of Living in Ontario

Ontario has major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Cambridge, Hamilton, Kingston, Mississauga etc. The average cost of living in Ontario ranks 2nd among other Canadian Province. Hence, It is a relatively high cost city to reside in.

To live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you should expect a monthly expenditure of around $3,011, $3,764 or $4,366 Canadian dollars respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Toronto
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	1,760	2,200	2,552
Feeding	301	376	436
Phone and internet	135	169	196
Gas	148	185	215
Electricity	110	138	160
Water	76	95	110
Transport	120	150	174
Health	361	451	523
TOTAL	3,011	3,764	4,366

Cost of Living in Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island has major cities like Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford etc. The average cost of living in Prince Edward Island ranks 8th among other Canadian Province. Hence, It is a relatively cheap city to reside in considering the cost.

For budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you have to expect a monthly expenditure of around $1,988, $2,485 or $2,883 Canadian dollars respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Prince Edward Island
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	795	994	1,153
Feeding	265	331	384
Phone and internet	140	175	203
Gas	147	184	213
Electricity	145	181	210
Water	69	86	100
Transport	86	108	125
Health	341	426	494
TOTAL	1,988	2,485	2,883

Cost of Living in Quebec

Quebec is a majorly French language dominated province with major cities like Montreal, Laval, Terrebonne, Sherbrooke, Gatineau, Saguenay etc. The average cost of living in Quebec ranks 5th among other Canadian Province. It is a moderate cost city to live in.

For budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you have to expect a monthly expenditure of around $2,267, $2,834 or $3,287 Canadian dollars respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Quebec
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	1,125	1,406	1,631
Feeding	294	368	426
Phone and internet	130	163	189
Gas	147	184	213
Electricity	55	69	80
Water	75	94	109
Transport	91	114	132
Health	350	438	508
TOTAL	2,267	2,834	3,287

Cost of Living in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has major cities as Saskatoon and Regina. The average cost of living in Saskatchewan ranks 7th among other Canadian Province. It is a moderate cost city to stay in.

To live a budget, moderate or luxury lifestyle, you have to expect a monthly expenditure of around $2,042, $2,553 or $2,961 Canadian dollars respectively. See table below for the cost breakdown.

Living Cost in Saskatchewan
	Budget ($ CAD)	Moderate ($ CAD)	Luxury ($ CAD)
Accommodation	790	988	1,146
Feeding	290	363	421
Phone and internet	171	214	248
Gas	145	181	210
Electricity	150	188	218
Water	70	88	102
Transport	89	111	129
Health	337	421	489
TOTAL	2,042	2,553	2,961