Cost of Living in Canada by City and Province [2024]
How much does it cost to live in Canada? Can we start a normal life in Canada with an average income in Iran? What assets and expenses are needed to begin living in Canada? These are all questions that need to be answered before immigrating to Canada, and indeed, the answers to these questions are very important for achieving the best outcome for you. For those who want to consider all aspects and ultimately make the best decision for themselves, we have good news in this article from ExpertUP. We will compare the cost of living in Canada with other countries worldwide and then provide a complete and accurate estimate of these costs in different situations in the cities and provinces of this country.
It is necessary not only for Canada work immigration travelers but also for everyone who intends to immigrate to this country to obtain the necessary information about the cost of living in Canada. For those who have not yet made a serious decision about choosing a country, this information is even more important. Estimating costs before traveling is completely necessary, and for immigration, this matter is even more crucial. Stay with us at ExpertUP.
Cost of Living in Canada
Canada is a very vast country with many cities. The cost of living in Canada will not be the same across all cities and provinces, which is also the case for all large countries. Even in a single city in Canada, you might see very different costs in various areas and suburbs. Furthermore, the cost of living in different countries can be affected by the power of the currency. For example, if someone travels from New York to Toronto, they might see a decrease in their living expenses, whereas someone traveling from Tehran to Toronto will experience the opposite.
At the beginning of 2023, Canada was the 25th most expensive country in the world. Of course, the cost of living in a country also depends on people’s lifestyles. Tastier foods, more entertainment, more travel, taking taxis instead of buses, and similar activities can even increase the cost of living in a remote area of Canada. Thus, to determine the cost of living in Canada, many factors must be considered.
The chart below compares the cost of living in Canada with the list of the 50 most expensive countries in the world. As you can see in the chart, Canada has a cost index of 66.1. This chart shows that living in Canada is 34% cheaper than in New York.
Additionally, other indexes related to the cost of living in Canada are as follows:
- Cost of Living Index: 66.1
- Rent Index: 33.4
- Cost of Living Plus Rent Index: 50.4
- Groceries Index: 64.2
- Restaurant Price Index: 62.8
- Local Purchasing Power Index: 102.1
All the above indexes are measured based on global standards and the cost of living in New York City. These statistics show that in 2023, local purchasing power in Canada was about 2% higher than in New York City.
Until 2022, the most expensive cities in Canada to live in were Vancouver and Toronto, but from the beginning of 2023, Victoria is overtaking these two cities. The major changes that have caused Victoria to have higher costs than Toronto and Vancouver are related to rent and housing costs. This indicates that in Victoria, the highest level of costs for users might be housing and rent.
Different provinces in Canada have varying living costs, but overall, British Columbia and Ontario have the highest living costs among all the provinces. Nine out of the ten places with the highest cost of living in Canada are in these two provinces, and the tenth is Calgary.
In the table below, you can see the most expensive cities in Canada to live in, ranked by priority, and their respective indexes:
| City | Province | Cost Index | Rent Index | Cost Plus Rent Index | Groceries Index | Restaurant Price Index | Local Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | British Columbia | 72.7 | 52.3 | 62.9 | 70.3 | 77.6 | 93.3 |
| Victoria | British Columbia | 77.2 | 45.1 | 61.8 | 77.1 | 75.7 | 86 |
| Toronto | Ontario | 73.5 | 49 | 61.8 | 67.9 | 80.3 | 89.4 |
| Markham | Ontario | 70.6 | 47.1 | 59.3 | 61.7 | 81.2 | 92.6 |
| Nanaimo | British Columbia | 75.3 | 35.3 | 56.1 | 74.7 | 64.6 | 84.6 |
| Mississauga | Ontario | 65.6 | 44 | 55.2 | 56.4 | 55.6 | 102.5 |
| Calgary | Alberta | 73.2 | 33.2 | 54.1 | 66.2 | 71.7 | 114.5 |
| Ottawa | Ontario | 70.3 | 35.1 | 53.4 | 63 | 72.3 | 104.2 |
| London | Ontario | 66.9 | 38.5 | 53.3 | 59.9 | 74.3 | 112 |
| Surrey | British Columbia | 67.5 | 37.3 | 53 | 63.6 | 60.4 | 123.3 |
| Kamloops | British Columbia | 71 | 32.8 | 52.7 | 72 | 58.4 | 93 |
| Kingston | Ontario | 68.3 | 35.5 | 52.6 | 66.1 | 64.3 | 101.9 |
| Hamilton | Ontario | 68.3 | 35.1 | 52.4 | 67.2 | 62 | 92.7 |
| Kelowna | British Columbia | 64.8 | 37.6 | 51.7 | 64.2 | 58.3 | 103.9 |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | 68.6 | 33.1 | 51.6 | 68.2 | 65.1 | 100.1 |
| Kitchener | Ontario | 65.9 | 34.5 | 50.9 | 66.5 | 63.9 | 129.8 |
| Brampton | Ontario | 63.9 | 35.5 | 50.3 | 56.2 | 59.8 | 120.7 |
| Edmonton | Alberta | 70.6 | 25.3 | 48.9 | 65.5 | 74.6 | 108.9 |
| Montreal | Quebec | 66 | 29.7 | 48.6 | 64.1 | 65.8 | 98.1 |
| St. Catharines | Ontario | 64.2 | 30.5 | 48.1 | 55.8 | 71.4 | 161.7 |
| Fredericton | New Brunswick | 70 | 23.6 | 47.8 | 70.9 | 67.9 | 117 |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | 66.5 | 25.4 | 46.8 | 65.8 | 30.1 | 79.2 |
| Red Deer | Alberta | 67.2 | 24.3 | 46.6 | 64.4 | 60 | 114.3 |
| Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 67.2 | 24 | 46.5 | 62.4 | 62.1 | 120.1 |
| Windsor | Ontario | 62.1 | 29.2 | 46.3 | 55 | 61.4 | 113.6 |
| Quebec City | Quebec | 68.6 | 21.5 | 46 | 65 | 68.6 | 106 |
| Regina | Saskatchewan | 62.4 | 21.8 | 43 | 59.9 | 57 | 149.4 |
This table is extremely valuable for assessing the cost of living in Canada. You can evaluate different cities in the country for various aspects, such as which city has the highest rent costs and which city has the highest food costs. This categorization will greatly assist you in choosing the best place to live in this country.
Average Cost of Living in Canada
To give you a better understanding of the cost of living in Canada, we need to provide you with average costs for various cities in the country. In the image below, you can see the average costs of living for single individuals and a family of four. Rent costs are reviewed separately in this analysis, and based on this, you can see the living conditions in different Canadian cities. Note that this information was prepared for 2023.
Average Income in Canada by Province
Assessing costs without considering incomes is not very logical, and you cannot understand what living conditions you will face in these cities. For instance, a city with very high living costs might have a good social welfare level due to high average incomes, making it a better choice for residence. This understanding will be achieved when we review the cost of living in Canada alongside the average incomes of cities in this country. According to the latest update, the average income of Canadians across the country is CAD 66,800 per year. This income is estimated after tax deductions.
If we exclude elderly families (65 years and older) from this list, the estimated income after tax deductions would be CAD 99,600 per year. The table below shows the average income of users in different provinces of Canada. The amounts are in Canadian dollars.
| City | Average Household Income After Taxes |
|---|---|
| Canada | 66,800 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 59,300 |
| Prince Edward Island | 59,400 |
| Nova Scotia | 57,500 |
| New Brunswick | 56,900 |
| Quebec | 59,700 |
| Ontario | 70,100 |
| Manitoba | 63,000 |
| Saskatchewan | 67,700 |
| Alberta | 77,700 |
| British Columbia | 67,500 |
We should also evaluate this information for major cities in Canada. According to the latest statistics, the average household income after taxes for the largest cities in Canada is as follows:
| City | Province | Average Household Income |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton | Alberta | 83,500 |
| Calgary | Alberta | 75,800 |
| Toronto | Ontario | 72,600 |
| Ottawa | Ontario | 72,500 |
| Gatineau | Quebec | 72,500 |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | 69,600 |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | 63,600 |
| Montreal | Quebec | 62,900 |
If you are looking to choose the best city and province for residence in Canada considering average incomes, the most important factor is local purchasing power. You should determine in which city you will have the highest purchasing power. Based on this, we should rank different cities in Canada. In this ranking, New York City is the main benchmark, and when the household purchasing power in a city is declared at 120%, it means that a household with an average income in that city has 20% more purchasing power compared to a household with an average income in New York.
| City | Province | Local Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|
| St. Catharines | Ontario | 162.9 |
| Regina | Saskatchewan | 150.5 |
| Kitchener | Ontario | 130.8 |
| Surrey | British Columbia | 124.3 |
| Brampton | Ontario | 121.3 |
| Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | 121.1 |
| Fredericton | New Brunswick | 117.8 |
| Red Deer | Alberta | 115.2 |
| Windsor | Ontario | 114.5 |
| Calgary | Alberta | 114.3 |
| London | Ontario | 113 |
| Edmonton | Alberta | 109.7 |
| Quebec City | Quebec | 107.4 |
| Ottawa | Ontario | 104.7 |
| Kelowna | British Columbia | 104.4 |
| Mississauga | Ontario | 103.2 |
| Kingston | Ontario | 102.7 |
| Montreal | Quebec | 98.8 |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | 98.3 |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | 94.9 |
| Kamloops | British Columbia | 93.7 |
| Hamilton | Ontario | 93.4 |
| Markham | Ontario | 93.3 |
| Toronto | Ontario | 90.6 |
| Victoria | British Columbia | 89.1 |
| Nanaimo | British Columbia | 85.2 |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | 80.3 |
Interesting information can be gleaned from these data, which are indeed very important for a complete estimate of the cost of living in Canada. For example, in estimating household income, Montreal is among the last in the list, while Toronto is at the top, but in terms of local purchasing power, Montreal has a better situation than Toronto. This indicates that higher average salaries in Toronto do not compensate for the higher living costs in this city.
Of course, we cannot rely solely on these criteria. These data might suggest that St. Catharines is the best city for residence in Canada, but other factors also need to be evaluated for this purpose. Moreover, living costs also depend on individuals’ lifestyles.
Cost of Living in Canada by City and Province
Now it is time to share more detailed information about the cost of living in Canada. These data are extracted from the Numbeo website and are calculated for early 2023. These numbers show an average of the costs in various criteria and might be higher or lower in some regions. We will review the cost of living in Canada in various items. Although we reviewed the average costs above, now you need to know exactly what costs each city will incur.
Housing Costs in Canada
First, we should review the housing and rental costs together. All numbers are in Canadian dollars.
| City | Rent for 1-bedroom Apartment in City Center | Rent for 1-bedroom Apartment Outside City Center | Rent for 3-bedroom Apartment in City Center | Rent for 3-bedroom Apartment Outside City Center | Price per Square Meter for House in City Center | Price per Square Meter for House Outside City Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 2467.48 | 2090.89 | 4514.6 | 3242.66 | 13595.88 | 10594.88 |
| Toronto | 2404.83 | 2007.25 | 3848.5 | 3148.84 | 13064.76 | 10073.25 |
| Mississauga | 2183.21 | 1901.16 | 3268.65 | 2874.28 | 9777.85 | 7609.32 |
| Victoria | 2114.95 | 1698.04 | 3729.4 | 3025.52 | 11925.3 | 9622.70 |
| Ottawa | 1740.79 | 1414.85 | 2841.78 | 2253.52 | 7247.16 | 5886.88 |
| Nanaimo | 1597.71 | 1499.46 | 2647.45 | 2457.77 | 4807.36 | 5127.88 |
| Calgary | 1561.29 | 1307.81 | 2807.31 | 2145.52 | 5476.8 | 3935.37 |
| Montreal | 1449.36 | 1110.11 | 2537.47 | 1851.5 | 8346.30 | 4780.16 |
| Edmonton | 1242.28 | 1026.36 | 2053.46 | 1570.08 | 2986.77 | 2499.66 |
| Winnipeg | 1116.3 | 1153.44 | 1866.6 | 1779.94 | 3901.05 | 3442.72 |
| Quebec City | 1048.92 | 875.25 | 1832.87 | 1325.81 | 11739.4 | 3272.29 |
Transportation Costs in Canada
After reviewing housing costs in various Canadian cities, it’s now time to review the average transportation costs in different cities of this country. These data also pertain to 2023.
| City | Monthly Transportation Costs | Price of 1 Liter of Gasoline | Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (New Equivalent Car) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 157.05 | 1.64 | 28188.26 |
| Ottawa | 125.75 | 1.9 | 28772.57 |
| Vancouver | 120.81 | 2.09 | 30201.71 |
| Calgary | 112.68 | 1.63 | 28873.17 |
| Hamilton | 110.49 | 1.73 | 25663.75 |
| Winnipeg | 104.7 | 1.86 | 27181.54 |
| London | 95.57 | 1.69 | 30684.04 |
| Montreal | 94.63 | 1.94 | 30201.71 |
The price differences of gasoline in various Canadian cities and even in short-term periods within a single city are very interesting in this country. Therefore, you should pay special attention to the transportation costs. Empirically, the price of gasoline becomes the cheapest after 8 PM in Canadian cities, reducing costs. On weekends, gasoline is the most expensive. Hence, in many cases, when the gasoline price is lower at a gas station, many people rush to fill up their car tanks.
Grocery Costs in Canada
Next, we need to review grocery costs. These costs are average and can vary depending on each person’s lifestyle.
| City | 1 Liter of Milk | 1 Loaf of Bread | Eggs | 1 kg of Potatoes | 1 kg of White Rice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 3.65 | 3.44 | 4.36 | 3.54 | 4.03 |
| Victoria | 3.43 | 3.73 | 4.95 | 4.32 | 4.91 |
| Vancouver | 2.86 | 3.59 | 4.99 | 3.62 | 4.71 |
| Saskatoon | 2.83 | 2.74 | 4.43 | 2.59 | 4.26 |
| Montreal | 2.8 | 3.82 | 4 | 2.34 | 3.88 |
| Edmonton | 2.65 | 3.09 | 3.71 | 2.69 | 4.13 |
| Ottawa | 2.65 | 2.97 | 4.12 | 2.57 | 4.43 |
| Halifax | 2.49 | 3.18 | 4.64 | 3.56 | 5.66 |
| Calgary | 2.34 | 3 | 4.27 | 2.95 | 3.48 |
| Quebec City | 2.24 | 3.36 | 3.74 | 3.77 | 4.52 |
Clothing Costs in Canada
The cost of buying clothes varies in different Canadian cities, and depending on where you live, you should consider the following costs for clothing in different seasons:
| City | 1 Pair of Jeans | 1 Summer Dress | 1 Pair of Average Nike Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 98.46 | 60.87 | 113.01 |
| Quebec City | 94.49 | 53.14 | 115.37 |
| Halifax | 89.62 | 49.42 | 120.66 |
| Victoria | 86.94 | 48.79 | 111.26 |
| Montreal | 83.87 | 50.16 | 123.43 |
| Fredericton | 80.36 | 41.25 | 124.08 |
| Toronto | 80.3 | 48.51 | 123.71 |
| Vancouver | 79.85 | 50.9 | 119.69 |
| Ottawa | 78.67 | 55.67 | 114.3 |
| Calgary | 76.3 | 65.98 | 107.36 |
| Edmonton | 73.62 | 42.09 | 102.62 |
Utility Costs in Canada
Another important aspect of the cost of living in Canada is utility costs such as internet, electricity, and water. The table below shows the average utility costs for various Canadian cities.
| City | Electricity for 85 sq. meters Apartment | Mobile Phone Rate per Minute | Internet 60 Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brampton | 323.67 | 0.41 | 77.95 |
| Calgary | 290.99 | 0.38 | 87.85 |
| Edmonton | 249.02 | 0.35 | 82.38 |
| Winnipeg | 199.4 | 0.38 | 87.32 |
| Halifax | 190.72 | 0.21 | 106.84 |
| Quebec City | 182.99 | 0.53 | 74.81 |
| Ottawa | 181.99 | 0.41 | 80.58 |
| Toronto | 174.29 | 0.42 | 74.99 |
| Victoria | 164.28 | 0.38 | 102.96 |
| Vancouver | 120.48 | 0.36 | 85.69 |
| Montreal | 105.13 | 0.51 | 61.57 |
Restaurant Costs in Canada
To compare the costs of cooking at home with eating out, we also need to look at the average costs of eating in restaurants. The table below shows these costs for various Canadian cities.
| City | 1 Meal in a Cheap Restaurant | 1 Meal in a Mid-range Restaurant for 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 25.17 | 100.67 |
| Calgary | 25.15 | 90.54 |
| Edmonton | 25.15 | 100.6 |
| London | 25.15 | 103.62 |
| Ottawa | 25.15 | 90.54 |
| Victoria | 25.15 | 100.6 |
| Quebec City | 24.02 | 80.48 |
| Toronto | 23.49 | 117.50 |
| Kingston | 20.59 | 90.4 |
| Montreal | 20.13 | 90.61 |
Sports and Cinema Costs in Canada
Another important aspect of life is healthy entertainment and sports. Using sports clubs in Canada also incurs specific costs. Below, we review the average sports-related costs for various Canadian cities.
| City | Monthly Gym Fee for 1 Person | 1 Hour of Tennis Court Rent on Weekend | 1 Cinema Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | 78.94 | 35.61 | 16.10 |
| Victoria | 76.17 | 25.91 | 15.09 |
| Ottawa | 72.70 | 34.58 | 15.09 |
| Markham | 62.65 | 17.58 | 15.07 |
| Edmonton | 61.73 | 21.01 | 15.09 |
| Toronto | 60.69 | 22.59 | 15 |
| Kelowna | 60.49 | 26.17 | 13.09 |
| Kingston | 59.6 | 8.79 | 14.06 |
| Vancouver | 59.49 | 14.86 | 17.11 |
| Regina | 53.24 | 16.32 | 14.56 |
| Windsor | 53.07 | 24.5 | 13.09 |
| Saskatoon | 52.75 | 22.5 | 16.07 |
| Quebec City | 49.52 | 38.23 | 14.08 |
| Winnipeg | 44.91 | 29.45 | 14.09 |
| Montreal | 39.81 | 18.68 | 15.09 |
Taxi Costs in Canada
For those who prefer using taxis over public transportation, the cost of living in Canada will be different. The table below reviews the taxi usage costs for various Canadian cities.
| City | Taxi Start Fare | Taxi Fare per Kilometer | 1 Hour Waiting Taxi Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brampton | 5.03 | 2.01 | 25.17 |
| Calgary | 4.53 | 2.01 | 41.18 |
| Hamilton | 4.42 | 1.81 | 34.86 |
| Toronto | 4.41 | 1.75 | 31 |
| Montreal | 4.13 | 1.76 | 41.53 |
| Ottawa | 4.02 | 2.01 | 24.14 |
| Winnipeg | 3.80 | 1.61 | 31.51 |
| Vancouver | 3.78 | 2.01 | 37.39 |
| Edmonton | 3.72 | 1.58 | 30.18 |
| Quebec City | 3.52 | 1.76 | 39.24 |
Student Living Costs in Canada
Student living costs in Canada depend on various factors, including lifestyle, city of study, type of housing, and other similar factors. To this end, we can also provide you with an average of student living costs in Canada as per the table below:
| Activity | Cost in Canadian Dollars |
|---|---|
| Housing | 400 to 800 |
| Transportation | 80 to 110 |
| Food | 300 to 400 |
| Entertainment | 150 |
| Health Insurance | 74 |
| Utilities | 164.64 |
| Internet | 78.82 |
Cost of Living in Toronto, Canada
The cost of living in Toronto, Canada, is more expensive compared to many cities in this country. Toronto is actually one of the most expensive cities in Canada to live in. With a population of nearly 3 million, many applicants come to this city every year to settle. Many Iranians also reside in this city. Below are the average monthly living costs in Toronto:
| Expense Category | Cost for 1 Person | Cost for a Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Costs without Rent | 2460 | 5493 |
| Rent and Utilities | 1500 | 2442 |
| Food | 581 | 1530 |
| Transportation | 250 | 632 |
Average Monthly Income After Taxes: CAD 3419
According to the latest statistics for the cost of living in Canada, the city of Toronto has achieved the following records in the country in terms of living costs:
- Ranked 1 to 3 for total living costs without rent.
- Ranked first for transportation costs.
- Ranked 28th for average monthly income.
- Ranked 3rd for quality of life among Canadian cities.
- The most populous city in Canada.
Cost of Living in Montreal, Canada
Montreal is one of the most affordable cities to live in Canada in terms of costs. Despite being one of Canada’s famous cities, the living costs in Montreal are reasonable, and you can also use this city’s attractions for Canadian work migration. The average living costs in Montreal are as follows:
| Expense Category | Cost for 1 Person | Cost for a Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Costs without Rent | 1760 | 4195 |
| Rent and Utilities | 875 | 1500 |
| Food | 551 | 1441 |
| Transportation | 172 | 454 |
Average Monthly Income After Taxes: CAD 3040
Montreal ranks 2nd in terms of quality among all Canadian cities. It is the second most populous city in Canada and is ranked 58th in terms of total living costs in Canada.
Cost of Living in Vancouver, Canada
Another expensive city to live in Canada is Vancouver, which, however, has many job opportunities, making it a suitable choice for work migration. The average living costs in Vancouver are as follows:
| Expense Category | Cost for 1 Person | Cost for a Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Costs without Rent | 2477 | 5510 |
| Rent and Utilities | 1583 | 2627 |
| Food | 578 | 1500 |
| Transportation | 159 | 410 |
Average Monthly Income After Taxes: CAD 303
Vancouver ranks 7th in terms of quality of life among Canadian cities and is the 8th most populous city in Canada, welcoming a large number of immigrants each year.
Conclusion
At the end of this article, you now know exactly what the average cost of living in Canada is by city and province. This will help you choose the best options when selecting a city to immigrate to. At ExpertUP, we aim to provide the best tips for better understanding Canada and offer professional services for Canada work migration consultation and immigration through Canada’s startup program. You can rely on our professional and specialized team for getting a job offer in Canada.