The cost of living in Canada is generally less expensive than in many other countries.
For example, it is less expensive to live in Canada’s largest cities of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary, than to live in the US cities of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas or Houston.
Canada’s largest cities are also less expensive to live in than many other major cities around the world, including Geneva, Copenhagen, Beijing, Seoul, London, Tokyo, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Lagos, Dublin, Sydney, Rome, Barcelona, Mexico City, Madrid and Riyadh.
There are, however, differences in the cost of living in Canada’s various cities and towns which are worth researching if you are applying for Canadian immigration.
This article will examine the cost of living in Canada and the cheapest places to live in Canada, so keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
Understanding The Cost of Living in Canada
The cost of living is how much money you need to pay in order to maintain a normal lifestyle in a certain city.
Key factors influencing the cost of living in Canada can include:
- Income
- Housing
- Utilities
- Food
- Personal Items
- Healthcare
- Clothing
- Transportation
- Education/Childcare
- Taxes
- Leisure Activities
According to the Numbeo.com website, the cost of living in Canada is as follows:
- Monthly expenses excluding rent for a single person is $1,337 CAD and for a family of four it is $4,781 CAD.
- Average monthly rent for a 1 bedroom apartment is $1,656 CAD in the city center and $1,425 CAD outside the city center.
- Average monthly rent for a 3 bedroom apartment is $2,697 CAD in the city center and $2,347 CAD outside the city center.
The cost of living will be higher or lower than the national average depending on where you live in Canada.
For example, the cost of living index is higher in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto, but it is lower in Quebec City, Windsor and Regina.
Implications of the high standard of living in Canada for you and your family can include:
- Access to good-paying jobs in Canada
- Free or subsidized public healthcare
- World-class educational opportunities
- Living in a country that embraces diversity and equality
- Residing in one of the world’s most peaceful countries
What Factors Determine the Cost of Living in a Canadian City?
The cost of living in Canada is determined by several factors including:
- How much you earn
- Family Size
- Lifestyle
- Housing
- Utilities
- Food
- Healthcare
- Transportation
- Clothing
- Education/Childcare
- Taxes
- Leisure Activities
- Personal Items
Choosing an Affordable City in Canada
There are provincial differences in terms of the cost of living in Canada, with some provinces generally more expensive to live in than other provinces.
The most affordable provinces to live in Canada include:
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- New Brunswick
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
The most expensive provinces to live in Canada are:
- British Columbia
- Ontario
- Alberta
Please note that the cost of living in smaller cities and towns will generally be less expensive than in the largest cities.
Thus, you could live in an expensive province, but enjoy a low cost of living in a smaller city or town.
Furthermore, some of the cheapest places to live in Canada for immigrants are in small cities located in expensive provinces.
It is also important to consider your personal needs and preferences when deciding where to live in Canada.
For example, a small town in a rural area might have a lower cost of living, but there may be fewer jobs in your occupation and there may not be many leisure activities available, compared with living in a large city.
A good compromise for many people is to live in a smaller, less expensive city or town that is a relatively short drive from a large city, so they have affordable housing in the small city, but also have access to the places and activities they enjoy in the big city.
Cheapest Place to Live in Canada for Immigrants
The methodology for identifying affordable cities includes:
- Cost of housing
- Cost of utilities, food, clothing, transportation and other expenses
- Average annual income
The cheapest places to live in Canada for immigrants include:
- Sherbrooke, Québec
- Québec City, Québec
- Saint John, New Brunswick
- Laval, Québec
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Trois-Rivières, Québec
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Kitchener, Ontario
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- Moncton, New Brunswick
- Windsor, Ontario
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Nanaimo, British Columbia
- London, Ontario
- Hamilton, Ontario
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Where Is the Most Affordable Place to Live in Canada?
- Sherbrooke, Québec
- Québec City, Québec
- Saint John, New Brunswick
- Laval, Québec
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
Conclusion
The most affordable places to live in Canada are found in provinces all across the country.
Generally, the cheapest places to live in Canada for immigrants are in smaller cities where the cost of housing and other living expenses are low, especially in comparison to large Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Vancouver the #5 Most Livable City in the World in 2023, while Calgary was also rated #7 and Toronto was #9 for livability out of 173 cities evaluated worldwide.
Sherbrooke in Québec is the cheapest city in Canada to live in, however, there are many affordable places to live in Canada, such as Québec City (Québec), Saint John (New Brunswick), Laval (Québec), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Regina (Saskatchewan) and Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) – among many others.
The fact that there are many affordable places to live in Canada is good news if you are considering Canadian immigration.
You will also be happy to hear that skilled foreign workers are in high demand and Canadian immigration goals are being raised to the highest levels in history.
Canadian jobs generally pay good salaries, so if you can find an affordable place to live in Canada, you could have more money available to save, invest or spend as you like.
In order to work in Canada legally, you will need to become a Canadian permanent resident or receive a temporary work permit.
There are several Canadian immigration programs created for skilled foreign workers and their families, each of which has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure.
Canadian Visa Expert works with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility and guide you through each step of the application procedure if you qualify.
Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
Is the cost of living in Canada affordable for expats?
Yes, as demonstrated by over 450,000 immigrants who become new permanent residents each year and settle successfully in Canada. Canadian jobs generally pay good salaries and if you can find an affordable place to live in Canada, such as a smaller city, then your income can stretch even further.
Are there any social benefits in Canada that help to offset the cost of living?
One of the most valued social benefits that Canadian citizens and permanent residents receive is free or subsidized public healthcare in the province or territory where they are living in Canada.
What are the average utility costs in the most affordable cities in Canada?
According to the Numbeo.com website, the average monthly utility bills (i.e., for electricity, water, heating and garbage) for an apartment that is 85 square meters in Sherbrooke (Québec) is $312 CAD; in Québec City (Québec) it is $198 CAD; in Saint John (New Brunswick) it is $202 CAD; in Halifax (Nova Scotia) it is $236 CAD; in Laval (Québec) it is $107 CAD; and in Regina (Saskatchewan) it is $226 CAD.
What is the average cost of transportation in the most affordable cities in Canada?
The Numbeo.com website reports that a one-way local bus ticket is $3.45 CAD and a monthly pass is $83.75 CAD in Sherbrooke (Québec); in Québec City (Québec) it is $3.75 CAD and $89.75 CAD; in Saint John (New Brunswick) it is $2.75 CAD and $90 CAD; in Halifax (Nova Scotia) it is $2.75 CAD and $82.50 CAD; in Laval (Québec) it is $3.50 CAD and $90.50 CAD; and in Regina (Saskatchewan) it is $3.25 CAD and $76.50 CAD.
How does the cost of education affect the overall cost of living in Canada?
Canada’s public education system provides free primary and secondary school education, however, parents may need to pay for school supplies, field trips and other extracurricular activities. Many parents living in Canada send their children to private schools where they pay for tuition as well as school supplies and extracurricular activities. Thus, there is generally a higher cost of living in Canada for parents who send their children to private school and if they have more than one child in private school, this can be rather expensive. Furthermore, parents with young children who have to pay for childcare will need to factor in those costs.
What is the estimated living cost for a family in the most affordable Canadian cities?
According to the Numbeo.com website, the estimated monthly cost of living excluding rent for a family of four in Sherbrooke (Québec) is $4,265 CAD; in Québec City (Québec) it is $4,948 CAD; in Halifax (Nova Scotia) it is $4,884 CAD; in Laval (Québec) it is $3,955 CAD; and in Regina (Saskatchewan) it is $4,260 CAD.
