Cost of Living Comparison Between Bendigo and Squamish, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Bendigo and Squamish, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,636 per month in Bendigo vs $2,729 in Squamish, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,464 per month in Bendigo vs $4,148 in Squamish, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Bendigo vs $5,567 in Squamish, BC, rent included.

Bendigo is about 40% cheaper than Squamish, BC, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bendigo and Squamish, BC sit above the global median – Bendigo by 22%, Squamish, BC by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.42 A$27.06

$15.75 CA$21.81

23.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 A$82.0

$73.0 CA$101

-19.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.49 A$13.23

$10.85 CA$15.02

-12.53%

Cappuccino

$3.72 A$5.18

$4.14 CA$5.73

-10.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 A$3.55

$1.97 CA$2.73

29.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 A$3.08

$1.49 CA$2.07

48.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.41 A$10.33

$5.78 CA$8.00

28.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 A$6.52

$5.92 CA$8.20

-20.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 A$1.53

$1.84 CA$2.55

-40.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 A$3.52

$2.73 CA$3.78

-7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 A$3.12

$3.62 CA$5.02

-38.12%

Eggs

$4.31 A$6.00

$3.64 CA$5.04

18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 A$12.18

$10.22 CA$14.15

-14.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 A$12.41

$11.75 CA$16.26

-24.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.66 A$20.42

$20.46 CA$28.33

-28.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 A$4.55

$3.51 CA$4.86

-6.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 A$4.06

$1.22 CA$1.69

138.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 A$4.11

$2.96 CA$4.10

-0.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 A$5.71

$3.53 CA$4.88

16.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 A$3.14

$2.47 CA$3.42

-8.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 A$2.69

$2.02 CA$2.80

-4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 A$2.99

$2.45 CA$3.39

-12.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 A$2.29

$1.99 CA$2.75

-17.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.76 A$33.12

$14.70 CA$20.36

61.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.79 A$13.64

$10.88 CA$15.06

-10.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.71 A$6.57

$3.01 CA$4.17

56.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.07

$3.62 CA$5.02

40.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.29 A$5.98

$1.45 CA$2.00

195.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 A$75.3

$31.49 CA$43.60

71.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 A$4.86

$2.78 CA$3.85

25.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 A$1.86

$1.53 CA$2.12

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.96 A$18.06

$28.82 CA$39.90

-55.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 A$1.55

$1.25 CA$1.73

-11.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K A$35.6K

$25.2K CA$34.9K

1.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.1K A$25.2K

$20.0K CA$27.7K

-9.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 A$210

$123 CA$171

22.06%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.64 A$27.36

$41.85 CA$58.0

-53.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.49 A$66.2

$65.6 CA$90.9

-27.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.5 A$81.5

$51.8 CA$71.7

12.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.05 A$25.15

Cinema Ticket

$10.37 A$14.45

$12.46 CA$17.26

-16.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,167 A$1,626

$1,115 CA$1,544

4.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K A$27.2K

$12.4K CA$17.2K

56.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 A$90.6

$55.7 CA$77.2

16.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 A$75.2

$43.96 CA$60.9

22.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 A$150

$104 CA$143

4.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 A$143

$96.7 CA$134

5.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 A$892

$1,666 CA$2,306

-61.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 A$672

$1,590 CA$2,202

-69.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 A$1,345

$3,320 CA$4,596

-70.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 A$933

$2,933 CA$4,062

-77.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,522 A$6,302

$5,982 CA$8,283

-24.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,977 A$5,541

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,408 A$4,749

$3,216 CA$4,453

5.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.54

-5.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bendigo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Squamish, BC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $640 in Bendigo versus $1,666 in Squamish, BC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Bendigo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Bendigo versus $73.0 in Squamish, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $369 – making Bendigo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bendigo vs Squamish, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Squamish, BC is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,455 per month in Bendigo and $4,094 in Squamish, BC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bendigo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Bendigo and $73.0 in Squamish, BC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,636 in Bendigo and $2,729 in Squamish, BC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bendigo, where all-in costs run around $1,636, than in Squamish, BC at $2,729. In Bendigo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Squamish, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bendigo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bendigo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Squamish, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.