Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Canada and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,316 per month in Canada vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Canada vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,436 per month in Canada vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Canada is roughly 12% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Canada and United States are pricier than the global median – Canada by 73%, United States by 97%.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,343–$5,081) than Canada ($1,310–$3,100), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.44 CA$25.64

$20.04 $20.04

-7.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 CA$104

$76.0 $76.0

-2.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.13

$11.42 $11.42

-4.73%

Cappuccino

$3.90 CA$5.42

$5.39 $5.39

-27.64%

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

$2.16 CA$3.01

$2.55 $2.55

-15.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 CA$2.41

$2.04 $2.04

-15.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 CA$7.98

$6.14 $6.14

-6.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.05 CA$8.41

$7.18 $7.18

-15.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.06

$1.04 $1.04

111.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.83

$3.65 $3.65

-24.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.09

$4.73 $4.73

-22.62%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.05

$4.38 $4.38

-17.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 CA$16.29

$12.76 $12.76

-8.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 CA$17.08

$12.42 $12.42

-1.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 CA$20.69

$16.41 $16.41

-9.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 CA$5.75

$5.42 $5.42

-23.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 CA$2.02

$1.65 $1.65

-12.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 CA$5.27

$4.59 $4.59

-17.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.68

$4.91 $4.91

-16.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.80

$2.92 $2.92

-6.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 CA$3.85

$3.13 $3.13

-11.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CA$3.64

$2.26 $2.26

15.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 CA$2.60

$2.30 $2.30

-18.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.79 CA$20.57

$9.89 $9.89

49.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.08 CA$18.19

$15.10 $15.10

-13.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.21

$1.91 $1.91

58.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 CA$4.74

$3.66 $3.66

-6.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.48 $2.48

1.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 CA$108

$64.8 $64.8

20.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 CA$4.85

$3.84 $3.84

-9.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.05

$1.76 $1.76

-15.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.25 CA$39.29

$30.58 $30.58

-7.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.59

$0.96 $0.96

19.79%

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

$25.4K CA$35.4K

$30.5K $30.5K

-16.53%

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

$20.6K CA$28.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-21.79%

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

$155 CA$215

$204 $204

-24.16%

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

$45.76 CA$63.6

$57.3 $57.3

-20.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 CA$86.4

$71.2 $71.2

-12.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.67 CA$60.7

$46.67 $46.67

-6.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.14 CA$25.22

$22.12 $22.12

-17.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 CA$15.83

$13.84 $13.84

-17.77%

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

$798 CA$1,109

$1,384 $1,384

-42.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K CA$16.8K

$22.7K $22.7K

-46.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 CA$79.0

$53.0 $53.0

7.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.19 CA$58.7

$43.17 $43.17

-2.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 CA$122

$90.6 $90.6

-2.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$114 $114

-6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 CA$1,890

$1,766 $1,766

-23.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 CA$1,674

$1,459 $1,459

-17.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 CA$2,970

$2,832 $2,832

-24.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 CA$2,586

$2,411 $2,411

-22.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,642 CA$6,455

$3,287 $3,287

41.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,852 CA$5,357

$2,650 $2,650

45.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,029 CA$4,212

$4,379 $4,379

-30.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

6.51

-2.76%

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

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,281 in Canada vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,500 in Ottawa and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $2,972 in Canada vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 28% higher in United States.

Public transport is 160% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 51% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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

Canada vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 46% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Canada, contributing to the overall 46% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Canada is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.