🙂A single person spends $2,029 per month in Cold Lake vs $2,263 in Leicester, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,036 per month in Cold Lake vs $3,227 in Leicester, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,044 per month in Cold Lake vs $4,192 in Leicester, rent included.
🙂Cold Lake is about 10% cheaper than Leicester, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Cold Lake and Leicester sit above the global median – Cold Lake by 51%, Leicester by 69%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.59CA$25.75
$20.77£15.44
-10.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.6CA$85.3
$68.3£50.8
-9.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43CA$15.83
$8.90£6.62
28.43%
Cappuccino
$3.83CA$5.30
$3.63£2.70
5.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15CA$2.97
$1.96£1.46
9.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50CA$2.08
$1.16£0.86
29.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.72CA$7.92
$5.40£4.02
5.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91CA$8.18
$6.22£4.62
-4.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06CA$1.47
$1.92£1.42
-44.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05CA$2.83
$1.64£1.22
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16CA$4.37
$2.35£1.75
34.47%
Eggs
$3.58CA$4.96
$3.60£2.68
-0.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51CA$15.94
$12.13£9.02
-5.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.75CA$17.65
$9.64£7.17
32.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.06CA$22.24
$12.10£8.99
32.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.61CA$6.39
$2.33£1.73
97.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11CA$1.54
$1.74£1.30
-36.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89CA$2.62
$2.67£1.98
-29.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19CA$3.03
$3.19£2.37
-31.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37CA$3.28
$1.25£0.93
89.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08CA$1.49
$1.64£1.22
-34.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.70CA$3.74
$0.81£0.60
233.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93CA$2.67
$1.43£1.06
34.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.43CA$17.22
$20.58£15.29
-39.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.26CA$16.97
$11.25£8.36
8.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98CA$4.12
$2.82£2.10
5.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27CA$4.53
$2.76£2.05
18.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42CA$3.34
$3.30£2.45
-26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.9CA$87.1
$85.8£63.8
-26.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.24CA$4.48
$5.29£3.93
-38.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66CA$2.29
$1.36£1.01
22.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.09CA$31.96
$40.88£30.39
-43.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01CA$1.39
$1.96£1.45
-48.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$34.6K
$38.7K£28.8K
-35.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KCA$30.5K
$42.1K£31.3K
-47.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204CA$283
$282£209
-27.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.18CA$61.2
$17.10£12.71
158.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.3CA$90.4
$41.75£31.03
56.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.61CA$59.0
$40.14£29.84
6.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$32.26£23.98
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.46CA$18.63
$14.96£11.12
-10.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$708CA$980
$1,028£764
-31.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KCA$16.2K
$33.6K£24.9K
-65.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.96CA$41.48
$95.6£71.0
-68.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.74CA$50.9
$36.79£27.35
-0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.7CA$75.7
$132£97.9
-58.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0CA$129
$94.5£70.2
-1.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$899CA$1,245
$1,029£765
-12.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$867CA$1,200
$1,031£766
-15.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,614CA$2,235
$1,727£1,284
-6.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,517CA$2,100
$1,512£1,124
0.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,122£3,807
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,562£2,647
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cold Lake
Leicester
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,146CA$4,356
$2,882£2,142
9.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
5.9
3.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cold Lake: May 31, 2026
Last update for Leicester: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $899 in Cold Lake versus $1,029 in Leicester. 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 9% higher in Cold Lake, 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 $62.0 in Cold Lake versus $68.0 in Leicester. Groceries tell a different story – $342 in Cold Lake vs $299 in Leicester – so Leicester wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Cold Lake vs Leicester: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leicester cheaper than Cold Lake?
Yes – Leicester is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,043 per month in Cold Lake and $3,394 in Leicester. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cold Lake, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Cold Lake or Leicester?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Cold Lake and $68.0 in Leicester. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cold Lake vs Leicester?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,029 in Cold Lake and $2,263 in Leicester. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Cold Lake or Leicester?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cold Lake, where all-in costs run around $2,029, than in Leicester at $2,263. In Cold Lake it covers expenses comfortably, while in Leicester it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cold Lake or Leicester more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cold Lake – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cold Lake. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Leicester makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.