🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,945 in Coquitlam versus $3,135 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,066 in Coquitlam versus $5,748 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,187 in Coquitlam versus $8,362 in Philipsburg.
🌍Living in Coquitlam costs roughly 6% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Coquitlam120% above, Philipsburg135% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.63CA$20.59
$14.96ANG 26.70
-2.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3CA$73.6
$75.2ANG 134
-30.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.14CA$14.26
$8.23ANG 14.68
23.21%
Cappuccino
$3.70CA$5.20
$4.26ANG 7.60
-13.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98CA$2.79
$2.91ANG 5.20
-31.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09CA$2.94
$3.69ANG 6.59
-43.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.26CA$7.41
$2.92ANG 5.21
80.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86CA$8.24
$4.93ANG 8.80
18.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52CA$2.14
$3.09ANG 5.51
-50.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11CA$4.38
$3.05ANG 5.44
1.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18CA$3.07
$2.94ANG 5.25
-25.85%
Eggs
$4.03CA$5.67
$6.45ANG 11.50
-37.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.21CA$14.37
$18.48ANG 32.99
-44.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.17CA$22.76
$17.19ANG 30.68
-5.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.74CA$20.74
$19.73ANG 35.23
-25.29%
Apples(1kg)
$4.54CA$6.39
$5.85ANG 10.44
-22.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39CA$1.96
$5.96ANG 10.64
-76.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.98CA$7.01
$9.14ANG 16.31
-45.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52CA$6.37
$6.50ANG 11.61
-30.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59CA$2.24
$3.94ANG 7.04
-59.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76CA$2.48
$3.95ANG 7.06
-55.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.00CA$4.23
$4.63ANG 8.26
-35.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12CA$1.57
$2.05ANG 3.65
-45.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.39CA$20.25
$8.18ANG 14.59
75.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.85CA$16.68
$11.20ANG 20.00
5.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.74CA$5.26
$3.22ANG 5.75
16.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32CA$3.26
$2.87ANG 5.13
-19.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36CA$3.32
$1.53ANG 2.73
54.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.1CA$107
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.66CA$3.74
$15.02ANG 26.81
-82.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58CA$2.23
$4.94ANG 8.81
-68.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.14CA$35.38
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32CA$1.85
$1.38ANG 2.46
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KCA$28.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137CA$193
$226ANG 404
-39.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.52CA$52.8
$32.10ANG 57.3
16.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8CA$82.7
$69.6ANG 124
-15.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.63CA$38.88
$62.4ANG 111
-55.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.22CA$15.79
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.01CA$15.50
$13.14ANG 23.46
-16.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,216CA$1,711
$380ANG 678
220.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KCA$17.0K
$11.4KANG 20.4K
5.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2CA$100
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.29CA$63.7
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3CA$137
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115CA$162
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,061CA$2,901
$1,988ANG 3,549
3.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,806CA$2,541
$1,876ANG 3,349
-3.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,625CA$5,101
$5,677ANG 10.1K
-36.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,670CA$3,757
$5,739ANG 10.2K
-53.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,118CA$8,609
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,906CA$6,904
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,074CA$4,326
$1,126ANG 2,010
173.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
5.75
14.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquitlam: July 12, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,061 in Coquitlam and $1,988 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Coquitlam pays 173% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Coquitlam vs $75.0 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $541 per month, with Coquitlam cheaper across the board.
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
Coquitlam vs Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philipsburg cheaper than Coquitlam?
Coquitlam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coquitlam or Philipsburg?
Average pay runs 173% higher in Coquitlam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Coquitlam and Philipsburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,061 in Coquitlam versus $1,988 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,216 in Coquitlam versus $380 in Philipsburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Coquitlam or in Philipsburg?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquitlam – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $75.0 in Philipsburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Coquitlam or in Philipsburg?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Coquitlam is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Coquitlam or in Philipsburg?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Coquitlam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.