πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,949 in Coquitlam versus $3,079 in Philipsburg.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,123 in Coquitlam versus $5,825 in Philipsburg.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,297 in Coquitlam versus $8,571 in Philipsburg.
πLiving in Coquitlam costs roughly 4% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Coquitlam120% above, Philipsburg130% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.48CA$20.14
$14.89ANGΒ 26.57
-2.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.3CA$71.3
$76.5ANGΒ 136
-32.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39CA$14.45
$7.84ANGΒ 13.99
32.53%
Cappuccino
$3.69CA$5.14
$4.27ANGΒ 7.62
-13.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CA$2.74
$3.07ANGΒ 5.48
-35.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.92
$3.69ANGΒ 6.59
-43.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.22CA$7.26
$2.94ANGΒ 5.24
77.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80CA$8.06
$4.86ANGΒ 8.68
19.34%
π Groceries & Markets
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44CA$2.00
$3.01ANGΒ 5.38
-52.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99CA$4.16
$3.19ANGΒ 5.69
-6.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25CA$3.13
$3.08ANGΒ 5.50
-26.95%
Eggs
$3.98CA$5.53
$6.24ANGΒ 11.14
-36.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51CA$14.62
$18.64ANGΒ 33.28
-43.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.30CA$22.67
$17.11ANGΒ 30.55
-4.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44CA$20.08
$19.55ANGΒ 34.90
-26.14%
Apples(1kg)
$4.55CA$6.32
$6.13ANGΒ 10.94
-25.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43CA$1.99
$6.07ANGΒ 10.83
-76.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.08CA$7.07
$9.28ANGΒ 16.56
-45.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.56CA$6.35
$6.45ANGΒ 11.51
-29.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60CA$2.23
$3.98ANGΒ 7.11
-59.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77CA$2.46
$4.04ANGΒ 7.22
-56.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.98CA$4.14
$4.42ANGΒ 7.89
-32.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09CA$1.51
$1.96ANGΒ 3.50
-44.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11CA$19.62
$7.89ANGΒ 14.08
78.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.43CA$17.29
$11.02ANGΒ 19.67
12.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.90CA$5.42
$3.32ANGΒ 5.93
17.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34CA$3.26
$2.77ANGΒ 4.94
-15.52%
π Getting Around
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34CA$3.25
$1.54ANGΒ 2.75
51.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9CA$108
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76CA$3.84
$14.78ANGΒ 26.38
-81.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57CA$2.19
$4.88ANGΒ 8.72
-67.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.93CA$34.67
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37CA$1.90
$1.43ANGΒ 2.56
-4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KCA$34.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$27.9K
-
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132CA$184
$225ANGΒ 401
-41.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.68CA$51.0
$32.45ANGΒ 57.9
13.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.9CA$84.7
$69.9ANGΒ 125
-12.83%
π Sport & Entertainment
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.85CA$38.73
$61.6ANGΒ 110
-54.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.15CA$15.50
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.20CA$15.58
$12.97ANGΒ 23.16
-13.65%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,230CA$1,710
$376ANGΒ 670
227.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4KCA$17.2K
$11.4KANGΒ 20.3K
8.73%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7CA$98.3
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66CA$63.5
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1CA$132
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115CA$159
-
-
π Accommodation & Living
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,055CA$2,859
$1,978ANGΒ 3,530
3.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,817CA$2,527
$1,897ANGΒ 3,385
-4.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,665CA$5,097
$5,747ANGΒ 10.3K
-36.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,680CA$3,727
$5,638ANGΒ 10.1K
-52.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,103CA$8,487
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,152CA$7,165
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Coquitlam
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,140CA$4,367
$1,109ANGΒ 1,980
183.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
5.75
14.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coquitlam: May 31, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,055 in Coquitlam and $1,978 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Coquitlam pays 183% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $51.0 in Coquitlam vs $76.0 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coquitlam or Philipsburg?
Coquitlam pays 183% more on average, 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: $2,055 in Coquitlam versus $1,978 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,230 in Coquitlam versus $376 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 Philipsburg?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquitlam β a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $76.0 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 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 Philipsburg?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β 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 β expenses run 4% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.