Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmonton and Nanaimo, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmonton and Nanaimo, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,254 per month in Edmonton vs $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,284 per month in Edmonton vs $3,507 in Nanaimo, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Edmonton vs $4,622 in Nanaimo, BC, rent included.

Edmonton is about 6% cheaper than Nanaimo, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Edmonton and Nanaimo, BC sit above the global median – Edmonton by 68%, Nanaimo, BC by 79%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 CA$25.09

$18.70 CA$25.62

-2.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 CA$89.9

$63.3 CA$86.7

3.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.54 CA$15.82

$13.43 CA$18.39

-14.07%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.12

$4.14 CA$5.67

-9.66%

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

$2.08 CA$2.85

$2.63 CA$3.60

-20.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.49

$1.98 CA$2.71

-8.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.00 CA$8.22

$5.96 CA$8.17

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 CA$7.96

$5.91 CA$8.09

-1.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 CA$2.76

$1.81 CA$2.47

11.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 CA$3.95

$3.27 CA$4.48

-11.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 CA$4.28

$4.13 CA$5.65

-24.46%

Eggs

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.96 CA$5.43

-5.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 CA$16.73

$11.78 CA$16.14

3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.66 CA$17.34

$15.57 CA$21.33

-18.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.23 CA$22.24

$18.44 CA$25.26

-11.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 CA$6.40

$4.35 CA$5.96

7.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 CA$1.80

$1.54 CA$2.11

-14.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.26

$3.38 CA$4.63

13.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.61 CA$4.95

$4.69 CA$6.43

-23.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 CA$3.24

$3.10 CA$4.25

-23.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.03

$2.83 CA$3.88

-21.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.65

$3.06 CA$4.19

-13.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.68

$2.34 CA$3.20

-16.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.53 CA$19.90

$13.20 CA$18.08

10.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 CA$17.98

$13.03 CA$17.85

0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 CA$4.05

$2.34 CA$3.21

26.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CA$4.42

$3.38 CA$4.64

-4.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.65 CA$3.63

$1.91 CA$2.62

38.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.8 CA$99.7

$48.16 CA$66.0

51.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 CA$4.23

$2.87 CA$3.93

7.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 CA$2.28

$1.38 CA$1.89

20.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.95 CA$31.44

$34.13 CA$46.76

-32.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.48

$1.36 CA$1.86

-20.59%

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

$25.8K CA$35.4K

$25.0K CA$34.2K

3.37%

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

$22.4K CA$30.7K

$20.0K CA$27.5K

11.66%

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

$201 CA$275

$117 CA$161

71.39%

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

$45.28 CA$62.0

$46.31 CA$63.5

-2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.7 CA$88.7

$66.1 CA$90.6

-2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.39 CA$64.9

$30.75 CA$42.13

54.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.14 CA$28.97

$11.17 CA$15.30

89.26%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 CA$17.91

$11.26 CA$15.43

16.07%

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

$698 CA$956

$771 CA$1,056

-9.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.3K

$12.2K CA$16.7K

-2.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 CA$69.1

$46.21 CA$63.3

9.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.33 CA$56.6

$34.25 CA$46.92

20.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 CA$113

$80.8 CA$111

1.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$143

$101 CA$138

3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 CA$1,667

$1,324 CA$1,813

-8.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$938 CA$1,285

$1,163 CA$1,594

-19.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 CA$2,650

$2,079 CA$2,849

-6.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 CA$2,186

$1,940 CA$2,657

-17.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,374 CA$3,253

$3,950 CA$5,411

-39.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,262 CA$3,099

$3,573 CA$4,894

-36.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,319 CA$4,547

$3,197 CA$4,380

3.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.47

-6.03%

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

Last update for Edmonton: April 26, 2026

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,217 in Edmonton versus $1,324 in Nanaimo, 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 4% higher in Edmonton, 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 $66.0 in Edmonton versus $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC. Groceries tell a different story – $383 in Edmonton vs $419 in Nanaimo, BC – so Edmonton 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

Edmonton vs Nanaimo, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,254 in Edmonton, $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC – roughly 6% apart. Nanaimo, BC costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,381 per month in Edmonton and $3,587 in Nanaimo, BC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,254 in Edmonton and $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 51% less in Edmonton. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Edmonton, where all-in costs run around $2,254, than in Nanaimo, BC at $2,391. In Edmonton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nanaimo, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Edmonton – 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 Edmonton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nanaimo, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.