Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Portland, ME Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Portland, ME

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU versus $3,027 in Portland, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,109 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,597 in Portland, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,176 in Iqaluit, NU versus $6,166 in Portland, ME.

Monthly costs are close between Iqaluit, NU and Portland, ME; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 128% above, Portland, ME 127% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.86 CA$44.83

$29.71 $29.71

7.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.5 CA$94.9

$118 $118

-43.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 CA$18.56

$12.18 $12.18

8.29%

Cappuccino

$6.80 CA$9.56

$6.43 $6.43

5.75%

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

$3.93 CA$5.53

$2.66 $2.66

47.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.36

$2.31 $2.31

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.69 CA$9.42

$6.26 $6.26

6.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 CA$8.08

$8.03 $8.03

-28.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.44

$1.03 $1.03

136.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.80

$3.67 $3.67

-26.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.07

$7.50 $7.50

-61.47%

Eggs

$4.48 CA$6.30

$4.35 $4.35

2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 CA$17.09

$16.67 $16.67

-27.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.61 CA$19.15

$10.61 $10.61

28.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.53 CA$35.93

$14.43 $14.43

76.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 CA$2.76

$3.36 $3.36

-41.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.16

$1.73 $1.73

70.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.79

$6.10 $6.10

-67.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.84

$6.06 $6.06

-66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.14

$7.18 $7.18

-59.05%

Onion (1kg)

$4.04 CA$5.69

$3.62 $3.62

11.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 CA$4.26

$2.44 $2.44

24.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 CA$5.07

$2.21 $2.21

62.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.96 CA$19.64

$12.65 $12.65

10.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.07 CA$16.98

$14.73 $14.73

-18.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.12

$1.95 $1.95

-22.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CA$3.13

$3.01 $3.01

-26.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.30 CA$3.24

$2.05 $2.05

12.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$145 CA$204

$59.7 $59.7

143.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.47 CA$9.11

$2.03 $2.03

218.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 CA$1.02

$1.71 $1.71

-57.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 CA$36.92

$29.22 $29.22

-10.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.85

$0.86 $0.86

52.33%

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

$49.4K CA$69.5K

$28.9K $28.9K

70.85%

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

$45.7K CA$64.3K

$24.8K $24.8K

84.08%

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

$118 CA$167

$214 $214

-44.64%

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

$56.1 CA$79.0

$53.8 $53.8

4.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 CA$78.5

$80.5 $80.5

-30.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.48 CA$58.4

$66.0 $66.0

-37.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.06 CA$31.03

$12.57 $12.57

75.50%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.96

$14.41 $14.41

-41.01%

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

$989 CA$1,392

$1,267 $1,267

-21.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,940 CA$5,545

$33.6K $33.6K

-88.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$88.0

$50.1 $50.1

24.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.72 CA$51.7

$76.1 $76.1

-51.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 CA$142

$121 $121

-16.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 CA$172

$131 $131

-6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 CA$2,404

$2,003 $2,003

-14.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 CA$2,272

$1,479 $1,479

9.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,034 CA$4,269

$3,373 $3,373

-10.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 CA$2,514

$2,518 $2,518

-29.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,270 CA$6,008

$4,188 $4,188

1.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,563 CA$5,014

$4,101 $4,101

-13.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,212 CA$5,927

$4,587 $4,587

-8.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

6.71

20.72%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: July 13, 2026

Last update for Portland, ME: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU and $2,003 in Portland, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Portland, ME pays 9% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU vs $118 in Portland, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $433 per month, with Iqaluit, NU 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

Iqaluit, NU vs Portland, ME: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Portland, ME. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,003 in Portland, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $989 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,267 in Portland, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Portland, ME – a meal for two runs $118 versus $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Portland, ME is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Portland, ME is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Iqaluit, NU, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Iqaluit, NU and Portland, ME are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Portland, ME wins on affordability, Iqaluit, NU on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.