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: $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU versus $3,078 in Portland, ME.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,565 in Portland, ME.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU versus $6,052 in Portland, ME.

Living in Iqaluit, NU costs roughly 1% less than in Portland, ME, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 128% above, Portland, ME 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CA$43.33

$30.47 $30.47

2.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.0

$119 $119

-44.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.97 CA$17.96

$11.85 $11.85

9.45%

Cappuccino

$6.69 CA$9.26

$6.38 $6.38

4.86%

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

$3.99 CA$5.53

$2.70 $2.70

47.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$2.30 $2.30

-26.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 CA$9.53

$6.18 $6.18

11.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.30

$8.11 $8.11

-26.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$0.98 $0.98

148.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$3.71 $3.71

-27.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$7.88 $7.88

-61.93%

Eggs

$4.41 CA$6.11

$4.21 $4.21

4.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.17 CA$16.85

$16.65 $16.65

-26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.86

$10.76 $10.76

26.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.77 CA$34.30

$14.66 $14.66

68.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$3.48 $3.48

-41.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.12

$1.66 $1.66

79.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$6.03 $6.03

-67.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$6.05 $6.05

-66.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$7.22 $7.22

-59.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$3.60 $3.60

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 CA$4.14

$2.48 $2.48

20.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$2.15 $2.15

65.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.43 CA$19.98

$12.32 $12.32

17.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 CA$17.73

$14.95 $14.95

-14.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.87 $1.87

-21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$2.98 $2.98

-26.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 CA$200

$59.7 $59.7

141.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 CA$9.44

$2.03 $2.03

235.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$1.79 $1.79

-60.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.47 CA$35.26

$29.51 $29.51

-13.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$0.91 $0.91

39.56%

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

$50.5K CA$70.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

70.82%

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

$45.7K CA$63.3K

$25.4K $25.4K

79.94%

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

$119 CA$164

$211 $211

-43.59%

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

$54.3 CA$75.2

$55.7 $55.7

-2.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CA$77.9

$82.0 $82.0

-31.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 CA$58.3

$65.8 $65.8

-36.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 CA$30.49

$12.49 $12.49

76.30%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.77

$14.41 $14.41

-41.01%

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

$1,019 CA$1,411

$1,286 $1,286

-20.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,997 CA$5,534

$33.5K $33.5K

-88.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.0

$50.2 $50.2

25.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 CA$51.1

$74.1 $74.1

-50.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$143

$122 $122

-15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$167

$133 $133

-9.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 CA$2,336

$2,040 $2,040

-17.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 CA$2,169

$1,453 $1,453

7.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,136 CA$4,342

$3,336 $3,336

-5.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CA$2,545

$2,564 $2,564

-28.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,603 CA$6,373

$4,187 $4,187

9.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,811 CA$5,277

$3,967 $3,967

-3.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,299 CA$5,952

$4,484 $4,484

-4.14%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Portland, ME: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU and $2,040 in Portland, ME. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Portland, ME pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU vs $119 in Portland, ME for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $414 vs $434 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

Iqaluit, NU is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Portland, ME earns 4% less. 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: $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,040 in Portland, ME. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,019 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,286 in Portland, ME. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Portland, ME. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Iqaluit, NU is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Iqaluit, NU is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Portland, ME, 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.

Expats usually find Iqaluit, NU gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Portland, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.