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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Nanaimo, BC costs about 6% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.70 CA$25.62

$18.31 CA$25.09

2.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 CA$86.7

$65.6 CA$89.9

-3.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.43 CA$18.39

$11.54 CA$15.82

16.38%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.67

$3.74 CA$5.12

10.70%

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

$2.63 CA$3.60

$2.08 CA$2.85

26.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.82 CA$2.49

8.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 CA$8.17

$6.00 CA$8.22

-0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 CA$8.09

$5.81 CA$7.96

1.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.47

$2.01 CA$2.76

-9.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$2.88 CA$3.95

13.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.65

$3.12 CA$4.28

32.37%

Eggs

$3.96 CA$5.43

$3.73 CA$5.11

6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.14

$12.21 CA$16.73

-3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.57 CA$21.33

$12.66 CA$17.34

22.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.44 CA$25.26

$16.23 CA$22.24

13.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 CA$5.96

$4.67 CA$6.40

-6.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.11

$1.31 CA$1.80

17.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.63

$3.84 CA$5.26

-11.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 CA$6.43

$3.61 CA$4.95

29.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 CA$4.25

$2.37 CA$3.24

30.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.88

$2.21 CA$3.03

28.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 CA$4.19

$2.66 CA$3.65

15.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.20

$1.96 CA$2.68

19.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 CA$18.08

$14.53 CA$19.90

-9.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.03 CA$17.85

$13.12 CA$17.98

-0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$2.96 CA$4.05

-20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 CA$4.64

$3.22 CA$4.42

4.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CA$2.62

$2.65 CA$3.63

-27.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.16 CA$66.0

$72.8 CA$99.7

-33.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.93

$3.09 CA$4.23

-7.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 CA$1.89

$1.66 CA$2.28

-16.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.13 CA$46.76

$22.95 CA$31.44

48.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.86

$1.08 CA$1.48

25.93%

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

$25.0K CA$34.2K

$25.8K CA$35.4K

-3.26%

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

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$22.4K CA$30.7K

-10.44%

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

$117 CA$161

$201 CA$275

-41.65%

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

$46.31 CA$63.5

$45.28 CA$62.0

2.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$90.6

$64.7 CA$88.7

2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.75 CA$42.13

$47.39 CA$64.9

-35.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.17 CA$15.30

$21.14 CA$28.97

-47.16%

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 CA$15.43

$13.07 CA$17.91

-13.85%

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

$771 CA$1,056

$698 CA$956

10.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K CA$16.7K

$11.9K CA$16.3K

2.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 CA$63.3

$50.4 CA$69.1

-8.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.25 CA$46.92

$41.33 CA$56.6

-17.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 CA$111

$82.4 CA$113

-1.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$138

$105 CA$143

-3.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 CA$1,813

$1,217 CA$1,667

8.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 CA$1,594

$938 CA$1,285

24.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 CA$2,849

$1,935 CA$2,650

7.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 CA$2,657

$1,595 CA$2,186

21.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,950 CA$5,411

$2,374 CA$3,253

66.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,573 CA$4,894

$2,262 CA$3,099

57.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,197 CA$4,380

$3,319 CA$4,547

-3.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.08

6.41%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: April 25, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,587 per month in Nanaimo, BC and $3,381 in Edmonton. 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 $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC and $2,254 in Edmonton. 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.