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 $2,339 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $2,216 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,438 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $3,231 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,536 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $4,245 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 70%, Edmonton by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.91 CA$24.84

$20.53 CA$28.47

-12.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 CA$111

$79.7 CA$110

0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.35 CA$15.75

$9.98 CA$13.84

13.73%

Cappuccino

$3.95 CA$5.48

$4.04 CA$5.60

-2.23%

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

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.19 CA$3.04

7.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.92 CA$2.66

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$5.87 CA$8.14

-2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 CA$8.24

$6.58 CA$9.13

-9.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$1.68 CA$2.33

2.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 CA$4.82

$2.23 CA$3.09

55.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.46

$3.13 CA$4.34

2.88%

Eggs

$4.27 CA$5.92

$3.46 CA$4.80

23.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.13

$10.96 CA$15.20

6.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.05

$11.62 CA$16.11

18.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.13 CA$23.76

$18.52 CA$25.68

-7.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 CA$6.64

$4.44 CA$6.16

7.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.35 CA$1.87

-5.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 CA$5.96

$4.28 CA$5.94

0.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CA$6.69

$4.05 CA$5.62

19.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.26 CA$3.13

23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$1.90 CA$2.64

51.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.90 CA$4.03

$2.42 CA$3.36

19.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 CA$3.20

$1.81 CA$2.51

27.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.83 CA$17.79

$14.49 CA$20.10

-11.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.74

$11.72 CA$16.26

21.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.60

$3.66 CA$5.07

-28.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$3.05 CA$4.23

-12.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 CA$2.60

$2.66 CA$3.69

-29.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.15 CA$64.0

$72.8 CA$101

-36.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$3.03 CA$4.20

-6.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 CA$3.06

$1.36 CA$1.89

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.52 CA$39.56

$21.77 CA$30.20

31.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.16 CA$1.61

19.83%

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

$28.5K CA$39.5K

$29.2K CA$40.4K

-2.25%

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

$19.3K CA$26.8K

$19.7K CA$27.4K

-2.07%

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

$156 CA$217

$228 CA$316

-31.27%

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

$41.25 CA$57.2

$41.39 CA$57.4

-0.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$91.6

$55.2 CA$76.5

19.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.33 CA$39.29

$48.77 CA$67.6

-41.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 CA$27.60

$18.21 CA$25.25

9.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 CA$15.68

$12.98 CA$18.00

-12.94%

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

$525 CA$728

$783 CA$1,086

-32.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K CA$18.5K

$9,700 CA$13.5K

37.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CA$70.1

$45.17 CA$62.7

11.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.57 CA$47.95

$47.85 CA$66.4

-27.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$142

$86.1 CA$119

19.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$98.2 CA$136

10.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 CA$1,979

$1,136 CA$1,576

25.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 CA$1,646

$920 CA$1,276

29.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 CA$3,017

$1,734 CA$2,404

25.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 CA$2,441

$1,453 CA$2,015

21.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,969 CA$5,504

$2,251 CA$3,122

76.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,457 CA$4,794

$2,112 CA$2,929

63.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,256 CA$4,515

$3,780 CA$5,243

-13.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

4.32

9.26%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: September 5, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,427 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,136 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 16% 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 $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC versus $80.0 in Edmonton. Groceries tell a different story – $410 in Nanaimo, BC vs $369 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: $2,339 in Nanaimo, BC, $2,216 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 $3,509 per month in Nanaimo, BC and $3,324 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 $2,339 in Nanaimo, BC and $2,216 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 58% 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 $2,216, than in Nanaimo, BC at $2,339. 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.