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 $2,404 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $2,210 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,508 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $3,281 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,612 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $4,352 in Edmonton, rent included.

Nanaimo, BC costs about 9% more than Edmonton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nanaimo, BC and Edmonton sit above the global median – Nanaimo, BC by 81%, Edmonton by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.15 CA$25.48

$18.09 CA$25.39

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CA$87.8

$66.1 CA$92.7

-5.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 CA$18.57

$11.17 CA$15.68

18.44%

Cappuccino

$4.05 CA$5.69

$3.88 CA$5.45

4.38%

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

$2.58 CA$3.62

$2.18 CA$3.06

18.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 CA$2.86

$1.82 CA$2.55

12.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.31

$5.75 CA$8.08

2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 CA$8.16

$5.81 CA$8.15

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.53

$2.06 CA$2.90

-12.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.36 CA$4.72

$2.82 CA$3.95

19.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$3.14 CA$4.41

35.35%

Eggs

$3.93 CA$5.51

$3.55 CA$4.98

10.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 CA$16.35

$12.42 CA$17.43

-6.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.79 CA$22.17

$12.74 CA$17.89

23.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.96 CA$25.21

$16.40 CA$23.02

9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 CA$6.32

$4.61 CA$6.48

-2.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CA$2.28

$1.33 CA$1.87

22.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 CA$4.94

$3.95 CA$5.55

-10.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 CA$6.45

$3.60 CA$5.05

27.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.41

$2.35 CA$3.30

33.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 CA$4.07

$2.12 CA$2.98

36.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 CA$4.35

$2.67 CA$3.75

16.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.01 CA$2.82

11.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.19 CA$18.52

$14.78 CA$20.74

-10.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 CA$19.64

$12.07 CA$16.94

15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 CA$3.35

$2.93 CA$4.12

-18.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 CA$4.65

$3.12 CA$4.38

6.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$2.61 CA$3.66

-27.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.24 CA$67.7

$72.3 CA$102

-33.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 CA$3.98

$3.11 CA$4.37

-8.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 CA$1.86

$1.73 CA$2.42

-23.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.49 CA$48.41

$23.73 CA$33.31

45.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.05 CA$1.47

23.81%

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

$25.4K CA$35.6K

$25.6K CA$36.0K

-1.00%

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

$20.2K CA$28.3K

$21.8K CA$30.7K

-7.71%

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

$118 CA$166

$201 CA$282

-41.19%

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

$46.09 CA$64.7

$45.59 CA$64.0

1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 CA$94.5

$65.2 CA$91.5

3.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.48 CA$42.79

$47.37 CA$66.5

-35.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.85 CA$15.22

$21.31 CA$29.92

-49.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 CA$15.69

$13.37 CA$18.76

-16.38%

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

$786 CA$1,103

$703 CA$987

11.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.9K

$11.8K CA$16.6K

1.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.06 CA$63.2

$49.50 CA$69.5

-8.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.16 CA$47.95

$41.41 CA$58.1

-17.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 CA$114

$83.0 CA$116

-1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 CA$139

$104 CA$145

-4.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 CA$1,856

$1,223 CA$1,717

8.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,161 CA$1,630

$947 CA$1,329

22.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 CA$2,822

$1,943 CA$2,727

3.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 CA$2,725

$1,603 CA$2,250

21.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 CA$5,346

$2,330 CA$3,271

63.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,492 CA$4,901

$2,103 CA$2,952

66.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,145 CA$4,414

$3,343 CA$4,693

-5.93%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,322 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,223 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 6% 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 – $423 in Nanaimo, BC vs $382 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: $2,404 in Nanaimo, BC, $2,210 in Edmonton – roughly 9% apart. Nanaimo, BC costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,606 per month in Nanaimo, BC and $3,314 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 $2,404 in Nanaimo, BC and $2,210 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% 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 $2,210, than in Nanaimo, BC at $2,404. 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.