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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,501 in Thun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,507 in Nanaimo, BC versus $5,246 in Thun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Nanaimo, BC versus $6,990 in Thun.

Living in Nanaimo, BC costs roughly 32% less than in Thun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nanaimo, BC 79% above, Thun 161% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.70 CA$25.62

$28.18 CHF 22.26

-33.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 CA$86.7

$123 CHF 96.9

-48.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.43 CA$18.39

$17.14 CHF 13.54

-21.65%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.67

$5.95 CHF 4.70

-30.42%

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

$2.63 CA$3.60

$4.90 CHF 3.87

-46.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.71

$4.76 CHF 3.76

-58.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 CA$8.17

$8.38 CHF 6.62

-28.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 CA$8.09

$7.61 CHF 6.01

-22.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.47

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-18.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 CA$4.48

$3.32 CHF 2.62

-1.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.65

$4.22 CHF 3.33

-2.13%

Eggs

$3.96 CA$5.43

$7.17 CHF 5.66

-44.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 CA$16.14

$26.38 CHF 20.84

-55.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.57 CA$21.33

$28.87 CHF 22.81

-46.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.44 CA$25.26

$41.55 CHF 32.83

-55.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 CA$5.96

$3.51 CHF 2.77

23.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.11

$2.15 CHF 1.70

-28.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.63

$2.89 CHF 2.29

16.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 CA$6.43

$6.54 CHF 5.17

-28.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 CA$4.25

$2.16 CHF 1.71

43.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.88

$2.16 CHF 1.71

31.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 CA$4.19

$2.55 CHF 2.01

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.20

$1.14 CHF 0.90

105.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 CA$18.08

$11.20 CHF 8.85

17.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.03 CA$17.85

$12.95 CHF 10.23

0.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$1.91 CHF 1.51

22.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 CA$4.64

$2.28 CHF 1.80

48.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 CA$2.62

$3.82 CHF 3.01

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.16 CA$66.0

$96.8 CHF 76.5

-50.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 CA$3.93

$7.80 CHF 6.16

-63.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 CA$1.89

$3.38 CHF 2.67

-59.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.13 CA$46.76

$66.0 CHF 52.1

-48.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.86

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-39.82%

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

$25.0K CA$34.2K

$40.3K CHF 31.8K

-38.06%

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

$20.0K CA$27.5K

$41.5K CHF 32.8K

-51.64%

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

$117 CA$161

$365 CHF 288

-67.83%

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

$46.31 CA$63.5

$58.9 CHF 46.53

-21.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$90.6

$59.2 CHF 46.80

11.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.75 CA$42.13

$87.1 CHF 68.8

-64.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.17 CA$15.30

Cinema Ticket

$11.26 CA$15.43

$24.76 CHF 19.56

-54.52%

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

$771 CA$1,056

$3,063 CHF 2,420

-74.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K CA$16.7K

$33.4K CHF 26.4K

-63.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 CA$63.3

$150 CHF 118

-69.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.25 CA$46.92

$70.0 CHF 55.3

-51.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 CA$111

$175 CHF 139

-53.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$138

$186 CHF 147

-45.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 CA$1,813

$1,703 CHF 1,345

-22.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 CA$1,594

$1,451 CHF 1,146

-19.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 CA$2,849

$2,808 CHF 2,218

-25.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 CA$2,657

$2,498 CHF 1,973

-22.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,950 CA$5,411

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,573 CA$4,894

$7,743 CHF 6,117

-53.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,197 CA$4,380

$6,607 CHF 5,219

-51.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

2.5

158.80%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: April 25, 2026

Last update for Thun: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,324 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,703 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thun pays 107% 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: $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC vs $123 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $599 per month, with Nanaimo, BC 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

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

Nanaimo, BC wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Thun. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nanaimo, BC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Thun earns 107% 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: $1,324 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,703 in Thun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Nanaimo, BC runs roughly 101% less than in Thun. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $771 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,063 in Thun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,391 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,501 in Thun, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nanaimo, BC but tight or insufficient in Thun. The gap between the two cities makes Nanaimo, BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Nanaimo, BC and Thun 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 Nanaimo, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.