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: $2,325 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,486 in Thun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,480 in Nanaimo, BC versus $5,219 in Thun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,634 in Nanaimo, BC versus $6,953 in Thun.

Living in Nanaimo, BC costs roughly 33% less than in Thun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nanaimo, BC 73% above, Thun 159% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.29 CA$25.54

$28.00 CHF 22.23

-34.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 CA$86.6

$123 CHF 97.9

-49.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.44 CA$18.76

$16.94 CHF 13.45

-20.66%

Cappuccino

$4.15 CA$5.79

$5.96 CHF 4.73

-30.37%

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

$2.60 CA$3.63

$4.99 CHF 3.96

-47.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.80

$4.83 CHF 3.84

-58.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.28

$8.50 CHF 6.75

-30.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.01 CA$8.39

$7.89 CHF 6.27

-23.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$2.20 CHF 1.74

-14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 CA$4.55

$3.30 CHF 2.62

-1.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.01

$4.14 CHF 3.28

4.11%

Eggs

$3.82 CA$5.33

$7.07 CHF 5.61

-45.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.81 CA$16.49

$26.41 CHF 20.96

-55.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.62 CA$21.81

$28.72 CHF 22.80

-45.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.39 CA$25.68

$40.85 CHF 32.43

-54.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.99

$3.56 CHF 2.83

20.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CA$2.27

$2.07 CHF 1.64

-21.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.94

$2.75 CHF 2.18

28.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.21

$6.43 CHF 5.11

-30.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.32

$2.24 CHF 1.78

37.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$2.18 CHF 1.73

30.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 CA$4.20

$2.55 CHF 2.03

18.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.16

$1.15 CHF 0.91

96.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.18 CA$18.40

$11.05 CHF 8.78

19.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.69 CA$17.72

$12.46 CHF 9.89

1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 CA$3.39

$1.89 CHF 1.50

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 CA$4.67

$2.25 CHF 1.78

48.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 CA$2.76

$3.98 CHF 3.16

-50.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.21 CA$67.3

$97.9 CHF 77.7

-50.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 CA$3.96

$8.03 CHF 6.38

-64.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.91

$3.38 CHF 2.68

-59.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.09 CA$47.61

$65.4 CHF 51.9

-47.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$2.26 CHF 1.80

-42.04%

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

$25.3K CA$35.4K

$40.9K CHF 32.4K

-38.03%

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

$20.6K CA$28.7K

$41.2K CHF 32.7K

-50.12%

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

$118 CA$164

$374 CHF 297

-68.57%

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

$47.15 CA$65.9

$58.3 CHF 46.29

-19.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 CA$93.5

$58.6 CHF 46.51

14.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.18 CA$43.54

$89.6 CHF 71.2

-65.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 CA$15.64

Cinema Ticket

$11.01 CA$15.38

$24.39 CHF 19.36

-54.86%

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

$780 CA$1,089

$3,138 CHF 2,491

-75.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.5K

$34.3K CHF 27.2K

-65.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.13 CA$63.0

$153 CHF 121

-70.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 CA$48.41

$70.7 CHF 56.1

-50.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 CA$113

$178 CHF 141

-54.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.5 CA$139

$183 CHF 145

-45.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 CA$1,831

$1,693 CHF 1,344

-22.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,648

$1,494 CHF 1,186

-21.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,044 CA$2,855

$2,788 CHF 2,213

-26.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 CA$2,723

$2,459 CHF 1,952

-20.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,915 CA$5,467

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,535 CA$4,937

$7,376 CHF 5,855

-52.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,051 CA$4,261

$5,943 CHF 4,718

-48.66%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Thun: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,311 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,693 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thun pays 95% 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: $62.0 in Nanaimo, BC vs $123 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $593 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 50% 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 95% 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: $1,311 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,693 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 103% less than in Thun. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $780 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,138 in Thun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,325 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,486 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 50% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.