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: $2,339 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,478 in Thun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,438 in Nanaimo, BC versus $5,333 in Thun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,536 in Nanaimo, BC versus $7,188 in Thun.

Living in Nanaimo, BC costs roughly 33% less than in Thun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Nanaimo, BC 70% above, Thun 152% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.91 CA$24.84

$28.64 CHF 23.38

-37.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.0 CA$111

$122 CHF 99.8

-34.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.35 CA$15.75

$16.38 CHF 13.37

-30.71%

Cappuccino

$3.95 CA$5.48

$6.67 CHF 5.44

-40.78%

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

$2.35 CA$3.25

$6.15 CHF 5.02

-61.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$6.34 CHF 5.17

-73.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$9.11 CHF 7.43

-37.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 CA$8.24

$7.99 CHF 6.52

-25.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.40

$2.18 CHF 1.78

-20.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 CA$4.82

$2.99 CHF 2.44

16.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.46

$3.19 CHF 2.61

0.94%

Eggs

$4.27 CA$5.92

$7.95 CHF 6.49

-46.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.63 CA$16.13

$25.22 CHF 20.58

-53.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.05

$28.49 CHF 23.25

-51.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.13 CA$23.76

$40.48 CHF 33.03

-57.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 CA$6.64

$3.74 CHF 3.05

28.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$2.03 CHF 1.66

-37.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 CA$5.96

$2.70 CHF 2.21

59.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CA$6.69

$4.57 CHF 3.73

5.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$1.66 CHF 1.35

68.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$1.98 CHF 1.61

45.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.90 CA$4.03

$2.31 CHF 1.89

25.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 CA$3.20

$1.36 CHF 1.11

69.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.83 CA$17.79

$11.67 CHF 9.53

9.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.74

$12.42 CHF 10.13

14.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.60

$2.34 CHF 1.91

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.70

$3.11 CHF 2.54

-14.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 CA$2.60

$4.49 CHF 3.67

-58.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.15 CA$64.0

$101 CHF 82.1

-54.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$7.84 CHF 6.40

-63.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 CA$3.06

$4.81 CHF 3.93

-54.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.52 CA$39.56

$86.1 CHF 70.2

-66.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.38 CHF 1.94

-41.60%

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

$28.5K CA$39.5K

$43.1K CHF 35.2K

-33.87%

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

$19.3K CA$26.8K

$40.5K CHF 33.1K

-52.33%

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

$156 CA$217

$303 CHF 247

-48.32%

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

$41.25 CA$57.2

$53.7 CHF 43.80

-23.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 CA$91.6

$64.3 CHF 52.4

2.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.33 CA$39.29

$91.9 CHF 75.0

-69.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 CA$27.60

$41.36 CHF 33.76

-51.89%

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 CA$15.68

$23.23 CHF 18.95

-51.36%

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

$525 CA$728

$3,123 CHF 2,549

-83.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K CA$18.5K

$31.6K CHF 25.7K

-57.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 CA$70.1

$151 CHF 123

-66.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.57 CA$47.95

$81.2 CHF 66.3

-57.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$142

$163 CHF 133

-37.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$199 CHF 163

-45.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 CA$1,979

$1,748 CHF 1,427

-18.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 CA$1,646

$1,505 CHF 1,228

-21.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 CA$3,017

$2,923 CHF 2,386

-25.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,760 CA$2,441

$2,550 CHF 2,081

-30.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,969 CA$5,504

$16.9K CHF 13.8K

-76.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,457 CA$4,794

$12.2K CHF 9,927

-71.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,256 CA$4,515

$5,959 CHF 4,863

-45.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

2.43

94.24%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: September 5, 2026

Last update for Thun: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,427 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,748 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thun pays 83% 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: $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC vs $122 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $578 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 49% 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, salaries run 83% lower in Thun. 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: $1,427 in Nanaimo, BC versus $1,748 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 118% less than in Thun. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $525 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,123 in Thun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,339 in Nanaimo, BC versus $3,478 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 49% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.