Cost of Living Comparison Between Pickering, ON and Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Pickering, ON and Virginia Beach, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,734 per month in Pickering, ON vs $2,665 in Virginia Beach, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,804 per month in Pickering, ON vs $4,087 in Virginia Beach, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,875 per month in Pickering, ON vs $5,509 in Virginia Beach, VA, rent included.

Pickering, ON costs about 3% more than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pickering, ON and Virginia Beach, VA sit above the global median – Pickering, ON by 104%, Virginia Beach, VA by 99%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.56 CA$25.69

$20.16 $20.16

-7.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.5 CA$100

$89.5 $89.5

-18.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 CA$15.52

$11.03 $11.03

1.63%

Cappuccino

$2.29 CA$3.17

$5.50 $5.50

-58.36%

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

$1.68 CA$2.32

$2.70 $2.70

-37.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 CA$1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-41.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.79 CA$6.64

$5.90 $5.90

-18.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.98 CA$6.90

$7.04 $7.04

-29.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CA$2.94

$0.92 $0.92

130.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 CA$3.10

$3.09 $3.09

-27.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.13

$5.43 $5.43

-18.42%

Eggs

$3.36 CA$4.66

$3.58 $3.58

-6.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 CA$15.38

$11.61 $11.61

-4.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.55 CA$21.53

$6.64 $6.64

134.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.54 CA$20.13

$15.98 $15.98

-9.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.69

$2.54 $2.54

61.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 CA$1.39

$1.48 $1.48

-32.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.93

$2.70 $2.70

58.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 CA$7.19

$4.20 $4.20

23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.13

$2.24 $2.24

33.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.89

$3.12 $3.12

13.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 CA$3.64

$1.77 $1.77

48.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CA$1.56

$2.25 $2.25

-49.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.61 CA$11.93

$8.93 $8.93

-3.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 CA$18.23

$12.12 $12.12

8.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.60

$1.75 $1.75

48.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 CA$4.20

$2.19 $2.19

38.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.78 CA$3.85

$2.03 $2.03

36.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.7 CA$86.9

$70.0 $70.0

-10.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 CA$3.96

$4.61 $4.61

-37.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.32 $1.32

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.93 CA$31.75

$19.72 $19.72

16.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$0.88 $0.88

25.00%

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$31.5K $31.5K

-20.16%

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

$22.2K CA$30.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

-11.89%

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

$163 CA$226

$168 $168

-3.06%

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

$36.22 CA$50.2

$48.49 $48.49

-25.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 CA$92.5

$66.7 $66.7

0.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 CA$86.3

$50.3 $50.3

24.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.54 $34.54

Cinema Ticket

$12.00 CA$16.61

$12.12 $12.12

-0.99%

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

$757 CA$1,048

$1,650 $1,650

-54.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.2K

$16.4K $16.4K

-28.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 CA$106

$63.2 $63.2

20.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.8 CA$75.8

$46.75 $46.75

17.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 CA$104

$118 $118

-36.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 CA$119

$142 $142

-39.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,654 CA$2,290

$1,700 $1,700

-2.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 CA$2,143

$1,326 $1,326

16.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 CA$3,058

$2,959 $2,959

-25.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,093 CA$2,898

$2,672 $2,672

-21.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,474 CA$8,964

$2,268 $2,268

185.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,110 CA$7,075

$2,314 $2,314

120.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,099 CA$4,290

$4,284 $4,284

-27.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.55

0.31%

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

Last update for Pickering, ON: May 31, 2026

Last update for Virginia Beach, VA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,654 in Pickering, ON versus $1,700 in Virginia Beach, VA. 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 38% higher in Virginia Beach, VA, 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 $73.0 in Pickering, ON versus $89.0 in Virginia Beach, VA. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in Pickering, ON vs $330 in Virginia Beach, VA – so Virginia Beach, VA 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

Pickering, ON vs Virginia Beach, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,734 in Pickering, ON, $2,665 in Virginia Beach, VA – roughly 3% apart. Pickering, ON costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,101 per month in Pickering, ON and $3,998 in Virginia Beach, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Virginia Beach, VA, 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 $2,734 in Pickering, ON and $2,665 in Virginia Beach, VA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Virginia Beach, VA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,734 in Pickering, ON and $2,665 in Virginia Beach, VA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Virginia Beach, VA – 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 Virginia Beach, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pickering, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.