๐A single person spends $1,695 per month in Sherbrooke vs $2,286 in Kingston, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Sherbrooke vs $3,230 in Kingston, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,522 per month in Sherbrooke vs $4,173 in Kingston, rent included.
๐Sherbrooke is about 26% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both Sherbrooke and Kingston sit above the global median โ Sherbrooke by 26%, Kingston by 70%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.22CA$24.96
$16.72CA$22.91
8.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0CA$95.9
$74.2CA$102
-5.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05CA$15.14
$11.28CA$15.46
-2.04%
Cappuccino
$3.37CA$4.61
$3.69CA$5.06
-8.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03CA$2.78
$1.90CA$2.60
6.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88CA$2.57
$1.44CA$1.97
30.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.93CA$8.12
$6.04CA$8.28
-1.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08CA$6.97
$6.45CA$8.83
-21.24%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.80CA$3.83
$2.58CA$3.53
8.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.88CA$3.95
$2.54CA$3.47
13.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90CA$5.35
$4.17CA$5.71
-6.47%
Eggs
$3.27CA$4.48
$2.91CA$3.99
12.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.05CA$16.51
$10.68CA$14.63
12.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.85CA$13.49
$11.42CA$15.64
-13.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.63CA$22.78
$11.41CA$15.63
45.75%
Apples(1kg)
$4.92CA$6.75
$3.56CA$4.87
38.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54CA$2.11
$1.32CA$1.80
16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.80CA$5.20
$4.01CA$5.50
-5.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.42CA$4.68
$4.86CA$6.66
-29.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74CA$2.39
$3.54CA$4.85
-50.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03CA$2.78
$2.41CA$3.30
-15.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79CA$2.46
$2.97CA$4.07
-39.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.80CA$2.46
$1.62CA$2.22
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.69CA$17.39
$13.87CA$19.00
-8.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.08CA$17.91
$12.45CA$17.06
5.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.67CA$5.02
$2.29CA$3.13
60.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75CA$5.13
$3.30CA$4.53
13.64%
๐ Getting Around
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.72CA$3.73
$2.52CA$3.46
7.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.5CA$87.0
$58.0CA$79.5
9.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.78CA$5.17
$3.27CA$4.48
15.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80CA$1.09
$1.57CA$2.16
-49.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.69CA$47.53
$32.56CA$44.60
6.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21CA$1.65
$1.08CA$1.49
12.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCA$33.8K
$24.6KCA$33.7K
0.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KCA$28.3K
$21.4KCA$29.3K
-3.24%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.7CA$98.3
$130CA$178
-44.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.28CA$59.3
$44.36CA$60.8
-2.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1CA$74.1
$78.7CA$108
-31.33%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.00CA$39.73
$32.36CA$44.33
-10.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.18CA$9.84
$9.29CA$12.73
-22.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.16CA$13.91
$11.18CA$15.32
-9.12%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$897CA$1,229
$446CA$611
101.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,559CA$13.1K
$11.7KCA$16.0K
-18.20%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3CA$86.8
$46.10CA$63.2
37.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.50CA$43.16
$35.95CA$49.25
-12.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.5CA$89.8
$95.1CA$130
-31.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108CA$148
$92.3CA$126
16.80%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875CA$1,199
$1,289CA$1,766
-32.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657CA$900
$1,189CA$1,630
-44.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,234CA$1,691
$2,130CA$2,918
-42.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$997CA$1,366
$1,679CA$2,301
-40.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,283CA$3,128
$3,450CA$4,726
-33.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,808CA$2,477
$2,513CA$3,443
-28.06%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Sherbrooke
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,755CA$3,775
$3,086CA$4,228
-10.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.32
6.69
-5.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sherbrooke: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kingston: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $875 in Sherbrooke versus $1,289 in Kingston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 12% higher in Kingston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Sherbrooke versus $74 in Kingston. Groceries tell a different story โ $377 in Sherbrooke vs $359 in Kingston โ so Kingston 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
Sherbrooke vs Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sherbrooke and Kingston compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,695 in Sherbrooke, $2,286 in Kingston โ roughly 35% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sherbrooke compared to Kingston?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,542 per month in Sherbrooke and $3,429 in Kingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sherbrooke and Kingston?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sherbrooke, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sherbrooke or Kingston?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,695 in Sherbrooke and $2,286 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Sherbrooke and Kingston?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Sherbrooke. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Sherbrooke, where all-in costs run around $1,695, than in Kingston at $2,286. In Sherbrooke it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Sherbrooke or Kingston?
Families tend to lean toward Sherbrooke โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Sherbrooke or Kingston safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Sherbrooke and Kingston?
If budget matters most, go with Sherbrooke. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Sherbrooke vs other spots: cost of living compared