Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Ipswich Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Ipswich

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,729 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,137 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,148 per month in Squamish, BC vs $3,060 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,567 per month in Squamish, BC vs $3,983 in Ipswich, rent included.

Squamish, BC costs about 28% more than Ipswich, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Squamish, BC and Ipswich sit above the global median – Squamish, BC by 104%, Ipswich by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 CA$21.81

$16.39 A$22.84

-3.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.0 CA$101

$77.2 A$108

-5.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.02

$9.71 A$13.53

11.74%

Cappuccino

$4.14 CA$5.73

$3.35 A$4.67

23.58%

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

$1.97 CA$2.73

$2.58 A$3.60

-23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$2.13 A$2.97

-30.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 CA$8.00

$6.31 A$8.79

-8.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 CA$8.20

$7.26 A$10.12

-18.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.55

$1.43 A$2.00

28.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$2.44 A$3.41

11.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$2.05 A$2.85

76.59%

Eggs

$3.64 CA$5.04

$4.20 A$5.85

-13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 CA$14.15

$8.46 A$11.79

20.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.75 CA$16.26

$8.40 A$11.70

39.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 CA$28.33

$13.85 A$19.30

47.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.86

$3.16 A$4.41

11.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$2.77 A$3.86

-55.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$2.96 A$4.13

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.88

$4.00 A$5.58

-11.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.42

$2.41 A$3.36

2.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.18 A$3.04

-7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 CA$3.39

$2.18 A$3.04

12.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 CA$2.75

$1.59 A$2.22

25.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.70 CA$20.36

$40.02 A$55.8

-63.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 CA$15.06

$22.98 A$32.02

-52.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 CA$4.17

$4.69 A$6.54

-35.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$5.41 A$7.54

-33.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 CA$2.00

$2.54 A$3.54

-42.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.49 CA$43.60

$64.7 A$90.1

-51.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 CA$3.85

$2.08 A$2.90

33.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 CA$2.12

$1.40 A$1.96

9.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.82 CA$39.90

$33.09 A$46.11

-12.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.73

$1.15 A$1.60

8.70%

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

$25.2K CA$34.9K

$28.5K A$39.7K

-11.66%

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

$20.0K CA$27.7K

$22.7K A$31.6K

-11.81%

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

$123 CA$171

$181 A$252

-31.83%

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

$41.85 CA$58.0

$28.77 A$40.09

45.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 CA$90.9

$51.9 A$72.3

26.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 CA$71.7

$49.03 A$68.3

5.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.90 A$22.16

Cinema Ticket

$12.46 CA$17.26

$12.78 A$17.80

-2.50%

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

$1,115 CA$1,544

$1,605 A$2,237

-30.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K CA$17.2K

$11.9K A$16.6K

4.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 CA$77.2

$67.4 A$93.9

-17.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.96 CA$60.9

$50.8 A$70.7

-13.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 CA$143

$101 A$140

2.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 CA$134

$105 A$147

-8.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 CA$2,306

$950 A$1,323

75.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 CA$2,202

$966 A$1,347

64.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,320 CA$4,596

$1,278 A$1,781

159.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,933 CA$4,062

$1,277 A$1,779

129.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,982 CA$8,283

$6,090 A$8,486

-1.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,162 A$7,193

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,216 CA$4,453

$4,344 A$6,054

-25.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

9.00%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,666 in Squamish, BC versus $950 in Ipswich. 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 35% higher in Ipswich, 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 Squamish, BC versus $77.0 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $369 in Squamish, BC vs $357 in Ipswich – so Ipswich 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

Squamish, BC vs Ipswich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Squamish, BC is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,094 per month in Squamish, BC and $3,206 in Ipswich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ipswich, 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 $2,729 in Squamish, BC and $2,137 in Ipswich. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 105% less in Ipswich. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ipswich, where all-in costs run around $2,137, than in Squamish, BC at $2,729. In Ipswich it covers expenses comfortably, while in Squamish, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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