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 $2,606 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,092 in Ipswich, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,944 in Ipswich, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,275 per month in Squamish, BC vs $3,797 in Ipswich, rent included.

Squamish, BC costs about 25% more than Ipswich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Squamish, BC and Ipswich sit above the global median – Squamish, BC by 91%, Ipswich by 53%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.98 CA$20.96

$31.61 A$44.58

-52.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.5 CA$79.0

$75.5 A$106

-25.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.50 CA$14.69

$9.87 A$13.91

6.38%

Cappuccino

$3.94 CA$5.51

$4.54 A$6.41

-13.22%

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

$1.87 CA$2.61

$3.84 A$5.41

-51.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.08

$2.52 A$3.56

-40.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 CA$8.20

$9.08 A$12.81

-35.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 CA$7.92

$8.16 A$11.51

-30.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 CA$2.38

$2.55 A$3.60

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.48 A$3.50

-9.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.15

$2.33 A$3.29

57.94%

Eggs

$3.25 CA$4.54

$7.40 A$10.43

-56.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.91 CA$18.06

$7.65 A$10.79

68.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.12 CA$21.16

$8.49 A$11.98

78.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.92 CA$27.87

$14.54 A$20.50

37.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 CA$7.91

$3.39 A$4.78

66.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 CA$1.74

$2.65 A$3.73

-52.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.26

$2.88 A$4.06

30.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.15

$3.85 A$5.43

-4.42%

Potato (1kg)

$4.21 CA$5.89

$2.04 A$2.88

106.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$2.18 A$3.07

16.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CA$3.53

$2.45 A$3.46

3.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 CA$2.59

$1.82 A$2.56

1.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.11 CA$22.53

$45.08 A$63.6

-64.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.81 CA$15.13

$22.56 A$31.81

-52.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$6.32 A$8.91

-53.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 CA$4.94

$7.34 A$10.35

-51.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 CA$1.97

$0.34 A$0.48

314.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.81 CA$43.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 CA$4.91

$2.17 A$3.06

61.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.07

$1.61 A$2.26

-8.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.51 CA$35.68

$36.39 A$51.3

-29.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.60

$1.44 A$2.03

-20.14%

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

$27.0K CA$37.7K

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

$19.1K CA$26.7K

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

$118 CA$166

$93.8 A$132

26.11%

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

$44.30 CA$62.0

$31.65 A$44.64

39.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 CA$92.3

$64.8 A$91.4

1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.4 CA$72.0

$17.97 A$25.35

186.20%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 CA$15.85

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

$373 CA$522

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,899 CA$11.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 CA$74.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.05 CA$49.03

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 CA$114

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$141

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,278

$1,048 A$1,479

55.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 CA$2,152

$1,030 A$1,453

49.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,202 CA$4,479

$1,439 A$2,029

122.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,882 CA$4,032

$1,424 A$2,008

102.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,057 CA$8,473

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,093 CA$4,327

$4,307 A$6,074

-28.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

5.98

-21.07%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,629 in Squamish, BC versus $1,048 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 39% 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 $56.0 in Squamish, BC versus $75.0 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $404 in Squamish, BC vs $395 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 25%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,909 per month in Squamish, BC and $3,138 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.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Squamish, BC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Squamish, BC and $75.0 in Ipswich. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ipswich, where all-in costs run around $2,092, than in Squamish, BC at $2,606. 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.