Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ipswich: $2,055 a month against $2,633 in Squamish, BC, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Squamish, BC, Canada
Ipswich, Australia
Squamish, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,633
/mo nomad
Ipswich
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,055
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Squamish, BC and in Ipswich

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Squamish, BC and in Ipswich actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,633 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,055 in Ipswich, rent included.

  • Squamish, BC $2,633
  • Ipswich $2,055

A couple spends around $3,977 per month in Squamish, BC vs $2,914 in Ipswich, rent included.

  • Squamish, BC $3,977
  • Ipswich $2,914

A family of three spends $5,322 per month in Squamish, BC vs $3,773 in Ipswich, rent included.

  • Squamish, BC $5,322
  • Ipswich $3,773

Squamish, BC costs about 28% more than Ipswich, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Squamish, BC and Ipswich sit above the global median – Squamish, BC by 93%, Ipswich by 51%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13 CA$22.54
$32.17 A$45.72
-49.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 CA$71.1
$75.7 A$108
-32.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 CA$14.47
$10.05 A$14.29
2.99%
Cappuccino
$3.87 CA$5.40
$4.60 A$6.53
-15.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 CA$2.56
$3.76 A$5.35
-51.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.17
$2.43 A$3.45
-35.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 CA$8.05
$9.24 A$13.13
-37.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 CA$8.06
$7.67 A$10.90
-24.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 CA$2.41
$2.49 A$3.54
-30.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 CA$3.01
$2.41 A$3.42
-10.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.91
$2.26 A$3.21
55.31%
Eggs
$3.13 CA$4.37
$7.19 A$10.22
-56.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.63 CA$17.65
$7.19 A$10.23
75.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.42 CA$21.55
$8.65 A$12.29
78.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.49 CA$27.23
$13.77 A$19.57
41.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.33 CA$7.45
$3.33 A$4.74
60.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 CA$1.65
$2.70 A$3.84
-56.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.85 CA$6.77
$2.75 A$3.90
76.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.69 CA$5.15
$3.79 A$5.38
-2.64%
Potato (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.90
$2.00 A$2.84
111.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 CA$3.57
$2.06 A$2.93
24.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.65
$2.44 A$3.46
6.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 CA$2.54
$1.70 A$2.42
7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.69 CA$20.53
$44.66 A$63.5
-67.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.85 CA$15.16
$21.65 A$30.78
-49.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 CA$4.04
$6.39 A$9.08
-54.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 CA$5.04
$7.16 A$10.18
-49.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 CA$2.04
$0.34 A$0.48
329.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.22 CA$43.62
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.62 CA$5.05
$2.19 A$3.11
65.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$2.02
$1.64 A$2.34
-12.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.78 CA$34.63
$35.81 A$50.9
-30.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.67
$1.42 A$2.02
-15.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K CA$37.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K CA$26.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 CA$162
$91.8 A$130
26.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.40 CA$62.0
$31.51 A$44.79
40.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.0 CA$89.5
$62.6 A$89.0
2.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 CA$71.9
$17.21 A$24.46
199.01%
Cinema Ticket
$11.29 CA$15.77
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,088 CA$1,521
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,575 CA$12.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 CA$73.0
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.74 CA$59.7
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 CA$111
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4 CA$139
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 CA$2,291
$1,045 A$1,485
56.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,499 CA$2,095
$1,025 A$1,457
46.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,153 CA$4,406
$1,403 A$1,994
124.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,821 CA$3,941
$1,381 A$1,963
104.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,834 CA$8,153
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Squamish, BC
Ipswich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,121 CA$4,360
$4,151 A$5,900
-24.83%
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ipswich: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Squamish, BC
$1.5K
Ipswich
–
Groceries & Markets
Squamish, BC
$404
Ipswich
–
Eating Out
Squamish, BC
$260
Ipswich
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Squamish, BC
$224
Ipswich
–
Clothing & Footwear
Squamish, BC
$123
Ipswich
–
Sport & Entertainment
Squamish, BC
$74
Ipswich
–
Getting Around
Squamish, BC
$48
Ipswich
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,639 in Squamish, BC versus $1,045 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 33% 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 $51 in Squamish, BC versus $76 in Ipswich. Groceries tell a different story – $404 in Squamish, BC vs $386 in Ipswich – so Ipswich wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Squamish, BC
🇦🇺 Ipswich
🕒 Local time
02:28 2:28 AM
19:28 7:28 PM
17 h ahead of Squamish, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
19,512
229,208
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 AUD (1 AUD = 0.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Squamish, BC Ipswich 11,910 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Squamish, BC
  • Ipswich

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Ipswich cheaper than Squamish, BC?
Yes – Squamish, BC is pricier by about 28%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,949 per month in Squamish, BC and $3,082 in Ipswich. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ipswich, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,045 there versus $1,639 in Squamish, BC.
How do food prices compare in Squamish, BC and in Ipswich?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Squamish, BC, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Squamish, BC or in Ipswich?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51 in Squamish, BC and $76 in Ipswich. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Squamish, BC or in Ipswich?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ipswich, where all-in costs run around $2,055, than in Squamish, BC at $2,633. In Ipswich it covers expenses comfortably, while in Squamish, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Squamish, BC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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