😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,088 in Taunton versus $1,826 in Port Alberni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,334 in Taunton versus $2,956 in Port Alberni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,581 in Taunton versus $4,086 in Port Alberni.
😐Living in Taunton is roughly 14% more expensive than Port Alberni, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Taunton56% above, Port Alberni36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.72£11.71
$17.18CA$23.90
-8.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8£63.2
$54.9CA$76.4
54.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.61£6.42
$11.16CA$15.52
-22.85%
Cappuccino
$3.72£2.77
$4.32CA$6.01
-13.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76£1.31
$2.05CA$2.85
-14.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42£1.06
$1.13CA$1.57
25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.78£3.56
$3.64CA$5.07
31.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31£3.95
$5.59CA$7.78
-5.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56£1.16
$2.65CA$3.68
-41.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74£1.30
$1.81CA$2.51
-3.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.64£1.96
$2.88CA$4.01
-8.33%
Eggs
$4.77£3.56
$3.62CA$5.04
31.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.12£7.54
$5.75CA$8.00
76.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.90£6.63
$4.38CA$6.09
103.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.76£10.99
$24.31CA$33.81
-39.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94£1.45
$2.97CA$4.14
-34.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06£0.79
$1.12CA$1.55
-5.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.71£2.77
$3.02CA$4.20
22.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38£2.51
$3.39CA$4.72
-0.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16£0.87
$2.14CA$2.98
-45.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29£0.96
$1.94CA$2.69
-33.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45£1.08
$2.27CA$3.16
-36.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57£1.17
$0.76CA$1.06
106.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.84£17.76
$10.84CA$15.08
119.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.84£7.33
$10.72CA$14.91
-8.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13£1.58
$3.98CA$5.54
-46.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10£3.06
$4.00CA$5.57
2.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35£2.49
$1.43CA$1.99
134.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.0£66.3
$35.47CA$49.33
150.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06£2.28
$2.68CA$3.73
14.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75£1.30
$1.45CA$2.01
20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.90£17.06
$28.34CA$39.41
-19.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87£1.39
$1.25CA$1.74
49.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K£28.9K
$25.5KCA$35.4K
52.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K£29.0K
$21.3KCA$29.6K
82.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$361£269
$186CA$258
94.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.06£11.22
$36.92CA$51.4
-59.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.47£31.64
$67.3CA$93.6
-36.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8£46.04
$41.23CA$57.3
49.87%
Cinema Ticket
$13.05£9.72
$12.45CA$17.31
4.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,666£1,986
$893CA$1,242
198.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,012£5,969
$12.6KCA$17.5K
-36.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9£40.18
$55.4CA$77.0
-2.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6£38.43
$53.3CA$74.1
-3.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.6£71.2
$105CA$147
-9.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4£61.4
$93.8CA$130
-12.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,077£802
$743CA$1,033
44.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$828£617
$739CA$1,028
11.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007£1,495
$1,679CA$2,335
19.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,809£1,348
$1,595CA$2,219
13.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taunton
Port Alberni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,319£2,473
$3,138CA$4,364
5.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
6.54
-9.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Taunton: May 31, 2026
Last update for Port Alberni: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,077 in Taunton and $743 in Port Alberni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Taunton pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Taunton vs $55.0 in Port Alberni. Groceries flip the comparison at $299 vs $311, with Taunton cheaper for home cooking.
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
Taunton vs Port Alberni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Alberni cheaper than Taunton?
Port Alberni is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Taunton or Port Alberni?
Taunton pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Taunton and Port Alberni?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,077 in Taunton versus $743 in Port Alberni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Taunton or Port Alberni?
Dining out is cheaper in Port Alberni – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $85.0 in Taunton. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Taunton vs Port Alberni?
All in, you'll spend $2,088 per month in Taunton versus $1,826 in Port Alberni – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Taunton or Port Alberni?
At $1,826 in Port Alberni versus $2,088 in Taunton, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Port Alberni but tight or insufficient in Taunton. The gap between the two cities makes Port Alberni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Taunton or Port Alberni?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Taunton or Port Alberni?
Safety-wise, Taunton and Port Alberni are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Port Alberni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Taunton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.