Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,363 per month in United Kingdom vs $2,316 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,474 per month in United Kingdom vs $3,376 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,585 per month in United Kingdom vs $4,436 in Canada, rent included.

United Kingdom costs about 2% more than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both United Kingdom and Canada are pricier than the global median – United Kingdom by 76%, Canada by 73%.

Both countries show comparable internal variation: United Kingdom spans $1,678$3,892, Canada spans $1,310$3,100. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41 £15.21
$18.44 CA$25.64
10.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0 £64.8
$74.5 CA$104
16.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 £7.55
$10.88 CA$15.13
-6.89%
Cappuccino
$4.70 £3.50
$3.90 CA$5.42
20.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 £1.76
$2.16 CA$3.01
9.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 £1.31
$1.73 CA$2.41
1.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.66 £4.96
$5.74 CA$7.98
16.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43 £4.79
$6.05 CA$8.41
6.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 £1.27
$2.20 CA$3.06
-22.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 £1.22
$2.75 CA$3.83
-40.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 £1.71
$3.66 CA$5.09
-37.43%
Eggs
$4.03 £3.00
$3.63 CA$5.05
11.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 £7.28
$11.72 CA$16.29
-16.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 £6.64
$12.28 CA$17.08
-27.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.31 £10.66
$14.88 CA$20.69
-3.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 £2.27
$4.14 CA$5.75
-26.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 £1.20
$1.45 CA$2.02
11.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 £2.11
$3.79 CA$5.27
-25.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.53 £2.63
$4.09 CA$5.68
-13.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 £1.20
$2.73 CA$3.80
-41.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 £1.17
$2.77 CA$3.85
-43.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 £0.87
$2.62 CA$3.64
-55.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 £1.16
$1.87 CA$2.60
-16.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.03 £14.92
$14.79 CA$20.57
35.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.90 £8.12
$13.08 CA$18.19
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 £2.16
$3.03 CA$4.21
-4.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 £2.52
$3.41 CA$4.74
-0.88%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.17 £2.36
$2.52 CA$3.50
25.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.2 £71.0
$77.9 CA$108
22.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 £4.06
$3.49 CA$4.85
56.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 £1.19
$1.48 CA$2.05
7.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.31 £20.35
$28.25 CA$39.29
-3.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 £1.48
$1.15 CA$1.59
73.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.1K
$25.4K CA$35.4K
48.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K £29.9K
$20.6K CA$28.7K
94.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 £240
$155 CA$215
108.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.22 £12.83
$45.76 CA$63.6
-62.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.23 £31.46
$62.2 CA$86.4
-32.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.03 £34.29
$43.67 CA$60.7
5.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.67 £11.67
$18.14 CA$25.22
-13.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.48 £10.04
$11.38 CA$15.83
18.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,713 £1,276
$798 CA$1,109
114.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K £15.5K
$12.1K CA$16.8K
71.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3 £68.0
$56.8 CA$79.0
60.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.88 £33.43
$42.19 CA$58.7
6.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 £76.0
$87.9 CA$122
16.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 £77.5
$106 CA$148
-2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,417 £1,055
$1,359 CA$1,890
4.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,132 £843
$1,204 CA$1,674
-5.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 £1,719
$2,136 CA$2,970
8.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,839 £1,370
$1,860 CA$2,586
-1.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,727 £4,266
$4,642 CA$6,455
23.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,523 £3,370
$3,852 CA$5,357
17.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,333 £2,483
$3,029 CA$4,212
10.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.75
6.33
-9.16%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: May 30, 2026

Last update for Canada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,265 in United Kingdom vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $3,019 in London and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $3,219 in United Kingdom vs $2,972 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 24% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 43% more expensive in United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than United Kingdom?
Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 26% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in United Kingdom, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United Kingdom consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Canada, contributing to the overall 26% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or United Kingdom?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in United Kingdom it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada or United Kingdom?
Canada is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

United Kingdom vs other spots: cost of living compared

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