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 $2,405 per month in United Kingdom vs $2,217 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,520 per month in United Kingdom vs $3,254 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,635 per month in United Kingdom vs $4,291 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in United Kingdom is about 8% higher than in 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 74%, Canada by 61%.

Cost ranges are similar: United Kingdom spans $1,100$4,235, Canada $912$3,779. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.52 £15.90
$18.28 CA$25.35
17.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0 £65.0
$71.2 CA$98.8
23.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 £8.05
$10.96 CA$15.20
-0.64%
Cappuccino
$4.92 £3.64
$3.95 CA$5.47
24.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 £1.91
$2.07 CA$2.88
25.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 £1.36
$1.74 CA$2.42
5.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 £5.11
$5.93 CA$8.23
16.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 £5.07
$5.69 CA$7.89
20.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 £1.23
$2.23 CA$3.09
-25.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 £1.23
$2.71 CA$3.76
-38.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 £1.63
$3.72 CA$5.16
-40.86%
Eggs
$4.19 £3.10
$3.61 CA$5.01
16.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 £7.38
$10.81 CA$14.99
-7.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.47 £7.00
$12.22 CA$16.95
-22.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.41 £11.39
$15.68 CA$21.75
-1.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 £2.23
$4.25 CA$5.89
-28.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 £1.25
$1.43 CA$1.98
18.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 £2.16
$4.02 CA$5.57
-27.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.38 £2.50
$4.09 CA$5.67
-17.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 £1.36
$2.68 CA$3.72
-31.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 £1.17
$2.45 CA$3.40
-35.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 £0.93
$2.67 CA$3.70
-52.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 £1.26
$1.80 CA$2.50
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.21 £17.90
$14.46 CA$20.05
67.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.00 £8.13
$13.58 CA$18.84
-19.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 £2.21
$2.84 CA$3.94
4.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 £2.51
$3.26 CA$4.52
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.43 £2.53
$2.46 CA$3.41
39.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$105 £77.9
$75.2 CA$104
40.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 £3.96
$3.15 CA$4.37
70.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 £1.75
$1.54 CA$2.14
53.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.55 £20.36
$27.55 CA$38.21
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 £1.43
$1.16 CA$1.61
66.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K £29.3K
$28.4K CA$39.3K
39.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K £30.1K
$19.5K CA$27.0K
108.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$321 £238
$155 CA$215
107.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67 £13.80
$43.47 CA$60.3
-57.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.93 £32.47
$60.4 CA$83.8
-27.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.56 £34.41
$41.15 CA$57.1
13.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 £13.83
$19.79 CA$27.45
-5.46%
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 £10.00
$11.53 CA$15.98
17.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,739 £1,285
$786 CA$1,089
121.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K £16.7K
$14.8K CA$20.6K
52.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9 £67.2
$55.0 CA$76.3
65.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.40 £35.04
$41.25 CA$57.2
14.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 £77.8
$88.1 CA$122
19.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 £74.9
$106 CA$147
-4.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 £1,022
$1,295 CA$1,797
6.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 £809
$1,168 CA$1,619
-6.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 £1,638
$2,044 CA$2,835
8.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,814 £1,341
$1,779 CA$2,467
1.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,730 £4,235
$4,786 CA$6,638
19.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,515 £3,337
$3,973 CA$5,510
13.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,329 £2,461
$3,078 CA$4,270
8.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
4.86
9.47%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: September 5, 2026

Last update for Canada: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,285 in United Kingdom vs $1,228 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,926 in London and $1,496 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $3,292 in United Kingdom vs $2,981 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 5% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 27% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 43% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 10% higher 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 14% 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 14% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Canada or in 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 to 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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