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

Name: Canada
Address: CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,642 per month in United States vs $2,319 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $3,378 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in United States vs $4,437 in Canada, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 14% higher than in Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both United States and Canada are pricier than the global median – United States by 98%, Canada by 74%.

The regional cost range is wider in United States ($1,335–$5,182) than in Canada ($1,332–$3,143), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.63 CA$26.11

5.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$74.0 CA$104

1.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$10.92 CA$15.31

5.95%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$3.76 CA$5.28

38.83%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.19 CA$3.07

13.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.74 CA$2.43

18.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.93 CA$8.31

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$5.95 CA$8.35

19.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$2.28 CA$3.20

-52.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.67 CA$3.74

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$3.78 CA$5.30

25.40%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$3.50 CA$4.90

24.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$11.70 CA$16.40

8.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$12.30 CA$17.24

-0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$15.44 CA$21.65

7.51%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.28 CA$6.00

20.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.45 CA$2.04

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.01 CA$5.62

10.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$4.27 CA$5.98

12.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.69 CA$3.77

8.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.65 CA$3.71

16.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.64 CA$3.70

-15.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.89 CA$2.65

19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$14.77 CA$20.71

-32.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.32 CA$18.67

14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.96 CA$4.15

-35.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.28 CA$4.59

9.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.62 CA$3.67

-6.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 $64.6

$78.1 CA$110

-17.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.42 CA$4.79

10.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.50 CA$2.10

14.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.08 $30.08

$29.07 CA$40.76

3.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.20 CA$1.68

-20.00%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$25.5K CA$35.7K

17.24%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$20.6K CA$28.8K

27.15%

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

$210 $210

$152 CA$212

38.67%

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

$56.3 $56.3

$46.70 CA$65.5

20.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$61.8 CA$86.7

17.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$43.36 CA$60.8

4.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 $21.60

$18.05 CA$25.31

19.67%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$11.51 CA$16.13

21.98%

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

$1,377 $1,377

$806 CA$1,130

70.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$12.1K CA$17.0K

84.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$55.4 CA$77.6

-4.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$41.80 CA$58.6

1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$89.7 CA$126

2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$106 CA$149

7.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$1,329 CA$1,864

32.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$1,207 CA$1,692

21.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,849 $2,849

$2,112 CA$2,961

34.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$1,833 CA$2,570

29.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$4,639 CA$6,503

-27.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$3,849 CA$5,396

-30.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 $4,378

$2,948 CA$4,133

48.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.33

2.84%

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

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Last update for Canada: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $1,281 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,625 in Washington, MI and $1,481 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $2,904 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 28% higher in United States.

Public transport is 160% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 55% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 States vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Canada is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 46% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Canada, contributing to the overall 46% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.