Cost of Living Comparison Between Virginia Beach, VA and Pickering, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Virginia Beach, VA and Pickering, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,602 per month in Virginia Beach, VA vs $2,779 in Pickering, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,077 per month in Virginia Beach, VA vs $3,850 in Pickering, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,553 per month in Virginia Beach, VA vs $4,922 in Pickering, ON, rent included.

Virginia Beach, VA is about 6% cheaper than Pickering, ON, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Virginia Beach, VA and Pickering, ON sit above the global median – Virginia Beach, VA by 95%, Pickering, ON by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.87 $19.87

$18.67 CA$26.18

6.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.3 $90.3

$73.0 CA$102

23.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 $10.86

$11.10 CA$15.56

-2.16%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$2.38 CA$3.33

135.71%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$1.61 CA$2.26

62.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.45 CA$2.03

69.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.83 CA$6.77

21.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$5.10 CA$7.15

38.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$2.06 CA$2.88

-58.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.14 CA$3.01

46.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$4.39 CA$6.16

20.27%

Eggs

$3.69 $3.69

$3.25 CA$4.56

13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 $11.53

$11.12 CA$15.60

3.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$16.06 CA$22.51

-58.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 $15.89

$14.65 CA$20.54

8.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$4.18 CA$5.86

-40.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.05 CA$1.48

37.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.20 CA$5.89

-33.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.11 CA$7.17

-16.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.88 CA$4.04

-21.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.42 CA$4.80

-7.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.76 CA$3.87

-36.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.11 CA$1.55

102.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.15 $9.15

$9.08 CA$12.73

0.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.51 CA$17.54

-4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.72 CA$3.81

-35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.99 CA$4.20

-28.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.74 CA$3.84

-25.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.7 $68.7

$62.1 CA$87.1

10.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.83 CA$3.96

60.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.26 CA$1.76

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.30 $20.30

$22.49 CA$31.53

-9.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.12 CA$1.58

-27.68%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

20.53%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$22.3K CA$31.3K

10.55%

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

$167 $167

$166 CA$233

0.45%

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

$48.13 $48.13

$35.93 CA$50.4

33.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$66.0 CA$92.5

2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 $50.1

$62.3 CA$87.3

-19.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.85 $34.85

Cinema Ticket

$12.02 $12.02

$11.85 CA$16.61

1.43%

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

$1,654 $1,654

$762 CA$1,069

116.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$11.9K CA$16.7K

35.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 $62.0

$75.3 CA$106

-17.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.63 $45.63

$54.5 CA$76.4

-16.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$75.7 CA$106

50.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$87.6 CA$123

67.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,639 $1,639

$1,679 CA$2,353

-2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 $1,357

$1,582 CA$2,218

-14.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,905 $2,905

$2,246 CA$3,149

29.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 $2,673

$2,097 CA$2,940

27.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 $2,264

$4,199 CA$5,887

-46.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,326 $2,326

$3,909 CA$5,480

-40.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,210 $4,210

$2,974 CA$4,170

41.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.57

-0.30%

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

Last update for Virginia Beach, VA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Pickering, ON: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,639 in Virginia Beach, VA versus $1,679 in Pickering, ON. 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 42% higher in Virginia Beach, VA, 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 $90.0 in Virginia Beach, VA versus $73.0 in Pickering, ON. Groceries tell a different story – $329 in Virginia Beach, VA vs $384 in Pickering, ON – so Virginia Beach, VA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Virginia Beach, VA vs Pickering, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,602 in Virginia Beach, VA, $2,779 in Pickering, ON – roughly 7% apart. Pickering, ON costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,902 per month in Virginia Beach, VA and $4,168 in Pickering, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Virginia Beach, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,602 in Virginia Beach, VA and $2,779 in Pickering, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Virginia Beach, VA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,602 in Virginia Beach, VA and $2,779 in Pickering, ON. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Virginia Beach, VA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Virginia Beach, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pickering, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.