Cost of Living Comparison Between Winnipeg and Columbia, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Winnipeg and Columbia, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,188 in Winnipeg versus $2,160 in Columbia, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,222 in Winnipeg versus $3,066 in Columbia, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,257 in Winnipeg versus $3,971 in Columbia, SC.

Living in Winnipeg is roughly 1% more expensive than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Winnipeg 63% above, Columbia, SC 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.34 CA$22.70

$18.02 $18.02

-9.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.3

$60.1 $60.1

9.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 CA$15.52

$11.90 $11.90

-6.13%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.45

$3.78 $3.78

3.70%

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

$2.23 CA$3.10

$2.31 $2.31

-3.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.59

$1.88 $1.88

-1.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 CA$7.59

$4.52 $4.52

20.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.44 CA$8.95

$5.37 $5.37

19.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CA$2.12

$0.91 $0.91

68.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 CA$3.07

$2.69 $2.69

-17.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 CA$4.63

$3.51 $3.51

-5.13%

Eggs

$3.34 CA$4.64

$4.18 $4.18

-20.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.68 CA$14.84

$9.66 $9.66

10.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.80 CA$16.39

$12.71 $12.71

-7.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.49 CA$25.69

$22.47 $22.47

-17.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.56

$5.01 $5.01

-20.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.91

$1.75 $1.75

-21.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.02

$5.23 $5.23

-30.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.43 CA$4.76

$3.13 $3.13

9.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.73

$3.32 $3.32

-18.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 CA$3.51

$4.60 $4.60

-45.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 CA$3.37

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 CA$2.11

$1.88 $1.88

-19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.09 CA$22.36

$8.84 $8.84

82.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.09 CA$18.19

$15.33 $15.33

-14.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.22 CA$4.47

$1.95 $1.95

65.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 CA$4.92

$2.72 $2.72

30.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.37

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.5 CA$117

$40.48 $40.48

108.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$1.96 $1.96

65.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 CA$1.74

$1.47 $1.47

-14.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.62 CA$36.99

$18.23 $18.23

46.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 CA$1.44

$0.75 $0.75

37.33%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$30.0K $30.0K

-17.13%

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

$21.8K CA$30.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

-14.82%

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

$155 CA$215

$223 $223

-30.54%

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

$42.48 CA$59.0

$53.7 $53.7

-20.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 CA$85.5

$59.2 $59.2

4.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.10 CA$57.1

$39.79 $39.79

3.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.74 CA$46.88

$7.10 $7.10

375.21%

Cinema Ticket

$12.87 CA$17.88

$15.03 $15.03

-14.37%

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

$978 CA$1,359

$1,453 $1,453

-32.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K CA$16.8K

$22.9K $22.9K

-47.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.12 CA$66.9

$54.6 $54.6

-11.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.40 CA$58.9

$34.82 $34.82

21.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 CA$113

$78.0 $78.0

4.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$115 $115

-0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$945 CA$1,314

$1,325 $1,325

-28.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 CA$1,404

$918 $918

9.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 CA$2,079

$2,217 $2,217

-32.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 CA$2,130

$1,307 $1,307

17.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,372 CA$3,296

$2,103 $2,103

12.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,416 CA$3,357

$1,640 $1,640

47.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,586 CA$3,593

$3,216 $3,216

-19.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

6.54

-7.95%

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

Last update for Winnipeg: May 31, 2026

Last update for Columbia, SC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $945 in Winnipeg and $1,325 in Columbia, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Columbia, SC pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Winnipeg vs $60.0 in Columbia, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $361 vs $394, with Winnipeg 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

Winnipeg vs Columbia, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbia, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Columbia, SC earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $945 in Winnipeg versus $1,325 in Columbia, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Winnipeg pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Columbia, SC – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $66.0 in Winnipeg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,160 in Columbia, SC versus $2,188 in Winnipeg, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Columbia, SC but tight or insufficient in Winnipeg. The gap between the two cities makes Columbia, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Columbia, SC is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Winnipeg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Columbia, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Winnipeg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.