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: $2,113 in Winnipeg versus $2,179 in Columbia, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,128 in Winnipeg versus $3,435 in Columbia, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,144 in Winnipeg versus $4,691 in Columbia, SC.

Living in Winnipeg costs roughly 3% less than in Columbia, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Winnipeg 54% above, Columbia, SC 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.22 CA$19.89

$20.11 $20.11

-29.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.3 CA$89.9

$61.1 $61.1

5.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.73 CA$15.01

$11.91 $11.91

-9.91%

Cappuccino

$3.61 CA$5.05

$5.22 $5.22

-30.84%

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

$2.22 CA$3.10

$2.72 $2.72

-18.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 CA$2.64

$2.22 $2.22

-14.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 CA$8.20

$5.48 $5.48

6.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.23 CA$8.71

$6.49 $6.49

-4.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 CA$2.01

$0.78 $0.78

83.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 CA$3.38

$2.50 $2.50

-3.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.72

$4.68 $4.68

-27.78%

Eggs

$3.55 CA$4.96

$4.22 $4.22

-15.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.09 CA$14.12

$10.19 $10.19

-0.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 CA$15.11

$11.10 $11.10

-2.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.67 CA$24.72

$15.78 $15.78

11.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 CA$5.56

$5.05 $5.05

-21.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 CA$1.97

$1.58 $1.58

-10.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.51 CA$4.92

$6.36 $6.36

-44.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 CA$4.89

$5.90 $5.90

-40.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 CA$3.68

$3.14 $3.14

-16.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.76

$4.16 $4.16

-35.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$1.95 $1.95

32.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 CA$2.14

$1.95 $1.95

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.37 CA$22.91

$8.31 $8.31

96.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.18 CA$17.04

$15.85 $15.85

-23.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.07

$1.85 $1.85

57.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 CA$5.46

$2.79 $2.79

39.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 CA$3.32

$1.98 $1.98

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.8 CA$120

$39.44 $39.44

117.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 CA$3.87

$2.04 $2.04

35.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.90

$1.51 $1.51

-9.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.30 CA$33.99

$17.68 $17.68

37.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 CA$1.65

$0.90 $0.90

31.11%

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

$29.0K CA$40.6K

$34.7K $34.7K

-16.31%

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

$20.6K CA$28.9K

$25.0K $25.0K

-17.49%

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

$164 CA$230

$276 $276

-40.37%

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

$38.49 CA$53.9

$58.2 $58.2

-33.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 CA$78.0

$63.2 $63.2

-11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.66 CA$62.5

$37.03 $37.03

20.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.59 CA$42.80

$18.11 $18.11

68.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 CA$16.13

$15.05 $15.05

-23.39%

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

$1,098 CA$1,536

$1,154 $1,154

-4.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K CA$26.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

-14.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.78 CA$62.6

$51.4 $51.4

-12.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 CA$64.0

$40.42 $40.42

13.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.0 CA$102

$82.0 $82.0

-10.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.9 CA$137

$112 $112

-12.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 CA$1,348

$1,263 $1,263

-23.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,001 CA$1,400

$862 $862

16.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 CA$2,296

$2,157 $2,157

-23.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 CA$2,209

$1,792 $1,792

-11.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,413 CA$3,376

$2,125 $2,125

13.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,450 CA$3,427

$1,640 $1,640

49.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,507 CA$3,507

$3,230 $3,230

-22.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

6.1

-26.72%

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

Last update for Winnipeg: September 14, 2026

Last update for Columbia, SC: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $964 in Winnipeg and $1,263 in Columbia, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Columbia, SC pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Winnipeg vs $61.0 in Columbia, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $352 vs $387, 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

Winnipeg is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Columbia, SC. 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: $964 in Winnipeg versus $1,263 in Columbia, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Columbia, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Winnipeg – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $61.0 in Columbia, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,113 in Winnipeg versus $2,179 in Columbia, SC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Winnipeg but tight or insufficient in Columbia, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Winnipeg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Expats usually find Winnipeg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Columbia, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.