Whether you’re just starting out, or looking to make a career change, you can find great opportunities in many places across this great nation.

Before you set your sights on moving to the other side of the country, though, consider the costs. The cost of living in Canada varies widely from place to place, so if a certain city looks like it could be the place for you, make sure to check that you can to afford it.

Canadian Money

In this post, we look at major cities across the country and compare them. The factors in question: average rent for a small apartment in the city centre, the average price of a detached home, the cost of a monthly transit pass, the cost of a broadband internet connection, the price of a dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant, the cost of a loaf of bread, and the cost of a pint of domestic beer at a bar.

The data below is all taken from Teleport, Numbeo, and various sources on real estate value. All dollar values are in CAD. Bear in mind that the numbers represent averages, so the amount you might spend on, say, a pint of beer at a pub will vary depending on what bar you go to.

It should come as no surprise that the bigger a city is the more expensive it is to rent or buy a home, so Toronto and Vancouver are easily the most expensive in that category. What you might be surprised about is that on the east coast an internet connection is more expensive than in the rest of Canada, and groceries are more expensive too.

When it comes to public transit, Toronto is by far the most expensive in the country at $141 for an adult monthly pass, whereas most other cities we looked at fall in the $70-$90 rage. When it comes to spending a night on the town, you can generally expect to spend less in smaller cities like Charlottetown and Regina, and more in big cities like Vancouver and Calgary.

In the end, what you spend on a lot of these things depends on your lifestyle. Do you like to go out a lot, or are you more of a homebody? Do you need a big apartment, or are you fine with living with roommates? Do you prefer to cook your own meals, or do you like to eat out? These are all things to consider when thinking about how much it will cost to live somewhere, and if a certain city is right for you. It’s also important to do some research into what you could earn in your desired role and industry. Salary surveys, like this one at Payscale, can help you get a good sense of your earning potential.

So, without further ado, here are some cost of living benchmarks from across the country.

Vancouver

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $1,447
  • Average detached home: $1,470, 265
  • Monthly transit pass: $91
  • Monthly broadband internet: $64
  • Dinner for two: $65
  • Loaf of bread: $3.12
  • Pint of beer: $6

Calgary

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $1,205
  • Average detached home: $491,394
  • Monthly transit pass: $97
  • Monthly broadband internet: $61
  • Dinner for two: $70
  • Loaf of bread: $2.53
  • Pint of beer: $6.50

Regina

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $1,018
  • Average detached home: $320,000
  • Monthly transit pass: $83
  • Monthly broadband internet: $55
  • Dinner for two: $63
  • Loaf of bread: $2.75
  • Pint of beer: $6.50

Winnipeg

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $956
  • Average detached home: $300,011
  • Monthly transit pass: $92
  • Monthly broadband internet: $60
  • Dinner for two: $65
  • Loaf of bread: $2.25
  • Pint of beer: $5.00

Ottawa

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $1,189
  • Average detached home: $383,793
  • Monthly transit pass: $103
  • Monthly broadband internet: $51
  • Dinner for two: $70
  • Loaf of bread: $2.70
  • Pint of beer: $6.00

Toronto

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $1,423
  • Average detached home: $1,200,000
  • Monthly transit pass: $141.50
  • Monthly broadband internet: $55
  • Dinner for two: $75
  • Loaf of bread: $2.70
  • Pint of beer: $6.00

Hamilton

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $925
  • Average detached home: $500,183
  • Monthly transit pass: $101.20
  • Monthly broadband internet: $62
  • Dinner for two: $60
  • Loaf of bread: $2.65
  • Pint of beer: $5.25

Montreal

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $916
  • Average detached home: $325,900
  • Monthly transit pass: $82
  • Monthly broadband internet: $51
  • Dinner for two: $61.50
  • Loaf of bread: $3.29
  • Pint of beer: $6.00

Quebec City

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $731
  • Average detached home: $240,000
  • Monthly transit pass: $85.60
  • Monthly broadband internet: $53
  • Dinner for two: $60
  • Loaf of bread: $3.32
  • Pint of beer: $5.00

Moncton

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $662
  • Average detached home: $178,200
  • Monthly transit pass: $62
  • Monthly broadband internet: $54
  • Dinner for two: $60
  • Loaf of bread: $2.60
  • Pint of beer: $5.00

Halifax

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $893
  • Average detached home: $360,586
  • Monthly transit pass: $78
  • Monthly broadband internet: $80
  • Dinner for two: $80
  • Loaf of bread: $3.11
  • Pint of beer: $5.00

Charlottetown

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $700
  • Average detached home: $313,000
  • Monthly transit pass: $65
  • Monthly broadband internet: $90
  • Dinner for two: $42.50
  • Loaf of bread: $3.15
  • Pint of beer: $6.50

St. John’s

  • 1-bedroom apartment in city centre: $843
  • Average detached home: $245,751
  • Monthly transit pass: $70
  • Monthly broadband internet: $67.40
  • Dinner for two: $77.50
  • Loaf of bread: $3.67
  • Pint of beer: $6.00