As Canada is often ranked as one of the best countries to live in in the world, many people want to move to the Great White North. Most people want to move to major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, but they tend to be the most expensive places to live because of how populated they are. If you are considering moving to Canada, here are some of the most expensive places to live.
Most Expensive Places To Live In Canada
Toronto, Ontario
Number one on our list is, of course, Toronto. Not only is Toronto the most populated city in Canada, but it’s also the most expensive. Owning a home in Toronto is almost impossible due to the scarcity of them and because they can be over one million dollars. Even a condo in Toronto is an average of $611,100, making it hard for people to move into the city. Renting is an option, but can be around $2,000 for a small 85-square-metre apartment.
Not only is housing expensive in Toronto, so is public transport. A monthly pass to use the city’s subway, bus, and streetcar is $156 for adults. So since you likely won’t be living Downtown thanks to the high housing prices, you’ll have to pay to commute.
If you can afford to live in Toronto, it’s a great city.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Next on our list we’re moving to the west coast and exploring how expensive Vancouver in British Columbia is. Home prices in Vancouver are similar to Toronto as they are over one million dollars. An 85-square-metre apartment is around $2,143 a month, so also similar to Toronto.
Using public transport to get around in Vancouver is a bit more affordable as a monthly pass is $107. If you have your own car, however, you won’t be pleased to know that Vancouver has the second-highest gas prices in all of North America.
One thing that makes up for the high cost of living in Vancouver is that the city has the lowest taxes in Canada.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
You may think that living in a remote area would provide a lower cost of living. Unfortunately, this isn’t true for Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Rent for an 85-square-metre apartment is a bit more affordable as it is on average $1,800 a month. The biggest issue in Yellowknife is your utilities as you will need to have the heat on most of the year to battle the intense cold in Yellowknife. Utilities average out to around $410 a month.
Food in Yellowknife is also expensive as everything needs to be imported. A basic lunch downtown is around $22.
Mississauga, Ontario
Yet another city in Ontario that is expensive to live in is Mississauga. Mississauga is one of the closest cities to Toronto, so many people who work in Toronto moved there for a lower cost of living.
Unfortunately, as so many people have done that, Mississauga is now one of the most expensive cities in Canada.
Rent for an 85-square-metre apartment is around $1,633 a month. Public transport is also expensive as a monthly pass is $137.
Victoria, British Columbia
The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, is another expensive one. Rent for an 85-square-metre apartment in Victoria is around $1,627 a month. Although housing is more affordable in Victoria than in Vancouver as the average home price is around $600,000, it still has one of the most expensive housing markets in Canada.
Calgary, Alberta
Many people know of Calgary because of the Calgary Stampede, but it is also a popular city to live in. Rent in an 85-square-metre apartment is around $1,456 a month but the thing that will set you back the most in Calgary is the gym. Calgary has the most expensive gym memberships in all of Canada, likely because there aren’t as many gyms in Calgary as there are in bigger cities like Toronto.
Regina, Saskatchewan
Capital cities of provinces tend to be more expensive because they house the biggest population. This is the case for Saskatchewan’s capital city Regina. Rent for an 85-square-metre apartment in Regina is around $1,264.
St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador
The only city to make it to our list from the east coast is St. Johns in Newfoundland and Labrador. Many people move to the east coast because it tends to be more affordable but because there is so much less space in these provinces, housing can be expensive. In St. Johns, an 85-square-metre apartment is $1,388 a month but utilities are high as two people will pay an average of $318.
Edmonton, Alberta
Another expensive capital city on our list is Alberta’s capital city, Edmonton. Even though Alberta produces the majority of the country’s oil, utilities are still expensive. Two people living in Edmonton can expect to pay around $250 for utilities and $1,305 for rent in an 85-square-metre apartment. If you love going to the movies, you may be disappointed to find out that Edmonton’s movie ticket prices are the highest in the country.
Ottawa, Ontario
Last but not least is the capital city of Canada, Ottawa. As Parliament Hill is located in Ottawa, many people seeking government jobs flock here. Unfortunately, this does not mean affordable housing is readily available as the cost of rent in an 85-square-metre apartment is around $1,455. If you want to buy a house or condo, the average price for residential homes is $550,000 and it keeps increasing.
Ultimately, Canada is a great country to live in and offers a high-quality of life. So even if you can’t live in one of these major cities, there are still great, affordable places to live throughout the country.
