The Cost of Living In Canada

Most people from the UK and Europe find the cost of living in Canada is significantly lower than their home country.

Canadian housing is particularly cheap compared with other developed nations - the average house price in Canada is around seven times the average annual wage. Prices are highest in Ontario and Alberta (six to seven times the average wage) and Vancouver (eleven times the average wage).

People moving to Canada with the proceeds of house sales from countries with more expensive housing can often buy a house in Canada with a considerably reduced mortgage. This leaves more of their income for other activities and lowers their cost of living in Canada significantly.

Compared with many other western countries, although not the USA:

• Food is cheaper in Canada.
• Dining out and most forms of recreation are cheaper in Canada.
• Petrol / Gasoline and cars are cheaper in Canada.
• Power is cheaper, but you use more power to heat your house in a typical Canadian winter.
• Car insurance is very expensive in Canada.

Mercer carried out an extensive cost of living survey for overseas workers in 2011. The survey covers 214 cities and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment.

The survey revealed that Toronto (59th) has the highest cost of living in Canada, followed by Vancouver (65th), Montreal (79th), Calgary (96th) and Ottawa (114th).

The survey found that Canadian cities have lower living costs than many other locations in the developed world.

Since the last survey Canada as a whole is becoming more expensive relative to other cities because of the strength of the Canadian dollar, Mercer says. Toronto was the most expensive due in part due to its relatively high rental costs.

The rankings for Canadian cities out of the 214 cities surveyed are:

1. Toronto (59th)
2. Vancouver (65th)
3. Montreal (79th)
4. Calgary (96th)
5. Ottawa (114th)

Top 50 Cities 2011 Ranking

2011 Rank	City
1	Luanda, Angola
2	Tokyo, Japan
3	N'Djamena, Chad
4	Moscow, Russia
5	Geneva, Switzerland
6	Osaka, Japan
7	Zurich, Switzerland
8	Singapore
9	Hong Kong
10	Sao Paulo, Brazil
11	Nagoya, Japan
12	Libreville, Gabon
12	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
14	Sydney, Australia
15	Oslo, Norway
16	Bern, Switzerland
17	Copenhagen, Denmark
18	London, United Kingdom
19	Sourl, South Korea
20	Beijing, China
21	Shanghai, China
21	Melbourne, Australia
23	Naimey, Niger
24	Tel Aviv, Israel
25	Victoria, Seychelles
25	Milan, Italy
27	Paris, France
28	Ouagadougou, Burkino Faso
29	St. Petersburg, Russia
30	Perth, Australia
31	Brisbane, Australia
32	New York, U.S.
33	Brasilia, Brazil
34	Rome, Italy
34	Canberra, Australia
36	Vienna, Austria
37	Noumea, New Caledonia
38	Guangzhou, China
39	Djibouti
39	Stockholm, Sweeden
41	Laos, Nigeria
42	Helsinki, Finland
43	Shenzhen, China
44	Dakar, Senegal
44	Khartoum, Sudan
46	Adelaide, Australia
47	Prague, Czech Rep.
48	Baku, Azerbaijan
49	Bangui, Central African Rep.
50	Amsterdam, Netherlands

Toronto - Canada's Financial Capital