Cost of Living · Updated October 25, 2026 · 14 min read
Cost of Living: Canada vs Australia (2026): Rent, Groceries, Healthcare and Taxes
Australia is more expensive than Canada on most categories: a single renter's modelled budget is 17% more than Canada's, and apartments cost $1,135 a square foot in a city centre against $610. Australia also pays more: Numbeo's average net salary is $5,615 a month against $4,221 (both in CAD).
Housing, restaurants, gyms and childcare cost more in Australia; chicken, rice and mobile plans cost less. This guide compares national averages in October 2026 (all in Canadian dollars at C$1 = A$1.011), and covers healthcare and income tax, where the two systems differ.
Canada vs Australia cost of living at a glance
How the other places compare with Canada, overall
Australia
- Costs
- 25% higher
- Pay
- 33% higher
Average gap from Canada across 27 price lines (rent, food, transport, bills, fun, childcare and tax), each counted equally, so it shows direction, not your own bill. Pay is the average of average earnings and net salary. Red means higher and green means lower for costs; for pay the colours are flipped, because earning more is the good outcome.
| Summary | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly budget (renter, before income tax) | ||
| Single renter | $3,089 | $3,628 17% higher than Canada |
| Couple | $4,036 | $4,658 15% higher than Canada |
| Family of four (no childcare or car) | $4,992 | $5,408 8% higher than Canada |
| Housing | ||
| 1 bedroom, city centre | $1,799 | $2,206 23% higher than Canada |
| 1 bedroom, outside centre | $1,586 | $1,739 10% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom, outside centre | $2,484 | $2,707 9% higher than Canada |
| Typical home price | — | — |
| Apartment price per sq ft, centre | $610 | $1,135 86% higher than Canada |
| Property tax rate | — | — |
| Food and drink | ||
| Groceries, one adult (full cart) | $446 | $421 6% lower than Canada |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | $25.00 | $24.61 2% lower than Canada |
| Dinner for two, mid-range | $100 | $118 18% higher than Canada |
| Pint of draught beer | $8.00 | $10.83 35% higher than Canada |
| Cappuccino | $5.34 | $5.59 5% higher than Canada |
| Transportation | ||
| Monthly transit pass | $101 | $132 31% higher than Canada |
| Gasoline per litre | $1.70 | $1.89 11% higher than Canada |
| Car insurance, per year (midpoint of range) | — | — |
| Bills | ||
| Utilities (915 sq ft) | $209 | $286 37% higher than Canada |
| Mobile plan | $59 | $41 32% lower than Canada |
| Home internet | $84 | $82 2% lower than Canada |
| Fun and travel | ||
| Movie ticket | $16.00 | $21.66 35% higher than Canada |
| Gym membership | $54 | $78 46% higher than Canada |
| Night out for two | $148 | $183 24% higher than Canada |
| Hotel average daily rate | $258 | — |
| Family | ||
| Regulated childcare, per child per day | $20.00 | — |
| Private preschool, per month | $993 | $3,015 204% higher than Canada |
| Pay and tax | ||
| Average yearly earnings | $69,328 | — |
| Net salary per month (Numbeo) | $4,221 | $5,615 33% higher than Canada |
| Minimum wage per hour | $18.15 | $24.68 36% higher than Canada |
| Tax and payroll on $100,000 | $27,291 | $22,623 17% lower than Canada |
| Sales tax | 5% to 15% | 10% GST |
| Salary needed (single person) | ||
| To break even, outside the centre | $47,000 | $46,000 2% lower than Canada |
| To live comfortably in the centre | $61,000 | $67,000 10% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Numbeo, 24-25 October 2026 (CAD). Budgets are modelled from those prices (see the monthly budget section), exclude income tax, and are for renters. Net salary is Numbeo’s reported average after tax, a sample average and not Statistics Canada data. Average earnings are Statistics Canada (March 2026), tax uses 2026 brackets, and salary needed comes from the model in the salary sections below. A dash means no comparable figure is published for that place. The ▲ and ▼ percentages show how much higher or lower each place is than Canada, the first column; for pay rows higher is better, for costs lower is better.
What does a month cost in Canada vs Australia?
A single renter needs about $3,089 a month in Canada before income tax, a couple about $4,036, and a family of four about $4,992. For a single renter that is 15% less than Australia ($3,628).
- Rent
- Groceries
- Utilities, phone, internet
- Transit
- Eating and drinking out
- Gym and movies
Built from Numbeo’s October 2026 prices. Excludes income tax, childcare, car costs, clothing, and travel. Hover or tap a bar for the line-by-line split.
- Single renter: 1 bedroom in the city centre, one transit pass, eating out about once a week plus coffees.
- Couple: 1 bedroom in the city centre, two transit passes, a few nights out a month.
- Family of four: 3 bedroom outside the centre, two adult passes, 2.7 adults' worth of groceries, no childcare or car.
Both countries are averages. Sydney and Melbourne cost much more than the national figure, as do Vancouver and Toronto.
Common monthly expenses in Canada vs Australia
A single renter in Canada spends about $3,293 a month on the essentials, a couple about $4,405, and a family of four with one child in childcare about $5,999. Rent is 55% of the single budget, groceries 14%, and transport 3%.
| Monthly expense | Single | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,799 | $1,799 | $2,484 |
| Utilities, phone, internet | $352 | $412 | $464 |
| Groceries | $446 | $803 | $1,204 |
| Transit | $101 | $201 | $201 |
| Eating and drinking out | $289 | $617 | $403 |
| Gym and movies | $102 | $204 | $236 |
| Clothing and shoes | $44 | $89 | $133 |
| Dental, vision, prescriptions | $60 | $120 | $180 |
| Household, subscriptions, personal care | $100 | $160 | $260 |
| Childcare | — | — | $434 |
| Total per month | $3,293 | $4,405 | $5,999 |
| Salary needed to break even | $51,000 | $65,000 | $91,000 |
Single and couple: one-bedroom in the city centre, transit passes. Family: three-bedroom outside the centre, one child in regulated childcare at about $20.00 a day (our estimate), transit passes. Rent, groceries, utilities, transit, dining and leisure come from Numbeo’s October 2026 prices. Clothing (two pairs of jeans, two dresses or tops, running shoes and business shoes a year per adult), health costs ($60 an adult a month for dental, vision and prescriptions), and household items ($100 to $260) are our assumptions. “Salary needed to break even” is the gross pay whose after-tax income equals the total, with nothing saved.
See also: monthly expenses in Canada.
Rent in Canada vs Australia
A one bedroom in the city centre averages $1,799 a month in Canada, 18% less than Australia ($2,206). Outside the centre it drops to $1,586, and a three bedroom outside the centre is $2,484.
| Monthly rent | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom, city centre | $1,799 | $2,206 23% higher than Canada |
| 1 bedroom, outside centre | $1,586 | $1,739 10% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom, city centre | $2,864 | $3,461 21% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom, outside centre | $2,484 | $2,707 9% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
City-centre and outside-centre rents are Numbeo samples. The “market data” rows are average asking rents from this site’s city comparison data (Rentals.ca and CMHC-based). Asking rents run higher than what sitting tenants pay.
A city-centre one bedroom averages $2,206 in Australia against $1,799 in Canada, 23% higher.
See also: rent in Canada.
Buying a home in Canada vs Australia
Apartments sell for about $610 a square foot in a typical city centre in Canada, 46% less than Australia ($1,135).
| Buying | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Price per sq ft, apartment in centre | $610 | $1,135 86% higher than Canada |
| Price per sq ft, apartment outside centre | $490 | $828 69% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Home prices are MLS board figures, each on the basis shown in our city comparison tool (benchmark, median or average, so compare within a row with care). Price per square foot is Numbeo’s apartment figure.
Per square foot, Australian apartments cost 86% more than Canada's in a city centre. Numbeo reports a 20-year fixed mortgage rate of 5.93% in Australia against 4.87% in Canada.
See also: home prices in Canada.
Groceries in Canada vs Australia
A month of staples for one adult costs about $208 in Canada, 6% more than Australia ($197). Scaled to a real shopping cart that is nearer $446 a month for one adult.
| Item | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | $3.12 | $2.41 23% lower than Canada |
| White bread (1 lb loaf) | $3.37 | $3.53 5% higher than Canada |
| White rice (1 lb) | $2.29 | $1.45 37% lower than Canada |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.98 | $7.08 42% higher than Canada |
| Cheese (1 lb) | $6.84 | $6.21 9% lower than Canada |
| Chicken fillets (1 lb) | $7.61 | $5.87 23% lower than Canada |
| Beef (1 lb) | $9.76 | $9.61 2% lower than Canada |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.59 | $2.40 7% lower than Canada |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.90 | $1.92 113% higher than Canada |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.45 | $2.04 17% lower than Canada |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.56 | $2.97 16% higher than Canada |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.68 | $1.79 7% higher than Canada |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.59 | $1.50 6% lower than Canada |
| Lettuce (head) | $3.64 | $3.38 7% lower than Canada |
| Staples basket, one adult a month | $208 | $197 6% lower than Canada |
| Typical full grocery bill, one adult (basket x 2.14) | $446 | $421 6% lower than Canada |
| Mid-range bottle of wine | $18.72 | $19.69 5% higher than Canada |
| Domestic beer, store bought 16.9 oz | $4.02 | $6.85 70% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Numbeo supermarket prices, October 2026. The staples basket is the quantity of each item above a single adult eats in a month. Staples are about half of a real cart, so the full grocery bill scales the basket by 2.14, calibrated to the $420 Toronto single-adult figure used on our city comparison guides.
The staples basket is $197 in Australia against $208 in Canada. Chicken ($5.87 a pound) and rice are cheaper in Australia; eggs ($7.08 a dozen) and bananas are dearer.
See also: grocery prices in Canada.
Transportation in Canada vs Australia
A monthly transit pass is $101 in Canada and gasoline is $1.70 a litre. Australia is $132 for a pass and $1.89 a litre.
| Getting around | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Single transit fare | $3.50 | $3.45 1% lower than Canada |
| Monthly pass | $100.50 | $131.81 31% higher than Canada |
| Taxi start | $4.40 | $4.92 12% higher than Canada |
| Taxi per mile | $3.38 | $3.63 7% higher than Canada |
| Gasoline per litre | $1.70 | $1.89 11% higher than Canada |
| New VW Golf or similar | $39,000 | $41,344 6% higher than Canada |
| New Toyota Corolla or similar | $29,636 | $36,778 24% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Numbeo transport prices. Driving cost assumes 1,000 km a month at 9 L/100 km plus the midpoint of the typical annual insurance range, which is published as a range because sources disagree (WealthNorth, Rates.ca and others, 2025-2026) and depends on driver, vehicle and postal code. Excludes the car payment, parking and maintenance.
Gas is $1.89 a litre in Australia against $1.70 in Canada, a monthly transit pass $132 against $101, and a new Toyota Corolla $36,778 against $29,636.
See also: transportation costs in Canada.
Restaurants, coffee and drinks in Canada vs Australia
An inexpensive restaurant meal is $25.00 and a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant is $100 in Canada, against $24.61 and $118 in Australia. A pint is $8.00 and a cappuccino $5.34.
| Eating and drinking out | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | $25.00 | $24.61 2% lower than Canada |
| Mid-range dinner for two, three courses | $100.00 | $118.13 18% higher than Canada |
| Fast-food combo | $15.00 | $15.75 5% higher than Canada |
| Pint of domestic draught | $8.00 | $10.83 35% higher than Canada |
| Imported beer, 12 oz | $8.00 | $11.81 48% higher than Canada |
| Cappuccino | $5.34 | $5.59 5% higher than Canada |
| Soft drink, 12 oz | $2.94 | $4.11 40% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Numbeo restaurant prices before tax and tip. Add sales tax and the local tipping norm on a sit-down meal.
Dinner for two is $118 in Australia against $100 in Canada, and a pint $10.83 against $8.00. Tipping is not expected in Australia, which offsets some of the menu price.
See also: restaurant prices in Canada.
Utilities, phone and internet in Canada vs Australia
Electricity, heat and water for a 915 sq ft apartment, a mobile plan and home internet come to $352 a month in Canada, 14% less than Australia ($408).
| Monthly bills | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity, heat, water, garbage (915 sq ft) | $209.00 | $285.67 37% higher than Canada |
| Mobile plan, 10GB or more | $59.42 | $40.58 32% lower than Canada |
| Home internet, 60 Mbps or more | $83.69 | $81.89 2% lower than Canada |
| Total | $352.11 | $408.14 16% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Utilities are $286 in Australia against $209 in Canada, mobile plans $41 against $59, and internet $82 against $84.
See also: utility bills in Canada.
Movies, gyms and entertainment: Canada vs Australia
A new-release movie ticket is $16.00 in Canada, a gym membership $54 a month, and a night out for two (dinner, two movies, two pints) about $148, compared with $183 in Australia.
| Leisure and shopping | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Cinema ticket, new release | $16.00 | $21.66 35% higher than Canada |
| Monthly gym membership | $53.79 | $78.30 46% higher than Canada |
| Tennis court, 1 hour on a weekend | $27.20 | $27.18 |
| Night out: dinner for two, two movie tickets, two pints | $148 | $183 24% higher than Canada |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar) | $76.57 | $111.66 46% higher than Canada |
| Summer dress, chain store | $55.64 | $77.68 40% higher than Canada |
| Nike running shoes | $123.36 | $159.74 29% higher than Canada |
| Men's leather business shoes | $144.63 | $174.54 21% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Numbeo prices. Cinema is a standard adult seat for an international release; premium and online booking fees are extra. Prices for museums, parks, festivals and sport vary by season and event, so check the venue before you budget a day out.
Price differences to expect
- Cinema: an Australian ticket is 35% more than Canada's.
- Gyms: an Australian membership is 46% more than Canada's.
- Clothing: Levi's 501 jeans are $111.66 in Australia against $76.57 in Canada.
- Beaches, national parks and coastal walks are free in both countries.
A movie ticket is $21.66 in Australia against $16.00 in Canada, and a night out for two costs $183 against $148.
See also: movie and entertainment prices in Canada.
Childcare, healthcare and families: Canada vs Australia
Private full-day preschool averages $993 a month in Canada in Numbeo's sample, versus $3,015 in Australia; most families pay far less through regulated childcare.
| Family costs | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Private full-day preschool, monthly | $993 | $3,015 204% higher than Canada |
| International primary school, yearly | $20,417 | $25,584 25% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom outside the centre, monthly | $2,484 | $2,707 9% higher than Canada |
| Family of four, monthly budget (no childcare or car) | $4,992 | $5,408 8% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Private preschool and school fees are Numbeo samples. Most Canadian families use regulated childcare, whose fees are set by the province and are far lower than private preschool. Regulated fees: CCPA, The $10-a-day divide: child care fees in Canada in 2026.
Private preschool averages $3,015 a month in Australia against $993 in Canada. Australia's childcare subsidy is income-tested; Canada's regulated fees are set by the province.
Both countries have public health systems. Australia's Medicare is funded by a 2% levy on taxable income, and many residents add private hospital cover; Canadian provinces fund care from general taxes.
See also: childcare costs in Canada.
Income tax and take-home pay: Canada vs Australia
A Canadian earning C$100,000 (about A$101,098) pays income tax and CPP/EI; an Australian on the same salary pays income tax and the 2% Medicare levy, with the employer adding compulsory superannuation on top.
| Canada (Ontario resident) | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | A$101,098 |
| Income tax and 2% Medicare levy | $21,521 | A$22,871 |
| Payroll tax (CPP and EI) | $5,770 | — (employer pays 12% super on top) |
| Share of salary withheld | 27.3% | 22.6% |
Single filer on employment income, standard deduction only, 2026 brackets (Australia 2026-27, first bracket 15%). Salaries are the same purchasing-power-neutral amount converted at C$1 = US$0.702 and A$1.011 (2 October 2026). Ontario figure includes the surtax and health premium. It ignores credits, RRSP or 401(k) contributions, and employer benefits, which differ a lot in the US.
Australia's GST is 10% against Canada's 5% to 15%.
See also: income tax in Canada.
Average salary and minimum wage in Canada vs Australia
The average Canada employee earned about $69,328 a year ($1,333.23 a week) in March 2026, and the minimum wage is $18.15 an hour (federal rate for federally regulated employers; provinces set their own), or $37,752 a year full-time. After tax that minimum-wage worker keeps about $2,538 a month, against $3,080 for a modelled single budget even outside the centre, a shortfall of $542.
| Earnings | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Average weekly earnings (province, March 2026) | $1,333.23 | — |
| Average yearly earnings (weekly x 52) | $69,328 | — |
| Average monthly net pay reported by Numbeo | $4,221 | $5,615 33% higher than Canada |
| Minimum wage per hour | $18.15 | $24.68 36% higher than Canada |
| Full-time minimum wage, gross a year (2,080 hours) | $37,752 | $51,332 36% higher than Canada |
| Hours of minimum-wage work to pay a city-centre 1 bedroom | 99 hours | 89 hours 10% lower than Canada |
| Full-time minimum wage, take-home a month | $2,538 | $3,690 45% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
Average weekly earnings: Statistics Canada, Survey of Employment, Payroll and Hours, March 2026 (all employees, including overtime, seasonally adjusted). These are means, so they run above what a typical worker earns; Statistics Canada’s city-level median is lower than the provincial mean. Minimum wages are the general adult rates in force on October 25, 2026 (Ontario $17.95 from October 1; verify before payroll decisions). The US and Australian minimums are converted at C$1 = US$0.702 and A$1.011; US states and some cities set higher rates. “Numbeo net pay” is a crowd-sourced sample.
See also: wages and minimum wage in Canada.
Can you live in Canada vs Australia on your salary?
On $60,000 a year a single person in Canada takes home about $3,854 a month. A city-centre one bedroom puts the modelled budget at $3,293, which leaves $561 (manageable). Moving outside the centre leaves $774 (comfortable). Adjust the calculator below to your own income, household and choices.
Where
Household
Where you live
Getting around
Enter income as
Manageable in Canada
You cover the budget and keep a small cushion, but a surprise bill would hurt. After tax you keep about $3,854 a month against a modelled budget of $3,293, which leaves $561.
Take-home pay
$3,854/mo
$9,417 income tax and $4,340 payroll deductions a year
Monthly budget
$3,293/mo
Rent, bills, food, transport, fun, family
Left over
$561/mo
Before saving, debt payments and travel
Where the money goes
- Rent$1,799
- Utilities, phone, internet$352
- Groceries$446
- Transit$101
- Eating and drinking out$289
- Gym and movies$102
- Clothing and shoes$44
- Dental, vision, prescriptions$60
- Household, subscriptions, personal care$100
Rent is 36% of gross income here, above the 30% guideline lenders and landlords use. To keep 15% of take-home after this budget in Canada you would need roughly $61,000 a year.
The same income and choices elsewhere
| Place | Take-home | Budget | Left over | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $3,854 | $3,293 | $561 | Manageable |
| Australia | $4,181 | $3,847 | $334 | Manageable |
How this works: take-home uses 2026 federal and provincial income tax plus CPP and EI (Quebec uses QPP and QPIP; the US figure adds Social Security, Medicare and a 4% state tax; Australia adds the Medicare levy). Couples and families are two equal earners. Expenses use October 2026 Numbeo prices with our assumptions for clothing, health costs ($60 an adult), household items, and a car financed over five years at 6%. It ignores the Canada Child Benefit, GST credit, RRSP deductions and employer benefits, so real take-home may be higher.
What each salary leaves you in Canada
| Gross income | Take-home (single, monthly) | Single left over | Couple left over | Family left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 a year | $2,672 | -$621 (Not enough) | -$1,431 (Not enough) | -$3,025 (Not enough) |
| $50,000 a year | $3,271 | -$22 (Not enough) | -$870 (Not enough) | -$2,464 (Not enough) |
| $60,000 a year | $3,854 | $561 (Manageable) | -$259 (Not enough) | -$1,853 (Not enough) |
| $75,000 a year | $4,635 | $1,342 (Comfortable) | $644 (Manageable) | -$950 (Not enough) |
| $100,000 a year | $6,059 | $2,766 (Comfortable) | $2,137 (Comfortable) | $543 (Manageable) |
| $150,000 a year | $8,550 | $5,257 (Comfortable) | $4,864 (Comfortable) | $3,270 (Comfortable) |
Left over is monthly take-home minus the modelled budget, before saving, debt payments and travel. Single: one-bedroom in the city centre. Couple: the figure is household income from two equal earners, one-bedroom in the centre. Family: household income from two earners, three-bedroom outside the centre, one child in regulated childcare. Everyone uses transit.
Can you live on $3,000 a month in Canada?
Most searches for a monthly figure mean pay after tax. The table converts each monthly take-home into the gross salary that produces it in Canada, then shows what a single person has left after rent in the centre or outside it.
| Monthly take-home | Gross salary needed | Left over, outside centre | Left over, city centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 a month | $37,067 | -$580 (Not enough) | -$793 (Not enough) |
| $3,000 a month | $45,362 | -$80 (Not enough) | -$293 (Not enough) |
| $3,500 a month | $53,745 | $420 (Manageable) | $207 (Manageable) |
| $4,000 a month | $62,799 | $920 (Comfortable) | $707 (Comfortable) |
| $5,000 a month | $81,608 | $1,920 (Comfortable) | $1,707 (Comfortable) |
See also: what a salary buys in Canada.
What salary do you need to live in Canada vs Australia?
A single person in Canada needs about $47,000 a year to break even outside the centre and about $61,000 to rent in the city centre and still keep 15% of take-home. A couple needs $78,000 in household income and a family of four $109,000.
| Gross salary needed | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Single, bare minimum (outside the centre, transit, break even) | $47,000 | $46,000 |
| Single, comfortable (city centre, transit, 15% left) | $61,000 | $67,000 |
| Single with a car (outside the centre, 15% left) | $75,000 | $76,000 |
| Couple, comfortable (household income, centre, transit, 15% left) | $78,000 | $80,000 |
| Family of four, comfortable (household income, outside the centre, one child in childcare, 15% left) | $109,000 | $161,000 |
| Rent at 30% of gross pay (single, centre one-bedroom) | $72,000 | $89,000 |
Gross pay before tax, rounded up to the nearest $1,000, from the same model as the calculator. “Comfortable” means 15% of after-tax income remains after the budget for saving, debt and travel. Couples and families assume two equal earners. A car adds a loan on a new compact (10% down, 6%, five years), fuel for 1,000 km a month, insurance and upkeep.
See also: salary needed in Canada.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Canada vs Australia?
$100,000 is about 144% of the canadian average of $69,328, which makes it above average in Canada. A single person renting in the city centre on $100,000 keeps about $6,059 a month after tax and has $2,766 left over after the modelled budget (comfortable).
| Salary | Versus the canadian average | How it ranks | Single left over (centre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 a year | 58% of average | Below average | -$621 (Not enough) |
| $60,000 a year | 87% of average | Around average | $561 (Manageable) |
| $75,000 a year | 108% of average | Around average | $1,342 (Comfortable) |
| $100,000 a year | 144% of average | Above average | $2,766 (Comfortable) |
| $150,000 a year | 216% of average | High | $5,257 (Comfortable) |
| $200,000 a year | 288% of average | Very high | $7,485 (Comfortable) |
The average is a mean from Statistics Canada (provinces) or implied by Numbeo’s net pay (countries), so a typical worker earns less than it. A salary that is “good” against the average can still be tight for one person who rents downtown or for a family on a single income; use the calculator above for your own situation.
See also: salary benchmarks in Canada.
Why the costs differ
- Australian housing is expensive in the large coastal cities.
- Higher wages and service costs.
- Canada's cold climate raises heating costs.
- Australia's tipping norms are lower.
- Both have universal public healthcare.
Which is right for your budget?
It suits you if
- You want lower housing costs and a similar healthcare system.
- You want a bigger ski and wilderness playground.
- You value lower gym and entertainment prices.
Think twice if
- You work in a sector where Australian pay is much higher.
- You dislike winter.
- You want cheap beer and eating out.
The bottom line
Canada is cheaper for housing, entertainment and eating out; Australia pays more and has milder winters.
Compare your specific cities and after-tax pay.