Cost of Living · Updated October 25, 2026 · 15 min read
Cost of Living: Canada vs the US (2026): Rent, Groceries, Healthcare and Taxes
The US is more expensive than Canada for most monthly costs, but it pays more: Numbeo's national average net salary is $6,079 a month in the US against $4,221 in Canada (both in CAD), 44% higher, while a single renter's modelled budget is 23% more than Canada's.
Rent, phone, internet, childcare and restaurants cost more in the US; gas, milk and the price per square foot of housing cost less. This guide compares national averages in October 2026 (all in Canadian dollars at C$1 = US$0.702), and covers healthcare and income tax, where the two systems differ most.
Canada vs the US cost of living at a glance
How the other places compare with Canada, overall
United States
- Costs
- 19% higher
- Pay
- 44% 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 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly budget (renter, before income tax) | ||
| Single renter | $3,089 | $3,812 23% higher than Canada |
| Couple | $4,036 | $4,853 20% higher than Canada |
| Family of four (no childcare or car) | $4,992 | $5,922 19% higher than Canada |
| Housing | ||
| 1 bedroom, city centre | $1,799 | $2,309 28% higher than Canada |
| 1 bedroom, outside centre | $1,586 | $1,875 18% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom, outside centre | $2,484 | $3,083 24% higher than Canada |
| Typical home price | — | — |
| Apartment price per sq ft, centre | $610 | $425 30% lower than Canada |
| Property tax rate | — | — |
| Food and drink | ||
| Groceries, one adult (full cart) | $446 | $471 6% higher than Canada |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | $25.00 | $28.00 12% higher than Canada |
| Dinner for two, mid-range | $100 | $112 12% higher than Canada |
| Pint of draught beer | $8.00 | $8.40 5% higher than Canada |
| Cappuccino | $5.34 | $7.67 44% higher than Canada |
| Transportation | ||
| Monthly transit pass | $101 | $84 16% lower than Canada |
| Gasoline per litre | $1.70 | $1.47 14% lower than Canada |
| Car insurance, per year (midpoint of range) | — | — |
| Bills | ||
| Utilities (915 sq ft) | $209 | $305 46% higher than Canada |
| Mobile plan | $59 | $87 46% higher than Canada |
| Home internet | $84 | $103 23% higher than Canada |
| Fun and travel | ||
| Movie ticket | $16.00 | $21.00 31% higher than Canada |
| Gym membership | $54 | $59 9% higher than Canada |
| Night out for two | $148 | $171 15% higher than Canada |
| Hotel average daily rate | $258 | — |
| Family | ||
| Regulated childcare, per child per day | $20.00 | — |
| Private preschool, per month | $993 | $2,074 109% higher than Canada |
| Pay and tax | ||
| Average yearly earnings | $69,328 | — |
| Net salary per month (Numbeo) | $4,221 | $6,079 44% higher than Canada |
| Minimum wage per hour | $18.15 | $10.33 43% lower than Canada |
| Tax and payroll on $100,000 | $27,291 | $21,070 23% lower than Canada |
| Sales tax | 5% to 15% | 0% to about 10% (state and local) |
| Salary needed (single person) | ||
| To break even, outside the centre | $47,000 | $55,000 17% higher than Canada |
| To live comfortably in the centre | $61,000 | $74,000 21% 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 the US?
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 19% less than the United States ($3,812).
- 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.
The US figure is a national average, so US coastal cities such as New York or San Francisco cost much more, while smaller Canadian cities cost less than the Canadian average.
Common monthly expenses in Canada vs the US
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 the US
A one bedroom in the city centre averages $1,799 a month in Canada, 22% less than the United States ($2,309). Outside the centre it drops to $1,586, and a three bedroom outside the centre is $2,484.
| Monthly rent | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom, city centre | $1,799 | $2,309 28% higher than Canada |
| 1 bedroom, outside centre | $1,586 | $1,875 18% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom, city centre | $2,864 | $3,719 30% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom, outside centre | $2,484 | $3,083 24% 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 one bedroom in a city centre averages $2,309 in the US against $1,799 in Canada, 28% higher.
See also: rent in Canada.
Buying a home in Canada vs the US
Apartments sell for about $610 a square foot in a typical city centre in Canada, 44% more than the United States ($425).
| Buying | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Price per sq ft, apartment in centre | $610 | $425 30% lower than Canada |
| Price per sq ft, apartment outside centre | $490 | $327 33% lower 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, US apartments are cheaper: $425 in a city centre against $610 in Canada. Mortgage rates diverge: Numbeo reports a 20-year fixed rate of 6.55% in the US against 4.87% in Canada, and US buyers can lock 30-year fixed rates while Canadian mortgages typically renew every five years.
See also: home prices in Canada.
Groceries in Canada vs the US
A month of staples for one adult costs about $208 in Canada, 5% less than the United States ($220). Scaled to a real shopping cart that is nearer $446 a month for one adult.
| Item | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 L) | $3.12 | $1.49 52% lower than Canada |
| White bread (1 lb loaf) | $3.37 | $4.63 37% higher than Canada |
| White rice (1 lb) | $2.29 | $2.90 27% higher than Canada |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.98 | $6.01 21% higher than Canada |
| Cheese (1 lb) | $6.84 | $8.25 21% higher than Canada |
| Chicken fillets (1 lb) | $7.61 | $7.88 4% higher than Canada |
| Beef (1 lb) | $9.76 | $10.97 12% higher than Canada |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.59 | $3.34 29% higher than Canada |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.90 | $1.06 18% higher than Canada |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.45 | $2.80 14% higher than Canada |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.56 | $3.12 22% higher than Canada |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.68 | $1.83 9% higher than Canada |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.59 | $1.95 23% higher than Canada |
| Lettuce (head) | $3.64 | $3.17 13% lower than Canada |
| Staples basket, one adult a month | $208 | $220 6% higher than Canada |
| Typical full grocery bill, one adult (basket x 2.14) | $446 | $471 6% higher than Canada |
| Mid-range bottle of wine | $18.72 | $21.00 12% higher than Canada |
| Domestic beer, store bought 16.9 oz | $4.02 | $2.92 27% lower 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 $220 in the US against $208 in Canada. Milk is the exception: Canada's supply-managed dairy makes it $3.12 a litre against $1.49 in the US. Eggs and bread cost more in the US.
See also: grocery prices in Canada.
Transportation in Canada vs the US
A monthly transit pass is $101 in Canada and gasoline is $1.70 a litre. the United States is $84 for a pass and $1.47 a litre.
| Getting around | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Single transit fare | $3.50 | $2.80 20% lower than Canada |
| Monthly pass | $100.50 | $84.02 16% lower than Canada |
| Taxi start | $4.40 | $4.90 11% higher than Canada |
| Taxi per mile | $3.38 | $4.19 24% higher than Canada |
| Gasoline per litre | $1.70 | $1.47 14% lower than Canada |
| New VW Golf or similar | $39,000 | $39,906 2% higher than Canada |
| New Toyota Corolla or similar | $29,636 | $36,792 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 $1.47 a litre in the US against $1.70 in Canada. A new Toyota Corolla is $36,792 in the US against $29,636 in Canada in Numbeo's sample, and US car-dependent living adds insurance and ownership costs.
See also: transportation costs in Canada.
Restaurants, coffee and drinks in Canada vs the US
An inexpensive restaurant meal is $25.00 and a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant is $100 in Canada, against $28.00 and $112 in the United States. A pint is $8.00 and a cappuccino $5.34.
| Eating and drinking out | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | $25.00 | $28.00 12% higher than Canada |
| Mid-range dinner for two, three courses | $100.00 | $112.02 12% higher than Canada |
| Fast-food combo | $15.00 | $16.80 12% higher than Canada |
| Pint of domestic draught | $8.00 | $8.40 5% higher than Canada |
| Imported beer, 12 oz | $8.00 | $11.20 40% higher than Canada |
| Cappuccino | $5.34 | $7.67 44% higher than Canada |
| Soft drink, 12 oz | $2.94 | $3.79 29% 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 $112 in the US against $100 in Canada, and a cappuccino $7.67 against $5.34. US tipping norms are 18% to 20%, against 15% to 18% in Canada.
See also: restaurant prices in Canada.
Utilities, phone and internet in Canada vs the US
Electricity, heat and water for a 915 sq ft apartment, a mobile plan and home internet come to $352 a month in Canada, 29% less than the United States ($494).
| Monthly bills | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity, heat, water, garbage (915 sq ft) | $209.00 | $304.79 46% higher than Canada |
| Mobile plan, 10GB or more | $59.42 | $86.75 46% higher than Canada |
| Home internet, 60 Mbps or more | $83.69 | $102.83 23% higher than Canada |
| Total | $352.11 | $494.37 40% higher than Canada |
Percentages show the gap from Canada: red is higher, green is lower (flipped for pay lines).
US bills are higher: utilities $305, mobile $87 and internet $103, against $209, $59 and $84 in Canada.
See also: utility bills in Canada.
Movies, gyms and entertainment: Canada vs the US
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 $171 in the United States.
| Leisure and shopping | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Cinema ticket, new release | $16.00 | $21.00 31% higher than Canada |
| Monthly gym membership | $53.79 | $58.70 9% higher than Canada |
| Tennis court, 1 hour on a weekend | $27.20 | $31.88 17% higher than Canada |
| Night out: dinner for two, two movie tickets, two pints | $148 | $171 15% higher than Canada |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar) | $76.57 | $75.33 2% lower than Canada |
| Summer dress, chain store | $55.64 | $60.19 8% higher than Canada |
| Nike running shoes | $123.36 | $130.66 6% higher than Canada |
| Men's leather business shoes | $144.63 | $161.57 12% 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: a US ticket is 31% more than Canada's.
- Gyms: a US membership is 9% more than Canada's.
- Tennis court hire: $31.88 an hour in the US against $27.20 in Canada.
- Clothing: Levi's 501 jeans are $75.33 in the US against $76.57 in Canada.
A movie ticket is $21.00 in the US against $16.00 in Canada, and a night out for two costs $171 against $148.
See also: movie and entertainment prices in Canada.
Childcare, healthcare and families: Canada vs the US
Private full-day preschool averages $993 a month in Canada in Numbeo's sample, versus $2,074 in the United States; most families pay far less through regulated childcare.
| Family costs | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Private full-day preschool, monthly | $993 | $2,074 109% higher than Canada |
| International primary school, yearly | $20,417 | $35,643 75% higher than Canada |
| 3 bedroom outside the centre, monthly | $2,484 | $3,083 24% higher than Canada |
| Family of four, monthly budget (no childcare or car) | $4,992 | $5,922 19% 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 $2,074 a month in the US against $993 in Canada, and Canada's regulated childcare, $10 to $22 a day, has no US equivalent.
Healthcare is the biggest structural difference: KFF reported the average employer family plan cost $26,993 in 2025, with workers paying about $6,850 of that, while Canadian provinces cover hospital and doctor visits without premiums. Canadians pay for prescriptions, dental and vision through employer plans or out of pocket.
See also: childcare costs in Canada.
Income tax and take-home pay: Canada vs the US
A Canadian earning C$100,000 (about US$70,193) keeps less of it than a US worker on the equivalent salary, but the US worker also pays for health insurance and, in many states, state income tax.
| Canada (Ontario resident) | United States (federal only) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | US$70,193 |
| Income tax | $21,521 | US$6,612 (state tax extra) |
| Payroll tax (CPP and EI / Social Security and Medicare) | $5,770 | US$5,370 |
| Share of salary withheld | 27.3% | 17.1% before state tax |
Single filer on employment income, standard deduction only, 2026 brackets. 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.
Canada's GST/HST is 5% to 15% against US state sales tax of 0% to about 10%. US mortgage interest can be deducted by itemizing; Canada does not allow it.
See also: income tax in Canada.
Average salary and minimum wage in Canada vs the US
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 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | $6,079 44% higher than Canada |
| Minimum wage per hour | $18.15 | $10.33 43% lower than Canada |
| Full-time minimum wage, gross a year (2,080 hours) | $37,752 | $21,484 43% lower than Canada |
| Hours of minimum-wage work to pay a city-centre 1 bedroom | 99 hours | 224 hours 126% higher than Canada |
| Full-time minimum wage, take-home a month | $2,538 | $1,582 38% lower 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 the US 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 |
| United States | $4,076 | $4,190 | -$114 | Not enough |
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 the US?
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 | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Single, bare minimum (outside the centre, transit, break even) | $47,000 | $55,000 |
| Single, comfortable (city centre, transit, 15% left) | $61,000 | $74,000 |
| Single with a car (outside the centre, 15% left) | $75,000 | $83,000 |
| Couple, comfortable (household income, centre, transit, 15% left) | $78,000 | $104,000 |
| Family of four, comfortable (household income, outside the centre, one child in childcare, 15% left) | $109,000 | $166,000 |
| Rent at 30% of gross pay (single, centre one-bedroom) | $72,000 | $93,000 |
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 the US?
$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
- Higher US wages and higher service costs.
- US healthcare and childcare are privately paid.
- Supply management keeps Canadian milk and dairy dear.
- US fuel taxes and prices are lower.
- The exchange rate is close to US$0.70.
Which is right for your budget?
It suits you if
- You want public healthcare and affordable childcare.
- You value lower credit and mortgage rates.
- You want cheaper phones and internet.
Think twice if
- You work in a sector where US pay is 40% higher.
- You drive a lot and want cheap gas.
- You want cheap milk.
The bottom line
Canada is cheaper on everyday costs, healthcare and childcare; the US is cheaper on housing per square foot and pays more.
Compare after-tax pay and benefits, not salary alone.