Cost of living in Halifax

Halifax, Canada is Very expensive overall. Monthly costs are about $2196 for one person and $5018 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Halifax compared to other cities?

Halifax is 54% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Halifax compare to your city?

Halifax is 40% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Halifax is, on average, 49% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Halifax?

Who is Halifax a good fit for?

Halifax is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Halifax so expensive?

The primary driver of Halifax's high costs is rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall living expenses.

Is food expensive in Halifax?

Yes, food costs are 33% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living.

Is public transport affordable in Halifax?

Public transport is 28% higher than the European benchmark, making it less affordable for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2196 $
Without Rent
860 $
Rent & Utilities
1336 $
Food
632 $
Transport
96 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
2651 $
GDP per Capita
53,372 $
Freedom Index
8.55
Lifespan
81 years
Speak English
82%
Population
440.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 18.4 $
Dinner 74.5 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.95 $
Capuccino 3.76 $
Coke, 330ml 2.21 $

Compare Halifax with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 2.1 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.83 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.87 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.91 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 10.8 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.7 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.8 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.6 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.61 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.1 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.78 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.66 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.51 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.32 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.24 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.8 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.7 $
Cigarette pack 15.4 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.05 $
Monthly Pass 60.5 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.29 $
Taxi, 8 km 14.1 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 73 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 11.6 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.78 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.93 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.55 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 117 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 180 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 76.9 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,093 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,979 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,336 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,434 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 6,839 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,649 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 2,651 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.47%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 52.4 $
Cinema, 1 seat 10.3 $
Haircut 15.3 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 99.4 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 66.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 886 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 14,173 $

Compare Halifax with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Halifax vs George Town (George Town is 66% more expensive)
Bahamas
Halifax vs Nassau (Nassau is 25% more expensive) Halifax vs Freeport (Freeport is 0% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Halifax vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 7% more expensive) Halifax vs Luganville (Luganville is 39% more expensive)
United States
Halifax vs New York City (New York City is 84% more expensive) Halifax vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 45% more expensive) Halifax vs Chicago (Chicago is 21% more expensive) Halifax vs Houston (Houston is 2% more expensive) Halifax vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 8% more expensive) Halifax vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 16% more expensive) Halifax vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 0% less expensive) Halifax vs San Diego (San Diego is 52% more expensive) Halifax vs Dallas (Dallas is 16% more expensive) Halifax vs San Jose (San Jose is 67% more expensive)
Canada
Halifax vs Toronto (Toronto is 17% more expensive) Halifax vs Montreal (Montreal is 11% less expensive) Halifax vs Calgary (Calgary is 2% less expensive) Halifax vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 2% more expensive) Halifax vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 19% less expensive) Halifax vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 20% less expensive) Halifax vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 13% more expensive) Halifax vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 21% more expensive) Halifax vs Brampton (Brampton is 3% less expensive) Halifax vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 2% less expensive)
Barbados
Halifax vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 38% less expensive) Halifax vs Holetown (Holetown is 37% less expensive)
Panama
Halifax vs Panama City (Panama City is 37% less expensive) Halifax vs Colon (Colon is 46% less expensive) Halifax vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 44% less expensive) Halifax vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 52% less expensive) Halifax vs David (David is 62% less expensive) Halifax vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 57% less expensive) Halifax vs Balboa (Balboa is 43% less expensive) Halifax vs Pacora (Pacora is 43% less expensive) Halifax vs Chitre (Chitre is 50% less expensive) Halifax vs Penonome (Penonome is 50% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Halifax vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 43% less expensive) Halifax vs Cayon (Cayon is 43% less expensive)
Cuba
Halifax vs Havana (Havana is 53% less expensive) Halifax vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 36% less expensive) Halifax vs Holguin (Holguin is 42% less expensive) Halifax vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 31% less expensive) Halifax vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 52% less expensive) Halifax vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 47% less expensive) Halifax vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 29% less expensive) Halifax vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 29% less expensive) Halifax vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 50% less expensive) Halifax vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 60% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Halifax vs San Jose (San Jose is 44% less expensive) Halifax vs Limon (Limon is 45% less expensive) Halifax vs Liberia (Liberia is 59% less expensive) Halifax vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 44% less expensive) Halifax vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 42% less expensive) Halifax vs Cartago (Cartago is 56% less expensive) Halifax vs Heredia (Heredia is 43% less expensive) Halifax vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 23% less expensive) Halifax vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 40% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Halifax vs Castries (Castries is 47% less expensive) Halifax vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 46% less expensive)
Jamaica
Halifax vs Kingston (Kingston is 40% less expensive) Halifax vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 64% less expensive) Halifax vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 54% less expensive) Halifax vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 47% less expensive) Halifax vs May Pen (May Pen is 63% less expensive) Halifax vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 55% less expensive) Halifax vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 61% less expensive) Halifax vs Linstead (Linstead is 52% less expensive) Halifax vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 49% less expensive) Halifax vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 48% less expensive)
El Salvador
Halifax vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 46% less expensive) Halifax vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 68% less expensive) Halifax vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 47% less expensive) Halifax vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 51% less expensive) Halifax vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 47% less expensive) Halifax vs Apopa (Apopa is 48% less expensive) Halifax vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 45% less expensive) Halifax vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 34% less expensive) Halifax vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 50% less expensive) Halifax vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 60% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Halifax vs St. John's (St. John's is 51% less expensive) Halifax vs All Saints (All Saints is 51% less expensive)
Grenada
Halifax vs St. George's (St. George's is 52% less expensive) Halifax vs Grenville (Grenville is 52% less expensive)
Dominica
Halifax vs Roseau (Roseau is 54% less expensive) Halifax vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 48% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Halifax vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 55% less expensive) Halifax vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 54% less expensive)
Belize
Halifax vs Belize City (Belize City is 60% less expensive) Halifax vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 50% less expensive) Halifax vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 67% less expensive) Halifax vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 39% less expensive) Halifax vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 28% less expensive)
Guatemala
Halifax vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 54% less expensive) Halifax vs Mixco (Mixco is 71% less expensive) Halifax vs Coban (Coban is 58% less expensive) Halifax vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 65% less expensive) Halifax vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 59% less expensive) Halifax vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 59% less expensive) Halifax vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 60% less expensive) Halifax vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 60% less expensive) Halifax vs Flores (Flores is 61% less expensive) Halifax vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 64% less expensive)
Honduras
Halifax vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 62% less expensive) Halifax vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 53% less expensive) Halifax vs Choloma (Choloma is 73% less expensive) Halifax vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 70% less expensive) Halifax vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 60% less expensive) Halifax vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 61% less expensive) Halifax vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 67% less expensive) Halifax vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 67% less expensive) Halifax vs Yoro (Yoro is 67% less expensive) Halifax vs La Lima (La Lima is 60% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Halifax vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 64% less expensive) Halifax vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 52% less expensive) Halifax vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 65% less expensive) Halifax vs Higuey (Higuey is 65% less expensive) Halifax vs La Vega (La Vega is 74% less expensive) Halifax vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 62% less expensive) Halifax vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 67% less expensive) Halifax vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 76% less expensive) Halifax vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 72% less expensive) Halifax vs Bonao (Bonao is 75% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Halifax vs Managua (Managua is 65% less expensive) Halifax vs Leon (Leon is 71% less expensive) Halifax vs Masaya (Masaya is 68% less expensive) Halifax vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 75% less expensive) Halifax vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 71% less expensive) Halifax vs Esteli (Esteli is 73% less expensive) Halifax vs Granada (Granada is 68% less expensive) Halifax vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 79% less expensive) Halifax vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 70% less expensive) Halifax vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 59% less expensive)