Cost of living in Nanaimo

In Nanaimo, Canada, living costs about $1789 per month for one person and $4145 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Nanaimo compared to other cities?

Overall living costs in Nanaimo are 25% more expensive than the European benchmark.

How does Nanaimo compare to your city?

Nanaimo is 49% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Nanaimo is, on average, 59% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Nanaimo?

Who is Nanaimo a good fit for?

Nanaimo is a better match for people who prioritize lifestyle benefits and can afford the premium driven by rent & utilities and transport. For most moderate-income households, housing costs are the main barrier.

FAQ

Why is Nanaimo so expensive?

The primary reason for Nanaimo's high cost of living is the significant expense associated with rent and utilities.

Is food expensive in Nanaimo?

Yes, food costs are 19% higher than the European benchmark.

Is public transport affordable in Nanaimo?

Public transport in Nanaimo is 26% lower than the European benchmark, making it relatively affordable.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1789 $
Without Rent
726 $
Rent & Utilities
1063 $
Food
569 $
Transport
55 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
2224 $
GDP per Capita
53,372 $
Freedom Index
8.55
Lifespan
81 years
Speak English
82%
Population
99.9K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 16 $
Dinner 58.3 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.18 $
Capuccino 4.09 $
Coke, 330ml 2.39 $

Compare Nanaimo with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.86 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.82 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.69 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.66 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.9 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.3 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 16 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.89 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.36 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.4 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.23 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.89 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.14 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.34 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.94 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 15.6 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.53 $
Cigarette pack 13.2 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.92 $
Monthly Pass 45.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.35 $
Taxi, 8 km 19 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 39.9 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.19 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.54 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.94 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.19 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 70 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 109 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 63 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 911 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,684 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,004 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,837 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,233 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 4,084 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 2,224 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.65%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 32.7 $
Cinema, 1 seat 10.8 $
Haircut 14.5 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 80.1 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 49.4 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 764 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 12,174 $

Compare Nanaimo with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Nanaimo vs George Town (George Town is 104% more expensive)
Bahamas
Nanaimo vs Nassau (Nassau is 54% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Freeport (Freeport is 23% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Nanaimo vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 31% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Luganville (Luganville is 71% more expensive)
United States
Nanaimo vs New York City (New York City is 126% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 78% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Chicago (Chicago is 49% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Houston (Houston is 26% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 32% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 42% more expensive) Nanaimo vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 23% more expensive) Nanaimo vs San Diego (San Diego is 87% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Dallas (Dallas is 43% more expensive) Nanaimo vs San Jose (San Jose is 105% more expensive)
Canada
Nanaimo vs Toronto (Toronto is 44% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Montreal (Montreal is 9% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Calgary (Calgary is 20% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 25% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 0% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 2% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 38% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 48% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Brampton (Brampton is 19% more expensive) Nanaimo vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 20% more expensive)
Barbados
Nanaimo vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 24% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Holetown (Holetown is 22% less expensive)
Panama
Nanaimo vs Panama City (Panama City is 23% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Colon (Colon is 34% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 31% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 41% less expensive) Nanaimo vs David (David is 53% less expensive) Nanaimo vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 47% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Balboa (Balboa is 30% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Pacora (Pacora is 30% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Chitre (Chitre is 39% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Penonome (Penonome is 39% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Nanaimo vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 31% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Cayon (Cayon is 31% less expensive)
Cuba
Nanaimo vs Havana (Havana is 43% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 21% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Holguin (Holguin is 28% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 15% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 41% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 35% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 13% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 13% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 39% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 51% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Nanaimo vs San Jose (San Jose is 31% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Limon (Limon is 33% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Liberia (Liberia is 50% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 31% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 29% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Cartago (Cartago is 46% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Heredia (Heredia is 30% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 6% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 27% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Nanaimo vs Castries (Castries is 35% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 33% less expensive)
Jamaica
Nanaimo vs Kingston (Kingston is 26% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 56% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 43% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 35% less expensive) Nanaimo vs May Pen (May Pen is 54% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 45% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 53% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Linstead (Linstead is 42% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 37% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 36% less expensive)
El Salvador
Nanaimo vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 33% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 60% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 34% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 40% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 35% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Apopa (Apopa is 36% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 33% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 19% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 39% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 51% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Nanaimo vs St. John's (St. John's is 39% less expensive) Nanaimo vs All Saints (All Saints is 40% less expensive)
Grenada
Nanaimo vs St. George's (St. George's is 40% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Grenville (Grenville is 41% less expensive)
Dominica
Nanaimo vs Roseau (Roseau is 44% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 36% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Nanaimo vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 45% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 44% less expensive)
Belize
Nanaimo vs Belize City (Belize City is 51% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 39% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 59% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 25% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 12% less expensive)
Guatemala
Nanaimo vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 44% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Mixco (Mixco is 64% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Coban (Coban is 49% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 57% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 49% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 50% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 51% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 51% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Flores (Flores is 52% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 56% less expensive)
Honduras
Nanaimo vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 54% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 42% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Choloma (Choloma is 67% less expensive) Nanaimo vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 64% less expensive) Nanaimo vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 51% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 52% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 60% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 60% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Yoro (Yoro is 59% less expensive) Nanaimo vs La Lima (La Lima is 51% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Nanaimo vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 56% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 42% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 57% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Higuey (Higuey is 57% less expensive) Nanaimo vs La Vega (La Vega is 68% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 54% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 59% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 71% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 65% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Bonao (Bonao is 70% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Nanaimo vs Managua (Managua is 57% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Leon (Leon is 64% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Masaya (Masaya is 60% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 69% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 64% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Esteli (Esteli is 67% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Granada (Granada is 61% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 74% less expensive) Nanaimo vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 63% less expensive) Nanaimo vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 50% less expensive)