Cost of living in Thunder Bay

In Thunder Bay, Canada, a family of four typically needs around $4015 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $1698 monthly.

How expensive is Thunder Bay compared to other cities?

Thunder Bay is 19% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Thunder Bay compare to your city?

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

Rent in Thunder Bay is, on average, 63% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Thunder Bay?

Who is Thunder Bay a good fit for?

Thunder Bay 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 Thunder Bay so expensive?

The high cost of living in Thunder Bay is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Thunder Bay?

Yes, food costs are 17% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living.

Is public transport affordable in Thunder Bay?

Public transport is relatively affordable, being 16% lower than the European benchmark, making it a viable option for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1698 $
Without Rent
729 $
Rent & Utilities
969 $
Food
556 $
Transport
63 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
2111 $
GDP per Capita
53,372 $
Freedom Index
8.55
Lifespan
81 years
Speak English
82%
Population
109.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 13.2 $
Dinner 54.9 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.5 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 4.99 $
Capuccino 3.63 $
Coke, 330ml 2.03 $

Compare Thunder Bay with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 2.38 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.03 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.68 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.45 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 16.9 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 16.4 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 18.5 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.92 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.31 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.02 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.48 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.6 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.2 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.46 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.65 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 9.46 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.67 $
Cigarette pack 11 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.4 $
Monthly Pass 62.3 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.14 $
Taxi, 8 km 20.3 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 69.6 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.09 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 3.21 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.38 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.27 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 137 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 208 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 99.8 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 708 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,459 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 831 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,592 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,582 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 5,522 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 2,111 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.81%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 25.6 $
Cinema, 1 seat 9.93 $
Haircut 17.7 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 67.2 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 42.8 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 742 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 6,536 $

Compare Thunder Bay with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Thunder Bay vs George Town (George Town is 115% more expensive)
Bahamas
Thunder Bay vs Nassau (Nassau is 62% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Freeport (Freeport is 29% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Thunder Bay vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 38% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Luganville (Luganville is 80% more expensive)
United States
Thunder Bay vs New York City (New York City is 139% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 88% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Chicago (Chicago is 57% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Houston (Houston is 32% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 40% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 50% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 29% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Diego (San Diego is 97% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Dallas (Dallas is 50% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Jose (San Jose is 116% more expensive)
Canada
Thunder Bay vs Toronto (Toronto is 52% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Montreal (Montreal is 15% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Calgary (Calgary is 27% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 32% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 5% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 3% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 46% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 56% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Brampton (Brampton is 25% more expensive) Thunder Bay vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 27% more expensive)
Barbados
Thunder Bay vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 20% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Holetown (Holetown is 18% less expensive)
Panama
Thunder Bay vs Panama City (Panama City is 18% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Colon (Colon is 30% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 28% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 38% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs David (David is 51% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 44% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Balboa (Balboa is 26% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Pacora (Pacora is 26% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Chitre (Chitre is 36% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Penonome (Penonome is 35% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Thunder Bay vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 27% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Cayon (Cayon is 27% less expensive)
Cuba
Thunder Bay vs Havana (Havana is 40% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 17% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Holguin (Holguin is 25% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 10% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 38% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 31% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 8% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 8% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 35% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 48% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Thunder Bay vs San Jose (San Jose is 27% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Limon (Limon is 29% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Liberia (Liberia is 47% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 27% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 25% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Cartago (Cartago is 43% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Heredia (Heredia is 27% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 1% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 23% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Thunder Bay vs Castries (Castries is 32% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 30% less expensive)
Jamaica
Thunder Bay vs Kingston (Kingston is 22% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 54% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 40% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 31% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs May Pen (May Pen is 52% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 42% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 50% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Linstead (Linstead is 38% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 34% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 33% less expensive)
El Salvador
Thunder Bay vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 30% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 58% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 31% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 36% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 32% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Apopa (Apopa is 33% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 29% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 14% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 36% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 48% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Thunder Bay vs St. John's (St. John's is 36% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs All Saints (All Saints is 36% less expensive)
Grenada
Thunder Bay vs St. George's (St. George's is 37% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Grenville (Grenville is 38% less expensive)
Dominica
Thunder Bay vs Roseau (Roseau is 41% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 33% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Thunder Bay vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 42% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 41% less expensive)
Belize
Thunder Bay vs Belize City (Belize City is 48% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 36% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 57% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 21% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 7% less expensive)
Guatemala
Thunder Bay vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 41% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Mixco (Mixco is 62% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Coban (Coban is 46% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 54% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 47% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 47% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 49% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 49% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Flores (Flores is 49% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 53% less expensive)
Honduras
Thunder Bay vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 51% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 39% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Choloma (Choloma is 65% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 62% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 48% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 49% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 58% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 58% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Yoro (Yoro is 57% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs La Lima (La Lima is 49% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Thunder Bay vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 53% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 38% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 55% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Higuey (Higuey is 55% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs La Vega (La Vega is 66% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 51% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 57% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 69% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 63% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Bonao (Bonao is 68% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Thunder Bay vs Managua (Managua is 54% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Leon (Leon is 62% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Masaya (Masaya is 58% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 68% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 62% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Esteli (Esteli is 65% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Granada (Granada is 59% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 73% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 61% less expensive) Thunder Bay vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 48% less expensive)