Cost of living comparison
California is 43.5% more expensive than Canada overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 28.2% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 24.8% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 12.6% more in California
- Housing
-
pay 60.0% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 30.9% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 4.0% more in California
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, and transportation in California are more expensive than in Canada. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in California.
If you lived in California instead of Canada, you would:
pay 28.2% more for restaurants
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.37
CA$23.68
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.01
CA$14.48
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
CA$2.89
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.62
CA$2.34
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 24.8% more for groceries
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.48
CA$3.59
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.30
CA$7.67
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.04
CA$11.62
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.39
CA$4.90
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.12
CA$7.41
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CA$2.59
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.64
CA$0.92
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.60
CA$2.31
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.74
CA$2.52
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
CA$1.67
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
CA$1.65
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 12.6% more for transportation
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.35
CA$6.29
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.88
CA$95.30
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$24,555.94
CA$35,523.85
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.33
CA$23.62
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 60.0% more for housing
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.95
CA$88.18
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,220.42
CA$1,765.51
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,114.36
CA$1,612.08
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$115.39
CA$166.92
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$729.99
CA$1,056.04
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,017.58
CA$17,385.23
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 30.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.20
CA$7.52
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.58
CA$5.18
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.91
CA$18.68
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$42.97
CA$62.16
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.95
CA$15.84
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 4.0% more for clothing
|
Canada
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.89
CA$77.96
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.01
CA$56.44
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.94
CA$122.87
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$102.12
CA$147.73
|
$117.31
|
|
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