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Cost of living in Canada: build your budget

Estimate six monthly expenses in CAD and compare the total with your optional net income. Select a city and the family profile to load the 2025 statistical reference for two adults and two children, or use manual entry for any household.

Start with three simple steps

  • Choose manual entry for your own quotes. A city plus the family profile loads only the historical 2025 reference for two adults and two children.
  • Fill all six monthly categories. A zero is an explicit choice, not an unknown amount. Count housing utilities only once.
  • Check the monthly and annual totals, then save the expense-only sharing link. Keep arrival costs and deposits in a separate reserve.

Budget calculator

Estimate your monthly and annual costs in Canadian dollars (CAD).

When no validated data set is available for a city, enter your amounts manually.

Leave empty to see totals without a balance.

Monthly total — CAD

Annual total — CAD

Balance — CAD

Share links contain shared household expenses only; income is excluded and never transmitted.

Calculated estimates for general guidance. Reference data has its own source, year and household scope; a calculated total is not a current price quote or financial advice.

What does the city reference mean?

It comes from Statistics Canada’s 2025 Market Basket Measure, 2023 base, in current dollars for the metropolitan area. It is a basic-needs threshold, not 2026 asking rent, an immigration funds requirement or a comfortable living target. Annual components are divided by 12; rounding can make the calculated annual total differ from the published threshold.

Why are separate utilities zero?

The reference housing component already includes utilities, appliances and basic tenant insurance. Zero means included in housing, never free. When replacing it with an advertised rent, check what is included and enter separately billed charges without double counting. Other combines clothing and the remaining basket expenses.

What about a single person or couple?

Enter your actual amounts manually. This version does not scale family costs to other households. Keep one-off arrival costs, deposits and personal childcare or health needs in a separate reserve. Reset clears the form; a share link includes expenses but never net income.

Statistics Canada — source table 11-10-0066-01 (EN) · Explore the four city guides

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Where to find your own amounts

  • Housing: a dated listing or written quote with utilities, insurance and parking inclusions.
  • Food: your own shopping list priced at a local shop. Transport: the operator’s current fares for your actual journeys.
  • Telecommunications: a dated plan quote including equipment, fees and tax. Other: list your own recurring costs and separate one-off purchases.