Victoria regularly makes it into the rankings for the world’s most livable cities.
It sports a vibrant downtown area with tons of art and culture combined with immediate access to nature.
But what about the cost of living in Victoria BC? Is it affordable at all?
If you’re curious about the average cost of living in Victoria BC, read on.
Summary of the Average Cost
Here’s a summary of the average cost of living in Victoria BC.
- A family of four can expect to budget $5,000/month
- A single person can expect to budget near $1,300/month excluding rent
In general, the cost of living in Victoria is comparable to other major cities in Canada like Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary.
Rent is 8.72% lower than in Toronto; however, Victoria actually has a higher cost of living due to the prices of other domestic goods.
Housing Costs
To rent a 1-bedroom in Victoria, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 with the average cost being $1,700.
Fernwood is the cheapest city district to live in, and Fairfield the most expensive.
A 2-bedroom will run you anywhere from $1,900 to $3,000.
It is about 20% cheaper to rent a home in Victoria than it is to rent in Vancouver.
You can also look at homes for sale, but do note that property prices in BC will be prohibitively expensive for most.
Average Utility Cost
Utilities are roughly standardized across the entire province of BC. A resident of the province can expect to pay a monthly cost of $296. For a resident of a 1-bedroom condo, they could expect to pay about $130 per month.
This bill includes heating, cooling, and water. Electricity may or not be added to this total.
Domestic Goods
Here’s what you can expect to pay for some common items at the grocery store. These prices are in Canadian dollars.
- 1L of milk: $4
- 1 kg of rice: $5
- 12 eggs: $5
- 1 kg chicken Fillets: $17
- 1 kg apples: $4
- 1 head of lettuce: $3
Compared to Toronto, these items are about 20-50% more costly.
Compared to Vancouver, these items are also about 20-50% more costly.
Transportation
Transportation options are relatively affordable in Victoria. The price of a monthly transit pass is $85.
Car insurance rates in BC are the highest in Canada, nearing $2,000.
Parking downtown can be $1-$3 per hour, and residents can pay via the ParkVictoria app.
Entertainment
The average resident can expect to budget $250 for entertainment per month. This factors in leisure, eating at restaurants, and other forms of recreation.
A meal at a low-cost restaurant would be around $20 for two people but can cost up to $80 for a higher-end establishment.
A 0.5L beer will cost around $7. A cocktail drink at an average pub will cost around $11. Note that 2 movie theatre tickets will cost around $30.
Also, because Victoria is surrounded by abundant nature, there are many recreational activities you can do for free, like hiking and sightseeing! Of course, you may have to factor in the cost of gas and transportation.
Cost of Living in Victoria BC
The cost of living in Victoria BC is high but remains affordable depending on your situation.
If you want to live in a progressive, clean, and beautiful city, you can’t go wrong with Victoria. You will always be paying for an extremely high standard of living.
For more tips and cost of living summaries, check out our lifestyle section!
