MountainHiker

That website is hit and miss, it's all based on user submissions. If there is limited data or old data it can be way off. Best bet it to scroll to the bottom and check the number of submissions and the date of the last submission.

Moncton only has 27 submissions vs Vancouver's 339 in the last 18 months.

scrubbedexpat091

I want those kind of rents....We are in subsidized rental in BC and pay more then that.....Any jobs out there...lol

Steve_

Clearly none of us are users: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living...ty2=Birmingham

Calgary v. Birmingham (is Birmingham average?) - they come out almost the same overall, booze and rent are obviously way more in Calgary and fuel is obviously way more in Birmingham.

However one of the biggest differences is on cheese, which it says is 43% more expensive in Birmingham - and the one thing we all agreed on was that it was more expensive here!

So yeah, I wouldn't read too much into it. But anyway I don't think there's that massive of a difference overall, although you're going to notice bread and booze for sure.

Steve_

But you don't have to go as often because fridges and houses are larger here, which is presumably why the item size is usually larger here too because you can store it. So instead of going say, 2-3 times a week you go once a week which is a big saving and electricity costs less so no downside to the larger fridge. Also, fuel is cheaper, so I would expect it's cheaper here if you include your trip.

withabix

There's nothing in them any more.

Just a balloon crust, some gravy and one piece of Pedigree Chum.

MikeUK

Budget levels were deliberately matched..
It just that found we could fit more, and sometimes better into it that proved interesting..

I think when I moved over to Canada 14yrs ago, it was genuinely cheaper
But after many value hikes every time the CAD dollar got close or on parity with the US dollar, that difference slowly eroded, I don't think its there anymore...

BristolUK

Yes, but snow too.

dbd33

But people are bigger here. I assume that, in order to maintain, or indeed, to initially establish, their bulk, people in Canada must eat more.

Scribble

Pretty easy to get 733 in montreal

BristolUK

It may well be. My comparison was the site is overestimating by about $200 for Moncton.

The site says $612/$878 for Montreal but there are 12 times as many submissions so probably more accurate.

My mother in law was a 20 minute drive from downtown Montreal three years ago and paid less than $600 for a 3 bedroom apartment!!

Steve_

I sometimes think to myself I'm better off in Calgary because you get expats who start up businesses to cater to other expats and usually they do a better job of it than a big business abroad would do. Yes they charge more but the quality is better. I can think of two butchers, MacEwan's and Valbella's who turn out generally decent stuff, small butchers like that wouldn't stand a chance in the UK nowadays.

Scribble

They would if the people in the UK realised the rubbish they are being sold by Sainsberescos.

Tirytory

Electricity is cheaper in the UK. Way cheaper. Fuel might be cheaper here but I spend more here on fuel as the distance I cover is way more. I used to walk everywhere in the UK. Don't do that much anymore. I think everything is generally cheaper in the UK actually, and we've only just left.

Aviator

Partly maybe because of the current FX. Although when I was there last fall, I thought how expensive many things were compared to here.

When we arrived, it was way cheaper here with a GBP worth $2.30CAD

The cost of things is immaterial, what matters is how much you have left after the cost of living. We were and still are way better of than when living in the UK.

Former Lancastrian

So you fancy a glass of Ribena or need to make a lager and black

At Tesco a 1 litre bottle is on sale actually 2 for 4 quid.
At London Drugs a 1 litre bottle is on sale for $7.99

Now you can choose to pay the $7.99 plus tax or bitch and moan and have a relative ship it over which Im guessing will cost more than buying 2 x bottles at London Drugs
Ex pats need to accept that UK products they are used to cost more in Canada as they are shipped to distributors in bulk who then take their cut from selling to stores who then have to make their profit.
Many companies will not sell directly to stores and force them to go through an authorized distributor in Canada. Even those that will sell direct there usually is a minimum quantity or value of order.
Get used to it or try to find Canadian equivalents though Ribena is a tough act to follow.