What a $100K Salary Is Actually Worth in Canada’s Largest Cities (2026)
How far does a $100,000 salary go after paying recurring expenses and your mortgage or rent? The answer depends on where you live in Canada. Some cities will help you save and stretch your dollar further, while others may leave you with little left after expenses to save. While the cost of living will vary significantly from person to person, we’ll explore how far $100K will stretch and how much you’ll have left based on the average cost of living in different cities in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- How far your $100,000 salary goes can vary widely depending on where you live.
- Provincial tax rates and living costs in each city can significantly impact your ability to save.
- Housing costs account for a significant portion of an individual’s cost of living.
How the Cost of Living Is Calculated Across Canadian Cities
The average cost of living for homeowners and renters is calculated based on the average monthly costs of housing, transportation, groceries, utilities, dining, leisure and entertainment, clothing, and miscellaneous goods and services for a single person in each city. If you live in one of these cities, your cost of living may be lower or higher depending on your lifestyle and what you spend (or don’t spend) in these particular categories.
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in 5 Ontario Cities
Ontario is the most populous province in Canada. In Ontario, if you earn a $100k salary, your take-home income after taxes is approximately $74,022 per year or $6,168 per month.
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Toronto
If you’re a homeowner in Toronto, the average monthly shelter costs are approximately 49% ($3,041) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your average monthly shelter costs are approximately 33% ($2,046).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $5,120
- Income left each month: $1,048
- Income left each year: $12,582
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $4,125
- Income left each month: $2,043
- Income left each year: $24,516
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Mississauga
If you’re a homeowner in Mississauga, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 48% ($2,946) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 38% ($2,043).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,869
- Income left each month: $1,299
- Income left each year: $15,588
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $4,006
- Income left each month: $2,162
- Income left each year: $25,944
What a $100,000 Salary is Worth in Hamilton
If you’re a homeowner in Hamilton, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 39% ($2,397) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 30% ($1,724).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,319
- Income left each month: $1,849
- Income left each year: $22,188
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,646
- Income left each month: $2,522
- Income left each year: $30,264
What a $100,000 Salary is Worth in Brampton
If you’re a homeowner in Brampton, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 56% ($3,438) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 29% ($1,756).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $5,387
- Income left each month: $781
- Income left each year: $9,372
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,705
- Income left each month: $2,463
- Income left each year: $29,556
What a $100,000 Salary is Worth in Ottawa
If you’re a homeowner in Ottawa, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 40% ($2,489) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 28% ($1,700).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,498
- Income left each month: $1,670
- Income left each year: $20,040
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,709
- Income left each month: $2,459
- Income left each year: $29,508
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in 5 Quebec Cities
Quebec might be Ontario’s runner-up in population size, but this province’s housing costs are notably lower. However, taxes in Quebec are higher than in other provinces in Canada. In Quebec, if you earn a $100k salary, your take-home income after taxes is approximately $69,552 per year, or $5,796 per month.
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Montreal
If you’re a homeowner in Montreal, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 35% ($2,001) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 24% ($1,357).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,246
- Income left each month: $1,550
- Income left each year: $18,600
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,309
- Income left each month: $2,487
- Income left each year: $29,844
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Quebec City
If you’re a homeowner in Quebec City, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 31% ($1,783) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 19% ($1,127).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $3,753
- Income left each month: $2,043
- Income left each year: $24,516
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,097
- Income left each month: $2,699
- Income left each year: $32,388
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Laval
If you’re a homeowner in Laval, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 35% ($2,050) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 31% ($1,783).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $3,972
- Income left each month: $1,824
- Income left each year: $21,888
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,705
- Income left each month: $2,091
- Income left each year: $25,092
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Gatineau
If you’re a homeowner in Gatineau, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 33% ($1,919) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 23% ($1,338).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $3,947
- Income left each month: $1,849
- Income left each year: $22,188
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,366
- Income left each month: $2,430
- Income left each year: $29,160
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Longueuil
If you’re a homeowner in Longueuil, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 33% ($1,882) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 27% ($1,567).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $3,799
- Income left each month: $1,997
- Income left each year: $23,964
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,484
- Income left each month: $2,312
- Income left each year: $27,744
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in 5 Alberta Cities
Alberta boasts some of the lowest income tax rates and more affordable housing in its major cities than the rest of Canada. In Alberta, if you earn a $100k salary, your take-home income after taxes is approximately $74,303 per year or $6,192 per month.
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Calgary
If you’re a homeowner in Calgary, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 43% ($2,647) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 25% ($1,532).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,742
- Income left each month: $1,450
- Income left each year: $17,400
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,627
- Income left each month: $2,565
- Income left each year: $30,780
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Edmonton
If you’re a homeowner in Edmonton, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 42% ($2,567) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 21% ($1,327).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,668
- Income left each month: $1,524
- Income left each year: $18,288
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,428
- Income left each month: $2,764
- Income left each year: $33,168
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Red Deer
If you’re a homeowner in Red Deer, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 37% ($2,271) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 21% ($1,315).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,417
- Income left each month: $1,775
- Income left each year: $21,300
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,461
- Income left each month: $2,731
- Income left each year: $32,772
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Lethbridge
If you’re a homeowner in Lethbridge, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 34% ($2,080) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 17% ($1,040).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,218
- Income left each month: $1,974
- Income left each year: $23,688
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,178
- Income left each month: $3,014
- Income left each year: $36,168
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in St. Albert
If you’re a homeowner in St. Albert, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 42% ($2,612) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 29% ($1,804).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,660
- Income left each month: $1,532
- Income left each year: $18,384
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,852
- Income left each month: $2,340
- Income left each year: $28,080
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in 5 British Columbia Cities
British Columbia, namely Vancouver, is known for having some of the most expensive real estate in the country, not to mention a high cost of living. In British Columbia, if you earn a $100k salary, your take-home income after taxes is approximately $75,425 per year or $6,285 per month.
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Vancouver
If you’re a homeowner in Vancouver, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 50% ($3,110) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 35% ($2,214).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $5,237
- Income left each month: $1,048
- Income left each year: $12,576
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $4,341
- Income left each month: $1,944
- Income left each year: $23,328
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Victoria
If you’re a homeowner in Victoria, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 38% ($2,367) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 30% ($1,889).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,554
- Income left each month: $1,731
- Income left each year: $20,772
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $4,076
- Income left each month: $2,209
- Income left each year: $26,508
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Kelowna
If you’re a homeowner in Kelowna, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 38% ($2,409) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 27% ($1,678).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,498
- Income left each month: $1,787
- Income left each year: $21,444
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,767
- Income left each month: $2,518
- Income left each year: $30,216
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in Abbotsford
If you’re a homeowner in Abbotsford, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 40% ($2,531) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 25% ($1,545).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,662
- Income left each month: $1,623
- Income left each year: $19,476
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,676
- Income left each month: $2,609
- Income left each year: $31,308
What a $100,000 Salary Is Worth in White Rock
If you’re a homeowner in White Rock, your monthly shelter costs are approximately 41% ($2,579) of your take-home pay. If you’re a renter, your shelter costs are approximately 29% ($1,804).
- Average cost of living for homeowners per month: $4,685
- Income left each month: $1,600
- Income left each year: $19,200
- Average cost of living for renters per month: $3,910
- Income left each month: $2,375
- Income left each year: $28,500
Where $100,000 Is Worth More and Less Across Canada
The table below ranks 25 Canadian cities based on the income left each year after taxes and living expenses are deducted from a $100,000 salary. The numbers are based on the provincial tax rates and the average cost of living for a single renter. While specific rankings are not provided for all cities, the table shows how earning $100,000 can feel like a lot or a little, depending on location.
| Rank | City | Discretionary Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherbrooke | $36,336 |
| 2 | Fredericton | $33,420 |
| 3 | Saint John | $33,300 |
| 4 | Niagara Falls | $33,036 |
| 5 | Regina | $32,772 |
| 6 | Grand Prairie | $32,700 |
| 7 | Thunder Bay | $32,652 |
| 8 | Saskatoon | $32,436 |
| 9 | Winnipeg | $31,608 |
| 10 | St. John’s | $31,488 |
| 11 | Kingston | $31,368 |
| 12 | London | $31,260 |
| 13 | Waterloo | $31,104 |
| 14 | Charlottetown | $30,360 |
| 15 | Windsor | $30,312 |
| 16 | St. Catharines | $30,192 |
| 17 | Barrie | $28,536 |
| 18 | Kitchener | $28,092 |
| 19 | Guelph | $25,584 |
| 20 | Iqaluit | $24,972 |
| 21 | Burlington | $24,228 |
| 22 | Yarmouth | $23,808 |
| 23 | Halifax | $23,472 |
| 24 | Yellowknife | $22,620 |
| 25 | Whitehorse | $21,948 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a difference in discretionary income between cities?
The difference is primarily due to provincial tax rates and variations in the cost of living, particularly housing, utilities, and transportation. Lower housing costs and taxes mean your income goes further than in locations with higher taxes and housing costs.
How can I determine the actual value of a $100,000 salary in my specific situation?
To determine the actual value of a $100,000 salary in your specific situation, you must consider your expenses, including housing, transportation, food, utilities, entertainment, and any other discretionary expenses you have each month. You should also consider any non-discretionary obligations associated with debt repayments or the extra cost of dependents if you have a family.
Does the cost of living include the cost of buying a home?
While the cost of living does not include the full upfront cost of purchasing a home, it does consider monthly mortgage payments or rent.
Final Thoughts
Considering a city’s cost of living is crucial when determining how far your money will go. The location you choose to call home in Canada can significantly impact the value of your salary. What may seem like a high salary in one city may not stretch as far in another. A higher salary doesn’t always translate to a better quality of life if the cost of living eats away at your earnings.
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