Is Victoria, BC expensive to live in?

Victoria is moderately expensive by Canadian standards and cheaper than the US average. CostLiving’s Victoria moderate benchmark sits at $3,100 per person per month, about $200 below Vancouver ($3,300) and $25 above Toronto ($3,075), but $425 below the US national average of $3,525 and $350 above Calgary ($2,750). The expensive lines are housing (BC market pressure, limited new-build supply in central Victoria), insurance (BC’s ICBC vehicle insurance runs above most Canadian provinces), and BC’s provincial sales tax layered on goods. The cheap lines for US-coming households are healthcare (no out-of-pocket primary care), prescription drug costs, and lower violence-related insurance and security costs. Victoria is cheaper than Seattle and dramatically cheaper than San Francisco, modestly cheaper than Portland, and pricier than US southeast and mountain-west alternatives. For the full cost picture, see our Victoria cost of living page.