How much household income do you need to live comfortably in Canada? In June, MoneySense asked more than 9,000 Canadians this question in a web poll run with LEO, the market research panel of Leger Marketing.
Of the five income choices offered, $100,000 was the most common response, selected by 37% of participants. A quarter of respondents (25.8%) chose $150,000, while 23.8% picked the median Canadian salary of $74,200. Smaller groups chose $200,000 (8.5%) and $250,000 (4.9%), the latter approaching the top federal tax bracket.
There is no single answer to what constitutes a comfortable income in Canada. Responses vary by age—young adults and seniors generally aim lower, while people in their peak working and child-raising years choose higher targets—as well as by household size, housing status, location, and other personal circumstances.
What we know about Canadian incomes
Statistics Canada reports the average Canadian household disposable income was $100,702 in 2024. Households in the fourth and fifth income quintiles averaged $115,656 and $212,741, respectively.
To be among the top 10% of individual earners in Canada, you must earn at least $125,945. The top 25% threshold is $81,184. Individuals earning between $57,375 and $114,750 are commonly considered middle class. Household earnings are typically higher than individual incomes.
Measures of financial hardship vary as well. Living Wage Canada estimates the hourly wage required to cover basic living costs in communities across the country: for example, Calgary’s living wage is $24.45, Vancouver’s is $27.05, and the Greater Toronto Area’s is $26—roughly $48,672 per year based on a 36-hour workweek.
Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off (LICO) calculations highlight regional differences in the cost of raising a family. The highest costs for a family of four are in the far north, peaking at $125,784 in Iqaluit, Nunavut. South of the 60th parallel, Vancouver has the highest poverty-line threshold at $59,508.
Bank economists assess housing affordability by comparing average shelter costs to average incomes in different cities, typically using the benchmark that shelter costs should not exceed about 30% of gross household income. That approach focuses on mortgage stress but doesn’t capture many other living costs that affect overall affordability.
How MoneySense calculates a comfortable income
To create a more consistent measure of “comfortable” income across Canadian cities, MoneySense used CareerBeacon’s cost-of-living tool. CareerBeacon provides monthly cost estimates for a single renter covering rent, transportation, food, utilities, clothing, leisure, and other common expenses in communities with populations of 50,000 or more.
We then factored in typical payroll deductions—income tax, Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan contributions—which reduce take-home pay by about 20% to 25% for many middle-income earners, and recommended savings of 10% to 15%. Finally, we allowed an additional 10% to 20% as a margin for unexpected expenses or extra savings.
Using these assumptions, a comfortable annual income in each community is roughly double the monthly cost-of-living estimate multiplied by 12. While CareerBeacon’s figures are based on single renters, they can be scaled to two-earner households and homeowners. For example, a home-owning family of four with two working parents may need around $200,000 to feel comfortable in Vancouver or Whitby, whereas $115,000 could be ample in Trois-Rivières.
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Comfortable income levels in Canadian cities
The table below lists communities alphabetically to help you find the comfortable income estimate for your city or a nearby location. CareerBeacon’s survey includes municipalities with populations of 50,000 or more.
| City | Avg. monthly cost of living | Annual income required to be comfortable (single person) |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford, British Columbia | $3,522 | $84,528 |
| Airdrie, Alberta | $3,811 | $91,464 |
| Ajax, Ontario | $3,605 | $86,520 |
| Aurora, Ontario | $3,521 | $84,504 |
| Barrie, Ontario | $3,807 | $91,368 |
| Belleville, Ontario | $3,724 | $89,376 |
| Brampton, Ontario | $3,471 | $83,304 |
| Brantford, Ontario | $3,336 | $80,064 |
| Brossard, Quebec | $3,824 | $91,776 |
| Burlington, Ontario | $4,001 | $96,024 |
| Burnaby, British Columbia | $4,263 | $102,312 |
| Calgary, Alberta | $3,666 | $87,984 |
| Cambridge, Ontario | $3,747 | $89,928 |
| Chilliwack, British Columbia | $3,402 | $81,648 |
| Coquitlam, British Columbia | $4,372 | $104,928 |
| Drummondville, Quebec | $3,383 | $81,192 |
| Edmonton, Alberta | $3,295 | $79,080 |
| Fredericton, New Brunswick | $2,991 | $71,784 |
| Gatineau, Quebec | $3,225 | $77,400 |
| Granby, Quebec | $3,469 | $83,256 |
| Grande Prairie, Alberta | $3,525 | $84,600 |
| Greater Sudbury, Ontario | $3,395 | $81,480 |
| Guelph, Ontario | $3,818 | $91,632 |
| Halifax, Nova Scotia | $3,696 | $88,704 |
| Hamilton, Ontario | $3,681 | $88,344 |
| Kamloops, British Columbia | $3,802 | $91,248 |
| Kelowna, British Columbia | $3,685 | $88,440 |
| Kingston, Ontario | $3,437 | $82,488 |
| Kitchener, Ontario | $3,787 | $90,888 |
| Laval, Quebec | $3,416 | $81,984 |
| Lethbridge, Alberta | $3,067 | $73,608 |
| London, Ontario | $3,618 | $86,832 |
| Longueuil, Quebec | $3,298 | $79,152 |
| Markham, Ontario | $4,084 | $98,016 |
| Medicine Hat, Alberta | $2,934 | $70,416 |
| Milton, Ontario | $4,433 | $106,392 |
| Mississauga, Ontario | $4,159 | $99,816 |
| Moncton, New Brunswick | $3,058 | $73,392 |
| Montreal, Quebec | $3,276 | $78,624 |
| Nanaimo, British Columbia | $3,557 | $85,368 |
| New Westminster, British Columbia | $3,941 | $94,584 |
| Newmarket, Ontario | $3,426 | $82,224 |
| Niagara Falls, Ontario | $3,451 | $82,824 |
| North Bay, Ontario | $3,621 | $86,904 |
| North Vancouver, British Columbia | $4,313 | $103,512 |
| Oakville, Ontario | $3,814 | $91,536 |
| Oshawa, Ontario | $3,719 | $89,256 |
| Ottawa, Ontario | $3,713 | $89,112 |
| Peterborough, Ontario | $3,531 | $84,744 |
| Pickering, Ontario | $3,624 | $86,976 |
| Port Coquitlam, British Columbia | $3,627 | $87,048 |
| Prince George, British Columbia | $3,361 | $80,664 |
| Québec City, Quebec | $3,034 | $72,816 |
| Red Deer, Alberta | $3,266 | $78,384 |
| Regina, Saskatchewan | $3,141 | $75,384 |
| Richmond Hill, Ontario | $4,439 | $106,536 |
| Richmond, British Columbia | $3,835 | $92,040 |
| Saguenay, Quebec | $3,461 | $83,064 |
| Saint John, New Brunswick | $3,253 | $78,072 |
| Sarnia, Ontario | $3,092 | $74,208 |
| Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | $3,286 | $78,864 |
| Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario | $3,031 | $72,744 |
| Sherbrooke, Quebec | $2,705 | $64,920 |
| St. Albert, Alberta | $3,697 | $88,728 |
| St. Catharines, Ontario | $3,533 | $84,792 |
| St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador | $3,119 | $74,856 |
| Surrey, British Columbia | $3,995 | $95,880 |
| Thunder Bay, Ontario | $3,475 | $83,400 |
| Toronto, Ontario | $4,120 | $98,880 |
| Trois-Rivières, Quebec | $2,414 | $57,936 |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | $4,274 | $102,576 |
| Vaughan, Ontario | $4,040 | $96,960 |
| Victoria, British Columbia | $4,003 | $96,072 |
| Waterloo, Ontario | $3,629 | $87,096 |
| Welland, Ontario | $3,530 | $84,720 |
| Whitby, Ontario | $4,401 | $105,624 |
| Windsor, Ontario | $3,626 | $87,024 |
| Winnipeg, Manitoba | $3,303 | $79,272 |
The estimates show annual comfortable incomes range from roughly $58,000 to more than $106,000—a near twofold difference depending on location. Major employment hubs such as Toronto and Vancouver tend to demand the highest incomes, while smaller centres or cities outside large metropolitan areas are generally more affordable.
Cities with the highest and lowest income levels
Cities with the highest estimated incomes required to feel comfortable include:
- Richmond Hill, ON – $106,536
- Milton, ON – $106,392
- Whitby, ON – $105,624
- Coquitlam, BC – $104,928
- North Vancouver, BC – $103,512
Cities where it’s easiest to reach a comfortable income include:
- Trois-Rivières, QC – $57,936
- Sherbrooke, QC – $64,920
- Medicine Hat, AB – $70,416
- Fredericton, NB – $71,784
- Sault Ste. Marie, ON – $72,744
Meeting the numeric threshold in your city does not guarantee you will feel financially comfortable. Debt levels, home ownership, family size, and individual expectations all play major roles. Still, these estimates provide a consistent, city-by-city starting point for planning income goals, budgeting, and housing decisions.
If you want to learn more about saving, spending, investing, or protecting your money, MoneySense offers a broad range of guides and tools to help you make smarter financial choices.
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