Average Monthly Utility Costs by Province
Average Monthly Utility Bills
Total Monthly Utility Costs
| Province |
Total Monthly |
Annual |
| Nunavut |
$450–$550 |
$5,400–$6,600 |
| Northwest Territories |
$400–$500 |
$4,800–$6,000 |
| Alberta |
$350–$450 |
$4,200–$5,400 |
| Yukon |
$350–$450 |
$4,200–$5,400 |
| Ontario |
$330–$430 |
$3,960–$5,160 |
| Saskatchewan |
$320–$400 |
$3,840–$4,800 |
| Nova Scotia |
$300–$380 |
$3,600–$4,560 |
| New Brunswick |
$290–$370 |
$3,480–$4,440 |
| Newfoundland |
$285–$365 |
$3,420–$4,380 |
| Prince Edward Island |
$280–$350 |
$3,360–$4,200 |
| British Columbia |
$260–$340 |
$3,120–$4,080 |
| Manitoba |
$250–$330 |
$3,000–$3,960 |
| Quebec |
$220–$290 |
$2,640–$3,480 |
Electricity Costs by Province
Provincial Electricity Rates
| Province |
Residential Rate (¢/kWh) |
Avg Monthly Bill |
| Quebec |
7.1–7.8 |
$80–$110 |
| Manitoba |
9.4–10.0 |
$90–$130 |
| British Columbia |
9.5–14.3 (tiered) |
$100–$150 |
| Newfoundland |
11.0–12.5 |
$110–$160 |
| New Brunswick |
11.5–13.5 |
$115–$165 |
| Saskatchewan |
13.0–17.0 |
$120–$175 |
| Prince Edward Island |
14.5–17.0 |
$130–$180 |
| Alberta |
10.0–20.0 (variable) |
$130–$200 |
| Ontario |
8.7–17.6 (TOU) |
$125–$180 |
| Nova Scotia |
15.0–18.5 |
$140–$200 |
Time-of-Use Rates (Ontario, 2026)
| Period |
Rate (¢/kWh) |
Times |
| Off-peak |
8.7 |
Weekends, holidays, nights |
| Mid-peak |
13.2 |
Most weekday hours |
| On-peak |
17.6 |
4–9 PM weekdays (winter) |
Why Rates Vary
| Province |
Power Source |
Impact |
| Quebec |
97% hydro |
Very low rates |
| BC |
90%+ hydro |
Low tiered rates |
| Manitoba |
97% hydro |
Low rates |
| Ontario |
Nuclear, hydro, gas |
Higher rates, time-of-use |
| Alberta |
Natural gas, some coal |
Market rates, volatile |
| Nova Scotia |
Coal, oil imports |
Higher rates |
Natural Gas Costs by Province
Average Monthly Gas Bills
| Province |
Winter Monthly |
Summer Monthly |
Annual Total |
| Alberta |
$150–$250 |
$30–$60 |
$1,200–$1,800 |
| Saskatchewan |
$140–$230 |
$30–$50 |
$1,100–$1,600 |
| Manitoba |
$120–$200 |
$25–$45 |
$900–$1,400 |
| Ontario |
$100–$180 |
$20–$40 |
$800–$1,300 |
| Quebec |
$80–$150 |
$20–$35 |
$600–$1,100 |
| British Columbia |
$70–$140 |
$20–$35 |
$600–$1,000 |
Gas Rate Comparison
| Province |
Typical Rate ($/GJ) |
| Alberta |
$3.50–$5.00 |
| British Columbia |
$8.00–$12.00 |
| Ontario |
$6.00–$9.00 |
| Quebec |
$12.00–$15.00 |
Lower gas prices in Alberta offset higher electricity costs.
Water and Sewer Costs
Average Monthly Water Bills
| City |
Monthly Cost |
| Vancouver |
$40–$70 |
| Calgary |
$70–$100 |
| Edmonton |
$70–$100 |
| Toronto |
$70–$100 |
| Montreal |
$0 (flat tax) |
| Ottawa |
$60–$90 |
| Halifax |
$50–$80 |
| Winnipeg |
$50–$80 |
Montreal and some Quebec municipalities include water in property taxes rather than billing separately.
Internet Costs by Province
Average Monthly Internet
| Province |
Basic Plan |
Mid-Tier |
High-Speed |
| Ontario |
$50–$60 |
$70–$90 |
$100–$130 |
| Quebec |
$45–$55 |
$60–$80 |
$85–$110 |
| British Columbia |
$50–$60 |
$70–$90 |
$100–$130 |
| Alberta |
$55–$65 |
$75–$95 |
$105–$135 |
| Atlantic provinces |
$55–$70 |
$80–$100 |
$110–$140 |
| Rural areas |
$70–$100 |
$100–$130 |
Limited options |
Major Providers by Province
| Province |
Major ISPs |
| Ontario |
Bell, Rogers, Cogeco, TekSavvy, Virgin |
| Quebec |
Bell, Vidéotron, Fizz, TekSavvy |
| BC |
Telus, Shaw/Rogers, TekSavvy |
| Alberta |
Telus, Shaw/Rogers, TekSavvy |
| Atlantic |
Bell Aliant, Eastlink, Rogers |
Heating Costs Comparison
By Heating Type
| Heating Source |
Average Annual Cost |
Best In |
| Natural gas |
$1,000–$1,800 |
Prairies, Ontario |
| Electric (heat pump) |
$800–$1,400 |
Mild climates |
| Electric baseboard |
$1,500–$3,000 |
Quebec (cheap hydro) |
| Oil |
$2,000–$3,500 |
Atlantic Canada |
| Propane |
$1,800–$3,000 |
Rural areas |
| Wood/pellet |
$1,000–$2,000 |
Rural areas |
Heat Pump Savings
| Compared To |
Savings |
| Electric baseboard |
40–60% |
| Oil heating |
30–50% |
| Old gas furnace |
20–40% |
Heat pumps are increasingly popular, especially in moderate climates and provinces with cheap electricity.
Average Utility Breakdown by Category
For a Typical 3-Bedroom Home
| Utility |
Low Estimate |
High Estimate |
| Electricity |
$80 |
$200 |
| Natural gas/heating |
$50 |
$200 |
| Water/sewer |
$40 |
$100 |
| Internet |
$50 |
$130 |
| Total |
$220 |
$630 |
Seasonal Variation
Summer vs Winter Bills
| Season |
Primary Cost Drivers |
| Winter |
Heating (40–60% of bill) |
| Summer |
Air conditioning (where common) |
| Spring/Fall |
Lowest utility bills |
Monthly Utility Pattern (Ontario Home)
| Month |
Approximate Total |
| January |
$400–$500 |
| February |
$380–$480 |
| March |
$320–$400 |
| April |
$260–$320 |
| May |
$220–$280 |
| June |
$230–$300 |
| July |
$280–$360 |
| August |
$280–$360 |
| September |
$230–$290 |
| October |
$250–$310 |
| November |
$320–$400 |
| December |
$380–$470 |
How to Reduce Utility Bills
Electricity Savings
| Action |
Potential Savings |
| LED lighting |
$50–$100/year |
| Energy-efficient appliances |
$100–$300/year |
| Smart thermostat |
$100–$200/year |
| Time-of-use shifting |
$100–$200/year |
| Line dry clothes |
$50–$100/year |
Heating/Cooling Savings
| Action |
Potential Savings |
| Lower thermostat 1–2°C |
$100–$200/year |
| Seal air leaks |
$100–$300/year |
| Additional insulation |
$200–$500/year |
| Heat pump upgrade |
$500–$1,500/year |
| Programmable thermostat |
$100–$200/year |
Water Savings
| Action |
Potential Savings |
| Low-flow showerheads |
$50–$100/year |
| Fix leaks promptly |
$30–$100/year |
| Efficient dishwasher use |
$30–$60/year |
| Shorter showers |
$50–$100/year |
Government Rebates and Programs
Federal Programs
| Program |
Benefit |
| Canada Greener Homes Grant |
Up to $5,000 for upgrades |
| Oil to Heat Pump Grant |
Up to $10,000 |
| Home Efficiency Rebate |
Interest-free loans |
Provincial Programs (Examples)
| Province |
Program |
Benefit |
| Ontario |
Save on Energy |
Various rebates |
| BC |
CleanBC |
Heat pump rebates |
| Alberta |
Home Improvement |
Insulation rebates |
| Quebec |
Rénoclimat |
Rebates up to $20,000 |
Key Takeaways
- Total utility costs: $220–$500/month depending on province
- Quebec has cheapest electricity; Alberta has most expensive
- Heating is the biggest variable cost (40–60% of winter bills)
- Heat pumps can cut heating costs 30–60%
- Shop around for internet — prices vary significantly
- Government rebates can offset energy efficiency upgrades