How Much Does It Cost in Canada? A Directory of Cost Guides

Most big expenses in life have a few things that decide the price: where you live, the scope or level of service, and what insurance or government programs cover. The guides below explain those drivers for each expense and give figures where a government, regulator or named publisher sets or publishes them. This page lists every cost guide on the site, including the ones that live in other sections.

Family and children

The cost of having a baby: birth, gear and the income lost on parental leave in the first year.
The cost of raising a child: from birth to 18, and what the Canada Child Benefit offsets.
Daycare costs by province: reduced-fee child care programs and what parents pay.
Wedding costs: the budget by category.
The cost of owning a pet: yearly and lifetime costs for a dog or cat.
The cost of university: tuition, residence and living costs.

Health, dental and vision

Routine dental work: checkups, fillings, root canals, crowns and extractions without insurance.
Dental implants
Braces
Invisalign
LASIK and laser eye surgery

Legal and documents

What lawyers charge: hourly rates and flat fees by practice area.
What a will costs: a kit, an online service or a lawyer.
What a divorce costs: court fees, lawyers and mediation.
Passport fees: by passport type, age and service.

Home

Renovating a house: costs by project and room.
Kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations and home additions.
Building a house: cost per square foot and worked totals.
Closing costs when buying a home: legal fees, land transfer tax and other costs by province.
Monthly carrying costs of a home
Moving costs: local, long-distance and interprovincial moves.
Energy upgrades: heat pumps, solar panels, insulation and electric vs gas heating.

Cars

Money and insurance

Later life

Retirement home costs: retirement residences and assisted living by province.
Long-term care costs: the resident charges provinces set, home care and private care.
Funeral costs: burial vs cremation and what drives the price.

Planning for these costs is covered in our budgeting guides, and the cost of living in different cities in cost of living in Canada.