Then vs now
Canada,
then and now.
What everyday costs and pay looked like about ten years ago, compared with today. Official data, same measure at both ends.
Grocery basket
One of each of 10 everyday groceries, at Canada average prices
- Then · July 2017
- $52.02
- Now · July 2026
- $70.39
- Change
- +35.3%
- Work time at the average wage
- 2017: about 2 hours2026: almost 2 hours
Latest data: July 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 18-10-0245-01, Table 14-10-0063-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Statistics Canada Table 18-10-0245-01, Table 14-10-0063-01, July 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Average hourly wage
All employees, all industries, 15 years and over (Labour Force Survey)
- Then · August 2016
- $26.12/h
- Now · August 2026
- $37.02/h
- Change
- +41.7%
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0063-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Adapted from Statistics Canada, Employee wages by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality (Labour Force Survey), August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
50-litre fill-up of regular gasoline
Canada average, self-service
- Then · August 2016
- $50.95
- Now · August 2026
- $86.90
- Change
- +70.6%
- Work time at the average wage
- 2016: about 2 hours2026: almost 2.5 hours
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 18-10-0001-01, Table 14-10-0063-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Statistics Canada Table 18-10-0001-01, Table 14-10-0063-01, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
What $100 buys (all consumer prices)
Dollars needed then to buy what $100 buys now (Consumer Price Index)
- Then · August 2016
- $75.80
- Now · August 2026
- $100.00
- Change
- +31.9%
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 18-10-0004-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Adapted from Statistics Canada, Consumer Price Index, monthly, not seasonally adjusted, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
What $100 of groceries buys
Food purchased from stores (Consumer Price Index)
- Then · August 2016
- $71.14
- Now · August 2026
- $100.00
- Change
- +40.6%
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 18-10-0004-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Adapted from Statistics Canada, Consumer Price Index, monthly, not seasonally adjusted, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Mortgage on the same home
A home worth $500,000 today, priced back with the New Housing Price Index (new homes only; resale prices may have moved differently); 5-year posted rate, 20% down, 25 years
- Then · August 2016
- $1,919/mo
- Now · August 2026
- $2,581/mo
- Change
- +34.5%
- Work time at the average wage
- 2016: just over 73 hours a month2026: almost 70 hours a month
Try your own priceLatest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Bank of Canada, series V80691335, V39079, V80691311; Statistics Canada, Table 18-10-0205-01, Table 14-10-0063-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Bank of Canada and Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Bank of Canada series V80691335, V39079, V80691311; Statistics Canada Table 18-10-0205-01, Table 14-10-0063-01, August 2026. Not endorsed by the Bank of Canada. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Work time is the cost divided by the Canada average hourly wage in the same month, before tax, rounded to plain language (exact figures: grocery basket 2 h then, 1.9 h now; 50-litre fill-up of regular gasoline 2 h then, 2.3 h now). “What $100 buys” uses the Consumer Price Index: the dollars needed in the earlier month to buy what $100 buys today.
Two-bedroom rent, 2015 vs 2025
| City | 2015 | 2025 | Change | Work hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | $1,375 | $2,364 | +71.9% | 53 h → 62 h |
| Halifax | $1,048 | $1,828 | +74.4% | 47 h → 56 h |
| Victoria | $1,129 | $2,121 | +87.9% | 44 h → 56 h |
| Toronto | $1,286 | $2,045 | +59.0% | 49 h → 54 h |
| Calgary | $1,319 | $1,908 | +44.7% | 44 h → 51 h |
| Winnipeg | $1,043 | $1,570 | +50.5% | 44 h → 50 h |
| Saskatoon | $1,088 | $1,559 | +43.3% | 41 h → 47 h |
| Ottawa–Gatineau | $1,044 | $1,757 | +68.3% | 40 h → 47 h |
| Regina | $1,102 | $1,478 | +34.1% | 42 h → 44 h |
| Edmonton | $1,261 | $1,598 | +26.7% | 42 h → 43 h |
| St. John's | $919 | $1,348 | +46.7% | 37 h → 40 h |
| Montréal | $760 | $1,346 | +77.1% | 31 h → 38 h |
| Québec | $788 | $1,276 | +61.9% | 32 h → 36 h |
Latest data: 2025Sources
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation data via Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0133-01; Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0063-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Statistics Canada Table 34-10-0133-01, Table 14-10-0063-01, 2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product. Data produced by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.