Making it work on your own in Burnaby? It’s not a cheap venture, but we’re looking at how much, on average, one would reasonably need to live alone in this rapidly growing city.
Using crowdsourced data from Numbeo to understand the cost of living in Burnaby and budgeting out what an average person’s expenses might be in a month, we’ll look at the basic monthly costs of living alone in Burnaby. We’ll also turn to some expert resources for the cost of rent and phone bills.
Housing costs in Burnaby
According to liv.rent, the average cost of an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment in Burnaby in November 2024 was $2,366. Crowdsourced data from Numbeo puts the average cost of the same type of apartment at $2,350.
So, to just narrow down a number, we’ll say you need about $2,350 a month for rent in Burnaby.
Utility costs in Burnaby
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The cost of basic utilities – like your BC Hydro bills to cover your heating and electricity – average $179.40 per month for a 900-square-foot apartment.
Internet costs have an average monthly price of $76.43.
Of course, utilities are sometimes included in the cost of rent, depending on your lease agreement.
Phone costs in Burnaby
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According to the report, the True North placed 10th among countries with the most expensive cellphone data in the world.
In Canada, the average price per 1 GB is $7.36, making it the 10th most expensive country in the world.
Looking at the offers from Canada’s telecom giants Bell, Rogers and Telus, the cheapest 5G, 75 GB basic plan starts at around $50.
Transportation costs in Burnaby
Walking or biking can save money on transportation costs. However, those options aren’t always ideal, especially if you’re commuting daily.
A monthly TransLink pass is between $107.30 and $193.80, depending on how many zones you travel. If you drive, the cost of gas lately has cost around $1.80 per litre.
Grocery costs in Burnaby
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Adding Numbeo’s average Burnaby prices for basic grocery items, if purchased once a week, comes to a monthly average of $442.51.
The grocery items include milk, rice, bananas, cheese, and chicken – essentially just the basics.
Health and fitness costs in Burnaby
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Fitness memberships vary greatly depending on whether you go to an affordable community centre gym or a fancy specialty fitness studio.
Numbeo puts the monthly average for a fitness membership at $55.87.
The Grand Total:
Housing: $2,350
Hydro: $179.40
Internet: 76.43
Phone: $50
Transportation: $193.80
Groceries: $442.51
Health and Fitness:$55.87
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Total: $3,348.01 per month, or $40,176.12 annually
Numbeo says that the average annual salary in Burnaby is $58,782.84. That would leave you with about $1,550 per month for all your other expenses and debt repayment, travel funds, savings and entertainment.
These figures are accurate as of November 2024.