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The Cost of Living in Surrey, BC [Exclusive Guide Updated 2024]

October 7, 2021BY Immigration In Canada

Thinking of immigrating to Surrey? Want to know whether you’ll find it to be a high-value place to live and grow your wealth?

Here is everything you need to know about the cost of living in Surrey, BC. All costs are reported in Canadian dollars. 

City of Surrey Salaries

Seeking employment in Surrey? You can expect high wages. The average monthly net salary, after taxes, is $4000 to $5000. This can, of course, be way higher if you are one of the highly-skilled, highly-sought after professionals that British Columbia is seeking to bring into the country. 

The median household income is about $77,494 per year. 

The minimum wage is $14.60 per year. This is not a livable wage in Surrey. Experts note that a livable wage in Surrey, BC would be about $19.50 per hour. 

House Prices in Surrey

If you’re going to be renting you’ll need to budget $1000 to $3000 per month for your apartment, depending on where the apartment is and how big it’s going to be. 

If you intend to buy a house you’ll find average home prices are hovering around $1.3 million for a two-bedroom detached house. You’ll need roughly 15% to 20% as a down payment before you can make a purchase. A 2-bedroom townhouse averages $574K, and if you’d like a condo, you can find a 3-bedroom condo for around $537K.

Prices do vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Elgin, Campbell Heights, and Morgan Creek have some of the highest prices; the least expensive neighborhoods include Panorama Ridge, Sullivan Station, and Fleetwood. 

City of Surrey Utility Bills

You’ll pay about $120.82 per 1,000 square feet for electricity. Internet access will cost about $76.38. The average water and sewer bill is about $81.75. Some apartments pay for water and heat and ask only that you pay for your electricity and internet. 

Cost of Groceries in Surrey, BC

Frugal homemakers can keep grocery costs low in Surrey.

A one-pound bag of white rice will cost about $2.64. Pick up one pound of chicken for around $5.96. A pound of onions will cost about $1.49. Milk can be a little expensive at around $9.96 a gallon.

Most families find the grocery bills more than reasonable and manageable.  

Property Taxes in Surrey

Property taxes are reasonable in Surrey. Most of this money goes to public services like police, fire, road repairs, street lights, parks, and libraries. Some of it goes to provincial agencies. 

The City Budget requirements help to set the property taxes each year. They’re set on the assessment value of the home. The city may not collect more taxes than the budget requires every year, and after those needs are assessed the other revenue sources are subtracted from the budget before property tax needs are set. 

The tax rate is recalculated each year and is kept as low as possible. It can be as low as $0.002 times the assessed value of the home. You’ll receive an annual bill. Residents can pay their property taxes online.

Luxury Expenses in Surrey

What will it cost to enjoy yourself in Surrey? 

Entertainment and meals out are priced well. For example, two people can enjoy any mid-range restaurant in Surrey’s extensive food scene for as little as $80. If you want to enjoy a morning cappuccino you’ll be able to sip on a regular-sized drink for about $5.04. 

Want to join a gym or fitness club? You can expect to pay about $45 for the month. 

You’ll pay about $16 per person if you want to catch a movie. 

There is plenty of free entertainment in Surrey as well! The beaches, parks, and urban forests don’t cost anything at all. 

Child Care Expenses in Surrey, BC

Will both parents in the family be working? You can expect to pay about $950 per month per child. 

If you want to send your child to a private school you can expect to spend $6,666.67 per child. 

Healthcare in Surrey, BC

When you immigrate to British Columbia you can register for the Medical Services Plan. It covers medical and dental care as well as some eye examinations. There can be some wait times for some medical services, but there are also private clinics you can work with if you have the means to pay for faster health care. 

Cost of Living in Surrey Compared to Cost of Living in Canada

The cost of living index indicates that living in Surrey is more expensive than living in the rest of the nation by about 11%. 

Is Surrey Cheaper than Vancouver?

In general, across every category, life in Surrey is about 18% to 20% cheaper than life in Vancouver. The average resident saves about $475 a month by choosing to live in Surrey instead of in Vancouver. That’s money that can be saved, invested, or used to improve your quality of life. 

Many former Vancouver residents have relocated to Surrey precisely because the cost of living is so much lower. 

Additional References:

Get additional data from these resources:

Ready to immigrate to Surrey, BC?

Every day, our team of experienced immigration attorneys helps skilled professionals, innovative entrepreneurs, and their families take advantage of BC’s immigration programs. 

This includes family-based immigration, the BC Provincial Nominee Program, the BC PNP Express Entry Program, the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Program, and more. We also help refugees and others who need help starting a new, safe life here in Surrey. 

We have one attorney on staff who speaks fluent Punjabi and another who speaks fluent Mandarin. We have decades of experience helping people start their new lives here in Surrey!

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    Frequently Asked Question

    To get permanent residency, you have to live for at least three years in Canada. You also need some other documents to apply for Citizenship.

    In generally takes six months to get the citizenship after taking the Citizenship Test and Interview.

    People aged between 18 to 54 have to take the citizenship test and Interview.

    Oath taking ceremony generally takes 45 to 60 mins to complete. However, the time may vary upon the number of applicants and citizens.

    Yes, any Citizen who is a Canadain Citizen can renounce his citizenship status if he wants. He may apply for renouncing the citizenship under certain conditions.

    The answer is yes. You can again apply to resume your Citizenship status though you have renounced it once.

    The total fees for applying for Citizenship in Canada is CAN $ 630. Among the prices, $530 is for processing fee, and $100 is for the right of  Citizenship fee. But for minors aged under 18, the processing fee is $100.

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