How much are utility bills in Canada per month?

Average total utility bills in Canada are $300 to $450 per month, including electricity, heating, water, and internet. This varies significantly by province, home size, and heating type. Quebec has the lowest electricity rates while Alberta has some of the highest.

Which province has the cheapest electricity in Canada?

Quebec has the cheapest electricity in Canada due to abundant hydroelectric power, with rates around 7–8 cents per kWh. Manitoba is second cheapest. The most expensive provinces for electricity are Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia.

What is the average hydro bill in Ontario?

The average hydro (electricity) bill in Ontario is $125 to $180 per month for a typical home. Rates vary by time of use, with off-peak (8.7¢/kWh), mid-peak (13.2¢/kWh), and on-peak (17.6¢/kWh) pricing in effect.

How much does natural gas cost in Canada?

Natural gas costs vary from about $50/month in BC to $150+/month in colder prairie provinces during winter. Annual natural gas costs range from $800 to $2,000+ depending on home size, climate, and whether gas is used for heating, hot water, and cooking.

Average Utility Bills by Province in Canada (2026)

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

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