Where Canadians Can Actually Afford to Go Out Every Week in 2026

April 10, 2026 3 minute read

A nightlife scene in Sherbrooke. Canada, showing people walking down the street past a theatew

An April 2026 report on entertainment costs across Canada found that Sherbrooke, Quebec, is the cheapest place to go out and have fun. A new study by the digital entertainment platform Jackpot City reveals where Canadians can actually afford to let loose regularly without spending much.

A night out in Sherbrooke costs just C$66, making it the cheapest place in Canada to grab dinner and refreshments.
Ottawa workers have C$2,000+ left after covering bills, giving them more money to spend on socializing than anyone else.
Mississauga is Canada's worst city for having fun, where high rents leave residents with barely any cash for meetups.

The research examined 30+ Canadian cities to find where people can afford night outs after covering their bills. The report first calculated how much money residents have left after paying rent and covering basics like groceries and utilities. Then it tracked what a night out actually costs by looking at restaurant prices, movie tickets, and taxi fares. This showed how many times per month the average person can afford to go out based on what's sitting in their account.

Here's a look at the top 10 Canadian cities where a night out is affordable:

A table showing the Canadian cities where it is most affordable to go out at night

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. Sherbrooke, Quebec

Fun spending basket: C$66.50
Entertainment density: 13.2 venues per square kilometre
Spare money: C$1,554
Leisure affordability ratio: 23.4 nights out monthly

Sherbrooke is the most affordable city in Canada to go out and have fun. After paying rent and covering living expenses, residents here have C$1,550+ left over each month, and a typical night out only costs about C$67. Hypothetically, that means the average person can afford to go out 23 times monthly, nearly double what people may manage in most other cities. The Quebec town also stands out with its nightlife, hosting nearly 5K shows and concerts every year.

2. Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa comes second on the list. The capital residents make enough to have C$2K+ left after covering rent and bills, more than anywhere else in the country. A night out is not expensive either, costing around C$93, which is higher than in Sherbrooke but still manageable given the earnings. In theory, this allows the typical Ottawan to go partying 23 times each month. The capital also has 40+ entertainment establishments across the downtown, so people here have plenty of options to choose from.

3. Quebec City, Quebec

Quebec City is another city where residents can let loose regularly without spending much. After handling rent and day-to-day expenses, people here pocket about CAD 1,550. This is enough to afford going out pretty much every week, as just over C$70 can buy you dinner, refreshments, and maybe a movie ticket too here. The city also has over 40 entertainment venues plus 8 cinemas scattered around, so there's always somewhere to end up on a Friday night.

4. Abbotsford, British Columbia

Abbotsford takes fourth place as British Columbia's cheapest place for socializing. Residents here save up to C$1,280 monthly after bills, and heading out costs just C$75. Theoretically, that's good for 17 nights of grabbing food or venue-hopping. Typical restaurants in Abbotsford also charge C$24 per meal on average, some of the lowest tabs in Canada. Plus, the city hosts over 7,500 festivals and live events yearly, so weekends are never boring.

5. Lethbridge, Alberta

Lethbridge rounds out the top five Canadian cities for having fun. After rent and groceries, locals here are left with nearly C$1,400 in spare money. And with a typical night out costing just over C$80, they have plenty left to afford regular meetups with friends. These encounters can easily include a nice dinner too (C$32), and local establishmnents only charge C$9 for refreshments. Lethbridge books over 250 concerts and shows per year, and there are enough spots to avoid big crowds as well.

Jackpot City commented on the study:

"Smaller cities are becoming the better choice for Canadians who want to actually enjoy their earnings. Places like Toronto and Vancouver pay higher salaries, but housing eats up so much of that income that people end up with less free money than someone making half as much in Sherbrooke or Lethbridge. When you're spending C$2,400 on rent in Toronto versus C$1,200 in Quebec City, those extra thousand dollars completely change how you live socially."