Williston, ND vs Chilliwack: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Chilliwack ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Williston, ND is approximately 14% less expensive than Chilliwack based on cost of living including rent. This makes Williston, ND a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Williston, ND has a FIRE Score of 65/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Williston, ND is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Williston, ND
United StatesAbout Williston, ND
Williston is a small oil-boom town that quietly delivers one of the best cost-to-income ratios you will find anywhere, with a cost of living index of 69/100 against an average monthly net salary of $5,859/mo. Rents stay sane for a town of 15 thousand, from $894/mo for a one-bedroom outside the center to $2,099/mo for three bedrooms downtown, and a single person can live comfortably on $1,746/mo all-in. The trade-offs are real: a small expat community, an arid climate, and a safety index of 75/100 that is good but not flawless. Come for the money and the 71/100 expat score, stay if you can handle a prairie town that empties out when the rigs slow down.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$1,480/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Chilliwack
Chilliwack is a solid, unglamorous pick for expats who want safety and affordability without big-city noise. A 1-bedroom outside the centre runs $998/mo, and the $33/mo transit pass plus 150 Mbps internet make daily life cheap and connected. With a safety index of 85/100 and an expat score of 81/100, it suits digital nomads and retirees more than anyone chasing nightlife. The trade-off is a small population of 84 thousand and a local net salary of $3,074/mo, so bring remote work or savings.
About Canada
Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.
$1,300/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Williston, ND | Chilliwack |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1002.25 | $1143.24 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $894.33 | $998.29 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2099 | $2036.33 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2150.5 | $1601.48 |
| Safety Index | 75 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 100Mbps | 150Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Williston, ND | Chilliwack |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,663/mo | $1,796/mo |
| Excluding rent | $769/mo | $798/mo |
| Rent | $894/mo | $998/mo |
| Groceries | $239/mo | $274/mo |
| Dining out | $120/mo | $140/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $120/mo | $117/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $290/mo | $234/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $33.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Williston, ND vs Chilliwack -- Frequently Asked Questions
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