| Index | Donkin | Cape Breton | Nova Scotia |
| Cost of living | 79 | 81 | 92 |
| Goods & Services | 106 | 106 | 113 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 103 |
| Health care | 92 | 92 | 93 |
| Housing | 12 | 21 | 49 |
| Transportation | 91 | 91 | 96 |
| Utilities | 141 | 141 | 142 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Nova Scotia | 10% | 15% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Nova Scotia | 8.79% | 21% |
| Item | Cape Breton | National avg. | Difference |
| Personal Care | $87.00 | $94.33 | 7.8% |
| Recreation | $104.00 | $102.33 | 1.6% |
| Item | Cape Breton | National avg. | Difference |
| Meat, Poultry and Fish | $96.00 | $102.27 | 6.1% |
| Dairy Products and Eggs | $104.00 | $104.67 | 0.6% |
| Bakery and Cereal Products | $109.00 | $111.67 | 2.4% |
| Fruit and Vegetables | $107.00 | $113.40 | 5.6% |
| Alcoholic Beverages | $107.00 | $105.80 | 1.1% |
| Item | Cape Breton | National avg. | Difference |
| Doctor | $97.00 | $101.07 | 4.0% |
| Item | Cape Breton | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price ($) | $207,100.00 | $659,395.00 | 68.6% |
| Apartment Rent ($) | $866.00 | $2,146.00 | 59.6% |
| Item | Cape Breton | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $96.00 | $102.07 | 5.9% |
| Item | Cape Breton | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $95.00 | $98.60 | 3.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Cape Breton, NS | 94,573 | 81 | 18.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Sunrise, FL | 94,657 | n/a | |
| North Vancouver, BC | 94,662 | 133 | 32.8% |
| Quincy, MA | 94,389 | n/a | |
| Plantation, FL | 94,366 | n/a | |
| Dearborn, MI | 94,328 | n/a | |
| Cape Breton, NS | 94,573 | 81 | 18.6% |