Saanich
In May 2021, the unemployment rate was 6.8%. The population of Saanich, in Canada, was 117,735 in 2021. A monthly estimate placed internet service at €66 in December 2022. A monthly estimate placed basic utilities for an 85 m² home at €82 in December 2022.
Lower unemployment than 80% of Canadian cities that publish it and cleaner air than 93% of Canadian cities that publish it.
Who Saanich may suit
Relative profile scores use comparable published values. They are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Population and city profile
The city covered 103.6 km² in 2021. Population density was 1,136.6 people per km² in 2021.
Derived from the published population and foreign-resident counts.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 103.6 km2 | 2026-06-122021 | Official sourceStatistics Canada — Census Profile 2021 (Saanich, CSD 5917017) Source-backed value |
| Foreign residents | 10,335 people | 2026-07-152021 | Official sourceStatistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 1512: not Canadian citizens, population in private households, 25% sample data, at CSD grain. This is the exact foreign-citizenship interpretation used for foreign_population_total; it is not immigrant status. Source-backed value |
| Population density | 1,136.6 people/km² | 2026-07-152021 | Official sourceStatistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 6: population density per square kilometre at CSD grain. This is the exact CSD value; it is not a CMA or province observation. Source-backed value |
| Population | 117,735 people | 2026-06-122021 | Official sourceStatistics Canada — Census Profile 2021 (Saanich, CSD 5917017) Source-backed value |
Population rose 16.4% between 2001 and 2022, from 108,099 to 125,853.
Each point keeps the source and period it was published with.
Cost of living
Published city cost observations. Some items come from the supplemental estimate lane and are not official statistics.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness club membership, monthly | 32.8932 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 66.287 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Private kindergarten, monthly | 863.251 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 10.5017 EUR | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Monthly transport pass | 59.4968 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² home | 81.6617 EUR/month | 2026-07-272022 | Supplemental estimateGlobal Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Supplemental context |
Work and income
Published unemployment rates for cities in the same country.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.8 %country median 9.4% — 28% below | 2026-07-262021 | Official sourceStatistics Canada — 2021 Census Profile, unemployment rate at CSD grain Source-backed value |
Climate and air quality
Annual PM2.5 was 2.38 µg/m³ in 2024. Annual NO₂ was 5.22 µg/m³ in 2024.
Published monthly climate normals for this city.
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
Published annual means from the same national measurement network.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 5.2183 µg/m³country median 6.6 — 21% below | 2026-07-152024 | Official sourceOfficial ECCC/NAPS 2024 station DMean observation retained at source grain; no place value is asserted because the approved 25 km observation condition is not met. Source-backed value |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 2.375 µg/m³country median 3.6 — 33% below | 2026-07-152024 | Official sourceOfficial ECCC/NAPS 2024 annual daily-mean station observations, reproducibly aggregated as an arithmetic mean for eligible stations within 25 km of the target city coordinate. This is a derived place observation, not an asserted municipal monitor aggregate. Source-backed value |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 8.2 · Feb 8.8 · Mar 11 · Apr 14 · May 17.8 · Jun 20.6 · Jul 23.7 · Aug 23.5 · Sep 20 · Oct 14.3 · Nov 10.3 · Dec 8 °C | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station VICTORIA UNIVERSITY CS Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan 3.4 · Feb 2.9 · Mar 3.9 · Apr 5.5 · May 7.9 · Jun 10.2 · Jul 11.7 · Aug 11.8 · Sep 10.1 · Oct 7.1 · Nov 4.7 · Dec 3.1 °C | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station VICTORIA UNIVERSITY CS Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| Average temperature by month | Jan 5.8 · Feb 5.9 · Mar 7.5 · Apr 9.8 · May 12.9 · Jun 15.4 · Jul 17.7 · Aug 17.7 · Sep 15 · Oct 10.7 · Nov 7.6 · Dec 5.5 °C | 2026-07-311991 | Official sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station VICTORIA UNIVERSITY CS Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
Mobility and administration
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destinations from nearest airport | 8 count | 2026-06-13Fresh | Official sourceOpenFlights — routes.dat Source-backed value |
| Nearest airport | YYJ code | 2026-06-13Fresh | Official sourceOurAirports — airports.csv Source-backed value |
| Distance to nearest airport | 21.2 km | 2026-06-13Fresh | Official sourceOurAirports — airports.csv Source-backed value |
Worked out from these numbers
Arithmetic on the published values above. Each one names what it assumed.
How international is the population?
8.8% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 10,335 people of 117,735 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
What is the unemployment rate in Saanich?
The unemployment rate is 6.8 %. Source: Statistics Canada — 2021 Census Profile, unemployment rate at CSD grain, checked 2026-07-26.
Is the air quality good in Saanich?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 2.375 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is within the WHO guideline. Source: Official ECCC/NAPS 2024 annual daily-mean station observations, reproducibly aggregated as an arithmetic mean for eligible stations within 25 km of the target city coordinate. This is a derived place observation, not an asserted municipal monitor aggregate., checked 2026-07-15.
How many people live in Saanich?
The published population is 117,735 people. Source: Statistics Canada — Census Profile 2021 (Saanich, CSD 5917017), checked 2026-06-12.
How many foreign residents live in Saanich?
10,335 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Statistics Canada Census Profile 2021 characteristic 1512: not Canadian citizens, population in private households, 25% sample data, at CSD grain. This is the exact foreign-citizenship interpretation used for foreign_population_total; it is not immigrant status., checked 2026-07-15.
How much is public transport in Saanich?
A monthly transport pass is 59.4968 EUR/month. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2, checked 2026-07-27.
Cities of a similar size in Canada
Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.
Sources
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.