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Cost of Living

Cost of Living

Hosted by CBC

Episodes

56

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-CA

About the show

Money talks. We translate. Every Friday, Paul Haavardsrud looks at the way money shapes our lives in ways big, small, obvious, and unseen. From Big Macs to Big Banks, the Cost of Living connects the dots between the economy and everyday life.

Listen to episodes

56 recent
October 3, 2026Episode 427 min

What the U.S. bond market means for your mortgage

This week, we unravel the befuddling world of U.S. bond yields (it'll be fun, we promise!) and explain why and how they're influencing Canadian lending rates. Also, how do you take your coffee? Black? Iced? Instant? If you picked that last one, you're part of a growing number of caffeinated Canadians. Plus, a brief history of the weekend.

September 26, 2026Episode 325 min

We avoided an oil crisis. Then diesel prices spiked.

When the Strait of Hormuz closed, many feared the worst. Analysts predicted oil could hit $200 a barrel, ushering in a global energy crisis. That hasn't happened, but it doesn't mean we're out of the woods. Also, are Pokémon cards a good investment, or are collectors being played? And — what it's really like to go bankrupt?

September 19, 2026Episode 226 min

Has Canada won over global investors?

Mark Carney is rolling out tax breaks and opening some airports to private money in an attempt to woo foreign investors. Between those moves and a proposed cinq-à-sept with Europe, a lot of stuff went down this week. We ask Rob Russo, Canadian correspondent for The Economist, what it all means. Plus, a look at the rise of vertical films and the one thing that seems to be uniting Canadians: a growing dislike for data centres.

September 15, 2026Episode 110 min

BONUS REPLAY: How to privatize a Canadian airport

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will open Canada's four largest airports to some private investment. It's been done before in other countries, like England and Spain. In this replay from last May, we look at one of the world's most successful models for privatizing airports and ask: what could Canada learn from it?

September 12, 2026Episode 126 min

Does the economy really matter to Alberta separatists?

Most economists say Alberta is in for hard times if it splits from Canada. But dire predictions don't seem to faze true believers. So, how much influence can economic analysis have on this vote — or any other? Plus, how to spot Airbnb listings that have been enhanced by artificial intelligence. And, why more kids should run lemonade stands!

September 4, 2026Episode 5127 min

Why do we board planes front to back?

It's our Labour Day Q & A show! We're tackling some questions you posed — like, why are vitamin bottles so big when the contents are so small? Is it safe to rely on credit card benefits to cover rental car insurance? And why do we have to pay sales tax on donated goods if somebody else already paid tax on them?

August 29, 2026Episode 5227 min

We can't stop talkin' tariffs. But do Americans care?

Canadians have to pay attention to the trade war — the majority of our exports go to the U.S. But what do Americans in the heart of the U.S. auto sector think? Also, we explain why more friends are opening joint bank accounts together and chat with actor Ben Mackenzie (Ryan from The O.C.) about his new anti-crypto documentary Everyone is Lying to You for Money .

August 23, 2026Episode 5127 min

After the trade deal collapse, what now?

At the last minute, trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have fallen apart. Now, with 50 per cent tariffs on some Canadian exports, Prime Minister Carney says we have no choice but to fight back. Former NAFTA negotiator Barry Appleton explains how that fight could go, and how things fell apart in the first place. Also, we look at what a continuing trade war could mean for small businesses and explain the in's and out's of doing a "credit lock" to protect yourself from scammers.

August 14, 2026Episode 5027 min

Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist

Craving a popsicle? Boxes of 'em are available at the grocery store. So why do we run for the ice cream truck like it's our last chance for frozen refreshment? We explore AI's growing influence in the music industry and whether it's really a problem. And we talk to Skyler Chan about his dreams of building a hotel on the moon. Yup. A moon hotel.

August 8, 2026Episode 4927 min

Guns vs. Butter

Should Canada invest in guns (defence)? Or butter (schools, roads, hospitals)? Military spending is already way up in this country, and is expected to keep rising. Host Paul Haavardsrud discusses the implications of this with Eugene Lang at Queen's University. Plus, the phrase "hot girl walk" is trademarked in Canada. Yes, really. We look at the growing appeal of trademarking viral phrases. We also examine how the relationship between Scholastic, a for-profit U.S. company, and Canadian schools became so unshakeable.

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