Hi, I'm a Canadian and I lived in the Province of Quebec for 26 years. Me and my husband just moved to the UK about 3 weeks ago and I can say for sure that the cost of living is higher in the UK. One thing I need to mention though is that it varies greatly depending on where you live in Canada. British Columbia and Alberta are probably the most expensive provinces to live in. Toronto (Ontario) is the most expensive city to live in but is still 25% cheaper to live in than London! Food, entertainment, dining out, petrol and power are cheaper in Canada (but we use more power to heat our house in the cold winter!). Water is totally free in the Province of Quebec and probably not too expensive in NS. Here is an example of a monthly "Canadian budget":
Home insurance (value of the house: 240 000$ + contents: 50000): 115$
Electricity: 150$
Water: 30$
Gas (intermediate car): 150$
Phone: 40$
Groceries (2 persons): 250$
Internet services: 40$
Cable/satellite dish: between 25$ and 100$ (No need for a TV license)
Car Insurance: 120$ (quotes are based on type of car, age of car, annual mileage, age and experience of the driver, type of protection desired, etc...)
These are just rough amount, but it gives you a good idea of how much things might cost. Dining out in Canada costs between 20 and 25$ (including taxes and tip) in a decent restaurant. It is possible to eat great food for less than that in small local restaurants. Hope this helps you a bit, feel free to contact me for more info...