Cost of living in Vancouver

Vancouver, United States is Very expensive overall. Monthly costs are about $2372 for one person and $5478 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Vancouver compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Vancouver is 66% more expensive overall.

How does Vancouver compare to your city?

Vancouver is 28% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Vancouver is, on average, 10% higher than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Vancouver?

Who is Vancouver a good fit for?

Vancouver tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Vancouver so expensive?

The primary driver of Vancouver's high cost of living is the significant expense of rent and utilities, which greatly impacts overall affordability.

Is food expensive in Vancouver?

Yes, food costs in Vancouver are 31% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense.

Is public transport affordable in Vancouver?

Public transport in Vancouver is 10% higher than the European benchmark, making it less affordable for some residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2372 $
Without Rent
872 $
Rent & Utilities
1501 $
Food
626 $
Transport
82 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4649 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
191.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 17.9 $
Dinner 79.7 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.96 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.73 $
Capuccino 4.79 $
Coke, 330ml 2.47 $

Compare Vancouver with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.08 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 4.04 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.78 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.6 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 12 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.9 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 18.4 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.87 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.04 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 5 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.7 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.27 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.83 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.16 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.21 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 12 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.74 $
Cigarette pack 10.1 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.25 $
Monthly Pass 99.2 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 1.11 $
Taxi, 8 km 15.9 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 143 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.25 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.13 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.29 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.7 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 80 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 126 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 59.3 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,330 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,287 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,486 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,447 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 3,392 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 3,204 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,649 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.58%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 41.8 $
Cinema, 1 seat 13.9 $
Haircut 16.1 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 94.8 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 39.6 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,684 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 16,631 $

Compare Vancouver with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Vancouver vs George Town (George Town is 54% more expensive)
Bahamas
Vancouver vs Nassau (Nassau is 16% more expensive) Vancouver vs Freeport (Freeport is 7% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Vancouver vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 1% less expensive) Vancouver vs Luganville (Luganville is 29% more expensive)
United States
Vancouver vs New York City (New York City is 71% more expensive) Vancouver vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 34% more expensive) Vancouver vs Chicago (Chicago is 12% more expensive) Vancouver vs Houston (Houston is 5% less expensive) Vancouver vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 0% less expensive) Vancouver vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 7% more expensive) Vancouver vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 8% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Diego (San Diego is 41% more expensive) Vancouver vs Dallas (Dallas is 8% more expensive) Vancouver vs San Jose (San Jose is 55% more expensive)
Canada
Vancouver vs Toronto (Toronto is 9% more expensive) Vancouver vs Montreal (Montreal is 18% less expensive) Vancouver vs Calgary (Calgary is 9% less expensive) Vancouver vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 6% less expensive) Vancouver vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 25% less expensive) Vancouver vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 26% less expensive) Vancouver vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 4% more expensive) Vancouver vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 12% more expensive) Vancouver vs Brampton (Brampton is 10% less expensive) Vancouver vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 9% less expensive)
Barbados
Vancouver vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 43% less expensive) Vancouver vs Holetown (Holetown is 41% less expensive)
Panama
Vancouver vs Panama City (Panama City is 42% less expensive) Vancouver vs Colon (Colon is 50% less expensive) Vancouver vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 48% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 55% less expensive) Vancouver vs David (David is 65% less expensive) Vancouver vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 60% less expensive) Vancouver vs Balboa (Balboa is 47% less expensive) Vancouver vs Pacora (Pacora is 47% less expensive) Vancouver vs Chitre (Chitre is 54% less expensive) Vancouver vs Penonome (Penonome is 54% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Vancouver vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 48% less expensive) Vancouver vs Cayon (Cayon is 48% less expensive)
Cuba
Vancouver vs Havana (Havana is 57% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 40% less expensive) Vancouver vs Holguin (Holguin is 46% less expensive) Vancouver vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 36% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 56% less expensive) Vancouver vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 51% less expensive) Vancouver vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 34% less expensive) Vancouver vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 34% less expensive) Vancouver vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 54% less expensive) Vancouver vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 63% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Vancouver vs San Jose (San Jose is 48% less expensive) Vancouver vs Limon (Limon is 49% less expensive) Vancouver vs Liberia (Liberia is 62% less expensive) Vancouver vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 48% less expensive) Vancouver vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 46% less expensive) Vancouver vs Cartago (Cartago is 59% less expensive) Vancouver vs Heredia (Heredia is 47% less expensive) Vancouver vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 29% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 45% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Vancouver vs Castries (Castries is 51% less expensive) Vancouver vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 50% less expensive)
Jamaica
Vancouver vs Kingston (Kingston is 44% less expensive) Vancouver vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 67% less expensive) Vancouver vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 57% less expensive) Vancouver vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 51% less expensive) Vancouver vs May Pen (May Pen is 65% less expensive) Vancouver vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 59% less expensive) Vancouver vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 64% less expensive) Vancouver vs Linstead (Linstead is 56% less expensive) Vancouver vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 53% less expensive) Vancouver vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 52% less expensive)
El Salvador
Vancouver vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 50% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 70% less expensive) Vancouver vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 51% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 54% less expensive) Vancouver vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 51% less expensive) Vancouver vs Apopa (Apopa is 52% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 49% less expensive) Vancouver vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 39% less expensive) Vancouver vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 54% less expensive) Vancouver vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 63% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Vancouver vs St. John's (St. John's is 54% less expensive) Vancouver vs All Saints (All Saints is 54% less expensive)
Grenada
Vancouver vs St. George's (St. George's is 55% less expensive) Vancouver vs Grenville (Grenville is 55% less expensive)
Dominica
Vancouver vs Roseau (Roseau is 58% less expensive) Vancouver vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 52% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Vancouver vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 59% less expensive) Vancouver vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 58% less expensive)
Belize
Vancouver vs Belize City (Belize City is 63% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 54% less expensive) Vancouver vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 69% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 44% less expensive) Vancouver vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 34% less expensive)
Guatemala
Vancouver vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 58% less expensive) Vancouver vs Mixco (Mixco is 73% less expensive) Vancouver vs Coban (Coban is 62% less expensive) Vancouver vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 67% less expensive) Vancouver vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 62% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 62% less expensive) Vancouver vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 63% less expensive) Vancouver vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 63% less expensive) Vancouver vs Flores (Flores is 64% less expensive) Vancouver vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 67% less expensive)
Honduras
Vancouver vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 65% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 56% less expensive) Vancouver vs Choloma (Choloma is 75% less expensive) Vancouver vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 73% less expensive) Vancouver vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 63% less expensive) Vancouver vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 63% less expensive) Vancouver vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 70% less expensive) Vancouver vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 70% less expensive) Vancouver vs Yoro (Yoro is 69% less expensive) Vancouver vs La Lima (La Lima is 63% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Vancouver vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 67% less expensive) Vancouver vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 56% less expensive) Vancouver vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 68% less expensive) Vancouver vs Higuey (Higuey is 68% less expensive) Vancouver vs La Vega (La Vega is 76% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 65% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 69% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 78% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 74% less expensive) Vancouver vs Bonao (Bonao is 77% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Vancouver vs Managua (Managua is 67% less expensive) Vancouver vs Leon (Leon is 73% less expensive) Vancouver vs Masaya (Masaya is 70% less expensive) Vancouver vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 77% less expensive) Vancouver vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 73% less expensive) Vancouver vs Esteli (Esteli is 75% less expensive) Vancouver vs Granada (Granada is 71% less expensive) Vancouver vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 81% less expensive) Vancouver vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 72% less expensive) Vancouver vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 62% less expensive)