Vancouver skyline

🇨🇦Cost of Living in Vancouver

Canada · Population: 2,580,000 · Cost Index: 75/100

Cost of Living in Vancouver

Canada · North America

Nestled between mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is one of the most livable cities in the world. Its mild climate, stunning natural beauty, and thriving film and tech industries attract residents from around the globe.

2,580,000

Population

75

Cost Index

60

Safety Index

74

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $3,100 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Vancouver

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person
$3,100
per month
Couple
$4,650
per month
Family of 4
$6,510
per month
Student
$2,330
per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Vancouver, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $2,350.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$1,950.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$1,500.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$3,400.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$2,550.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $14.74
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$18.00
Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$85.00
McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$11.00
Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$2.90
Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$3.30
Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$3.60
Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$4.50
Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$13.00
Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$4.20
Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.85

Transportation

Avg: $22.83
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$105.00
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$2.30
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$3.60
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$1.70
Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.55

Utilities

Avg: $83.33
Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)
$130.00
Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$58.00
Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$62.00

Healthcare

Avg: $62.67
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$0.00
Dentist Visit(per visit)
$160.00
Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$28.00

Entertainment

Avg: $21.08
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$58.00
Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$14.00
Cappuccino(per cup)
$4.80
Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$7.50

Clothing

Avg: $70.00
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$68.00
Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$42.00
Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$100.00

Popular Vancouver comparisons

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver

Is Vancouver expensive to live in?
Vancouver has a cost of living index of 75 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it relatively expensive compared with most cities we track.
How much money do you need to live in Vancouver?
A single person needs an estimated $3,100 per month to live in Vancouver, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.
What is the cost of living index in Vancouver?
Vancouver's cost of living index is 75 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.
What is quality of life like in Vancouver?
Vancouver scores 74 out of 100 for quality of life and 60 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in Canada at 91 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.

Compare Vancouver with another city

See how Vancouver stacks up against any other city in our database.

Quick Facts

Currency
CAD
Language
English
Cost Index
75/100
Safety Index
60/100
Quality of Life
74/100

Data last updated: . Prices are approximate and shown in USD.

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