Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Ajax, ON: $2,515 a month against $2,725 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ajax, ON, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Ajax, ON
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,515
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,725
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ajax, ON and in Vancouver

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ajax, ON and in Vancouver actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,515 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,725 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Ajax, ON $2,515
  • Vancouver $2,725

A couple spends around $3,611 per month in Ajax, ON vs $4,039 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Ajax, ON $3,611
  • Vancouver $4,039

A family of three spends $4,707 per month in Ajax, ON vs $5,352 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Ajax, ON $4,707
  • Vancouver $5,352

Ajax, ON is about 8% cheaper than Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ajax, ON and Vancouver sit above the global median – Ajax, ON by 85%, Vancouver by 100%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.19 CA$25.53
$17.65 CA$24.77
3.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 CA$75.5
$72.4 CA$102
-25.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.50 CA$14.73
$10.84 CA$15.21
-3.14%
Cappuccino
$3.76 CA$5.28
$3.91 CA$5.49
-3.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 CA$2.56
$2.10 CA$2.95
-12.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.13
$1.64 CA$2.30
-7.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 CA$4.93
$5.74 CA$8.06
-38.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62 CA$7.89
$6.36 CA$8.93
-11.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.83
$2.21 CA$3.10
-8.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.99 CA$4.20
$2.64 CA$3.71
13.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.79
$4.68 CA$6.56
-27.14%
Eggs
$3.87 CA$5.43
$4.24 CA$5.95
-8.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 CA$14.81
$11.92 CA$16.73
-11.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.77 CA$16.52
$13.12 CA$18.42
-10.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.12 CA$24.02
$20.40 CA$28.63
-16.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 CA$5.81
$4.10 CA$5.76
0.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 CA$2.43
$1.38 CA$1.93
25.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.42
$3.83 CA$5.37
-17.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.73
$3.92 CA$5.50
-14.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 CA$3.24
$2.77 CA$3.89
-16.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 CA$3.46
$2.84 CA$3.98
-13.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 CA$3.09
$2.60 CA$3.65
-15.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.72
$1.59 CA$2.24
22.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11 CA$19.81
$15.87 CA$22.27
-11.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 CA$19.35
$14.00 CA$19.64
-1.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.98
$2.57 CA$3.61
-17.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 CA$3.58
$3.01 CA$4.23
-15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 CA$3.47
$2.55 CA$3.59
-3.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.5 CA$121
$84.1 CA$118
2.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 CA$4.75
$2.67 CA$3.74
26.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.58 CA$2.22
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.55 CA$34.45
$32.19 CA$45.17
-23.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.66
$1.45 CA$2.04
-18.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.5K
$27.5K CA$38.6K
2.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$30.6K
$21.3K CA$29.9K
2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 CA$179
$82.5 CA$116
54.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.35 CA$41.18
$37.46 CA$52.6
-21.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 CA$82.6
$51.7 CA$72.5
13.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.96 CA$47.66
$40.52 CA$56.9
-16.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 CA$15.06
$12.69 CA$17.81
-15.45%
Cinema Ticket
$10.33 CA$14.50
$12.66 CA$17.77
-18.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$522 CA$732
$1,080 CA$1,515
-51.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.7K CA$23.5K
$20.1K CA$28.3K
-16.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 CA$72.9
$58.5 CA$82.0
-11.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 CA$72.8
$34.10 CA$47.85
52.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 CA$133
$96.9 CA$136
-2.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$151
$97.4 CA$137
10.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 CA$2,119
$1,813 CA$2,545
-16.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 CA$1,928
$1,576 CA$2,211
-12.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,351 CA$3,299
$3,217 CA$4,514
-26.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,173 CA$3,050
$2,651 CA$3,721
-18.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,590 CA$12.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,649 CA$9,331
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ajax, ON
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,081 CA$4,323
$3,733 CA$5,239
-17.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.28
12.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ajax, ON: October 27, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ajax, ON
$1.4K
Vancouver
$1.6K 14.7% $201
Groceries & Markets
Ajax, ON
$369
Vancouver
$401 8.7% $32
Eating Out
Ajax, ON
$264
Vancouver
$277 4.8% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ajax, ON
$216
Vancouver
$172 20.5% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Ajax, ON
$138
Vancouver
$129 6.3% $8.6
Getting Around
Ajax, ON
$100 *
Vancouver
$105 5.2% $5.2
Sport & Entertainment
Ajax, ON
$55
Vancouver
$66 20.6% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,510 in Ajax, ON versus $1,813 in Vancouver. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Vancouver. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Ajax, ON versus $72 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $401 – making Ajax, ON the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Ajax, ON
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
19:47 7:47 PM
16:47 4:47 PM
3 h behind Ajax, ON
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
119,677
631,486
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ajax, ON Vancouver 3,380 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ajax, ON
  • Vancouver

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ajax, ON vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ajax, ON cheaper than Vancouver?
Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 8%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,773 per month in Ajax, ON and $4,087 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ajax, ON, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,510 there versus $1,813 in Vancouver.
What are total monthly expenses in Ajax, ON and in Vancouver?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,515 in Ajax, ON and $2,725 in Vancouver. That makes Ajax, ON about 8% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Vancouver. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Ajax, ON or in Vancouver?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,515 in Ajax, ON and $2,725 in Vancouver. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Ajax, ON or Vancouver more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ajax, ON – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ajax, ON. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ajax, ON vs other spots: cost of living compared

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