Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Ajax, ON and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,535 per month in Ajax, ON vs $2,783 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,633 per month in Ajax, ON vs $4,030 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,732 per month in Ajax, ON vs $5,278 in Vancouver, rent included.

Ajax, ON is about 9% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ajax, ON and Vancouver sit above the global median – Ajax, ON by 84%, Vancouver by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.87 CA$24.79

$17.99 CA$24.95

-0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 CA$74.1

$72.9 CA$101

-26.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.27

$10.76 CA$14.92

2.32%

Cappuccino

$3.76 CA$5.22

$4.17 CA$5.79

-9.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.49

$2.20 CA$3.05

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.20

$1.71 CA$2.37

-7.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 CA$4.98

$5.91 CA$8.19

-39.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 CA$8.06

$6.66 CA$9.24

-12.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$2.19 CA$3.04

-9.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 CA$3.98

$2.66 CA$3.69

7.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.69

$4.43 CA$6.14

-23.70%

Eggs

$3.13 CA$4.34

$4.20 CA$5.83

-25.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.41 CA$13.05

$11.88 CA$16.47

-20.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.87 CA$16.47

$13.66 CA$18.95

-13.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.45 CA$24.20

$20.32 CA$28.18

-14.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.38 CA$1.92

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.05

$4.05 CA$5.61

7.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.67

$4.03 CA$5.58

-16.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 CA$4.30

$2.87 CA$3.97

8.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.75

$2.99 CA$4.15

-33.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 CA$4.15

$2.64 CA$3.66

13.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.72

$1.65 CA$2.29

18.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.22 CA$19.72

$15.92 CA$22.07

-10.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 CA$18.26

$14.63 CA$20.29

-9.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$2.96

$2.78 CA$3.86

-23.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.60

$3.06 CA$4.25

-15.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.39

$2.57 CA$3.56

-4.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.1 CA$124

$83.2 CA$115

7.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 CA$4.86

$2.70 CA$3.74

29.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 CA$2.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.50 CA$35.37

$32.68 CA$45.33

-21.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$1.44 CA$2.00

-23.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.1K CA$39.0K

$28.4K CA$39.4K

-0.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.3K CA$26.8K

$19.5K CA$27.1K

-1.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$130 CA$181

$79.2 CA$110

64.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.51 CA$38.16

$36.21 CA$50.2

-24.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.2 CA$82.1

$51.3 CA$71.2

15.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.70 CA$46.73

$43.58 CA$60.4

-22.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.67 CA$14.80

$13.16 CA$18.25

-18.92%

Cinema Ticket

$10.27 CA$14.24

$11.85 CA$16.44

-13.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$918 CA$1,273

$1,131 CA$1,568

-18.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K CA$24.3K

$19.7K CA$27.3K

-11.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 CA$73.2

$60.0 CA$83.2

-12.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.03 CA$52.7

$34.84 CA$48.32

9.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 CA$121

$90.5 CA$125

-3.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.1 CA$135

$93.5 CA$130

3.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 CA$2,190

$1,806 CA$2,505

-12.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 CA$1,929

$1,581 CA$2,193

-12.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,315 CA$3,211

$3,182 CA$4,413

-27.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,237 CA$3,103

$2,465 CA$3,418

-9.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,841 CA$12.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,963 CA$9,657

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,053 CA$4,234

$3,738 CA$5,184

-18.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

4.21

14.01%

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

Last update for Ajax, ON: September 7, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Ajax, ON versus $1,806 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 22% higher in Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Ajax, ON versus $73.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $408 – making Ajax, ON the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,802 per month in Ajax, ON and $4,174 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ajax, ON, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,535 in Ajax, ON and $2,783 in Vancouver. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Ajax, ON. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,535 in Ajax, ON and $2,783 in Vancouver. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ajax, ON. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.