Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Cambridge versus $2,906 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,522 in Cambridge versus $4,209 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Cambridge versus $5,513 in Vancouver.

Living in Cambridge costs roughly 15% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cambridge 84% above, Vancouver 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.82 CA$20.85

$18.62 CA$26.20

-20.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.2 CA$91.7

$77.9 CA$110

-16.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.00 CA$14.07

$10.84 CA$15.26

-7.75%

Cappuccino

$3.68 CA$5.18

$3.93 CA$5.53

-6.36%

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

$2.21 CA$3.11

$2.24 CA$3.16

-1.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 CA$2.27

$1.75 CA$2.46

-8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 CA$8.21

$6.05 CA$8.51

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 CA$9.22

$7.30 CA$10.27

-10.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.13

$2.30 CA$3.24

-3.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$3.07 CA$4.32

-26.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.21

$3.77 CA$5.30

-20.69%

Eggs

$3.20 CA$4.50

$4.32 CA$6.08

-25.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.67 CA$12.20

$12.57 CA$17.69

-31.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.81

$13.74 CA$19.34

-13.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 CA$19.35

$15.99 CA$22.49

-14.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.61

$4.26 CA$6.00

-6.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.52 CA$2.14

-19.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.68 CA$5.18

$3.92 CA$5.52

-6.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 CA$5.51

$5.08 CA$7.15

-23.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.84

$3.20 CA$4.50

-14.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 CA$3.45

$3.09 CA$4.34

-20.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 CA$3.16

$2.60 CA$3.65

-13.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.21

$1.88 CA$2.65

-16.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.40 CA$18.85

$15.45 CA$21.74

-13.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.25 CA$17.24

$14.89 CA$20.95

-17.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 CA$3.44

$3.12 CA$4.39

-21.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 CA$4.45

$3.80 CA$5.35

-16.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 CA$3.60

$2.42 CA$3.40

5.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.6 CA$93.7

$83.0 CA$117

-19.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 CA$3.67

$3.76 CA$5.28

-30.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 CA$2.40

$1.48 CA$2.09

15.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.84 CA$33.54

$26.97 CA$37.95

-11.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$1.30 CA$1.82

-14.62%

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

$25.4K CA$35.7K

$25.2K CA$35.4K

0.82%

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

$20.3K CA$28.5K

$20.6K CA$28.9K

-1.34%

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

$151 CA$212

$91.8 CA$129

64.30%

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

$39.94 CA$56.2

$39.34 CA$55.4

1.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.1 CA$76.1

$60.6 CA$85.3

-10.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.81 CA$41.94

$44.58 CA$62.7

-33.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.35

Cinema Ticket

$11.55 CA$16.26

$12.18 CA$17.13

-5.17%

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

$556 CA$782

$1,185 CA$1,667

-53.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K CA$14.7K

$18.5K CA$26.1K

-43.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 CA$78.0

$62.5 CA$87.9

-11.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.68 CA$48.80

$42.38 CA$59.6

-18.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 CA$99.4

$95.0 CA$134

-25.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$155

$115 CA$162

-4.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,410 CA$1,984

$1,979 CA$2,785

-28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,377 CA$1,938

$1,644 CA$2,313

-16.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,684 CA$3,776

$3,577 CA$5,033

-24.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,127 CA$2,993

$2,782 CA$3,915

-23.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,165 CA$5,861

$8,754 CA$12.3K

-52.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,848 CA$5,414

$7,087 CA$9,972

-45.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,007 CA$4,231

$3,380 CA$4,756

-11.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

5.61

18.36%

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

Last update for Cambridge: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,410 in Cambridge and $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Cambridge vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $414 per month, with Cambridge cheaper across the board.

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

Cambridge vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cambridge is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Vancouver. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,410 in Cambridge versus $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cambridge – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,462 in Cambridge versus $2,906 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cambridge but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Cambridge the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Cambridge gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.