🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,616 in Campbell River versus $2,831 in Vancouver.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,770 in Campbell River versus $4,231 in Vancouver.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,924 in Campbell River versus $5,630 in Vancouver.
🙂Living in Campbell River costs roughly 8% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Campbell River95% above, Vancouver111% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.75CA$26.05
$18.26CA$25.37
2.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9CA$103
$77.8CA$108
-5.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05CA$15.36
$10.85CA$15.08
1.84%
Cappuccino
$3.97CA$5.52
$3.98CA$5.53
-0.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38CA$3.31
$2.12CA$2.94
12.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09CA$1.51
$1.78CA$2.47
-38.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.09CA$7.07
$5.77CA$8.02
-11.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43CA$8.94
$7.56CA$10.50
-14.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.02CA$4.19
$2.32CA$3.23
30.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.23CA$4.48
$3.10CA$4.30
4.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.18CA$7.20
$3.89CA$5.40
33.16%
Eggs
$4.32CA$6.01
$4.53CA$6.29
-4.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.46CA$11.76
$12.92CA$17.95
-34.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.77CA$13.57
$14.14CA$19.65
-30.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.63CA$21.71
$15.74CA$21.87
-0.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30CA$4.58
$4.26CA$5.91
-22.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59CA$2.21
$1.47CA$2.04
8.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59CA$4.98
$4.02CA$5.59
-10.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.20
$5.06CA$7.03
-26.09%
Potato(1kg)
$3.84CA$5.34
$3.02CA$4.20
27.15%
Onion(1kg)
$3.01CA$4.19
$2.95CA$4.10
2.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78CA$3.86
$2.60CA$3.61
6.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74CA$3.81
$1.88CA$2.61
45.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40CA$21.40
$15.20CA$21.12
1.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.85CA$24.80
$14.30CA$19.86
24.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.94CA$5.47
$3.07CA$4.27
28.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45CA$6.18
$3.74CA$5.20
18.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.45CA$2.02
$2.44CA$3.39
-40.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.9CA$86.0
$84.9CA$118
-27.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.83CA$3.93
$3.74CA$5.19
-24.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39CA$1.93
$1.50CA$2.09
-7.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.26CA$46.21
$27.43CA$38.11
21.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35CA$1.88
$1.34CA$1.86
0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.3K
$25.1KCA$34.9K
1.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KCA$29.6K
$20.7KCA$28.8K
2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.4CA$75.6
$91.8CA$128
-40.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5CA$74.3
$39.42CA$54.8
35.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.7CA$102
$61.1CA$84.9
20.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.56CA$67.5
$44.89CA$62.4
8.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.68CA$21.79
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.91CA$15.16
$12.37CA$17.18
-11.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$634CA$881
$1,180CA$1,640
-46.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0KCA$19.5K
$18.8KCA$26.1K
-25.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58CA$63.3
$62.7CA$87.1
-27.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85CA$62.3
$43.13CA$59.9
3.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3CA$105
$94.7CA$132
-20.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2CA$131
$118CA$164
-20.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,552CA$2,157
$1,995CA$2,771
-22.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,507CA$2,094
$1,629CA$2,264
-7.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,511CA$3,489
$3,589CA$4,986
-30.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,289CA$3,181
$2,769CA$3,848
-17.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$9,246CA$12.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$7,086CA$9,845
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Campbell River
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,365CA$3,286
$3,474CA$4,827
-31.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.38
5.61
13.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Campbell River: June 1, 2026
Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,552 in Campbell River and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vancouver pays 47% 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: $74.0 in Campbell River vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $415 per month, with Campbell River 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
Campbell River vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Campbell River or Vancouver?
Campbell River wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Campbell River the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Campbell River or Vancouver?
On paper, Vancouver earns 47% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Campbell River vs Vancouver?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,552 in Campbell River versus $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Campbell River vs Vancouver?
A monthly transit pass in Campbell River runs roughly 37% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Campbell River and Vancouver?
Childcare runs $634 in Campbell River versus $1,180 in Vancouver. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Campbell River or Vancouver?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Campbell River is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Campbell River or Vancouver?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Campbell River gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Campbell River vs other spots: cost of living compared