Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottetown and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Charlottetown: $1,906 a month against $2,725 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Charlottetown, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Charlottetown
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,906
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,725
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Charlottetown 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 Charlottetown and in Vancouver actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,906 per month in Charlottetown vs $2,725 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Charlottetown $1,906
  • Vancouver $2,725

A couple spends around $2,844 per month in Charlottetown vs $4,039 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Charlottetown $2,844
  • Vancouver $4,039

A family of three spends $3,782 per month in Charlottetown vs $5,352 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Charlottetown $3,782
  • Vancouver $5,352

Charlottetown is about 30% cheaper than Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Charlottetown and Vancouver sit above the global median – Charlottetown by 40%, Vancouver by 100%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.36 CA$20.08
$17.65 CA$24.67
-18.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9 CA$85.2
$72.4 CA$101
-15.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.53 CA$13.32
$10.84 CA$15.15
-12.08%
Cappuccino
$3.63 CA$5.07
$3.91 CA$5.47
-7.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$2.10 CA$2.94
-19.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 CA$1.80
$1.64 CA$2.29
-21.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.80 CA$8.11
$5.74 CA$8.02
1.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CA$8.03
$6.36 CA$8.89
-9.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CA$3.13
$2.21 CA$3.09
1.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 CA$4.32
$2.64 CA$3.69
17.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.08 CA$7.11
$4.68 CA$6.54
8.55%
Eggs
$4.13 CA$5.78
$4.24 CA$5.92
-2.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.55 CA$16.14
$11.92 CA$16.67
-3.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.48 CA$21.63
$13.12 CA$18.34
17.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.53 CA$24.50
$20.40 CA$28.51
-14.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 CA$4.78
$4.10 CA$5.73
-16.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 CA$2.04
$1.38 CA$1.93
5.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.65
$3.83 CA$5.35
5.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 CA$7.00
$3.92 CA$5.48
27.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 CA$2.36
$2.77 CA$3.88
-38.99%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 CA$4.27
$2.84 CA$3.96
7.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 CA$3.82
$2.60 CA$3.64
5.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.87
$1.59 CA$2.23
28.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.79 CA$24.86
$15.87 CA$22.17
12.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.03 CA$19.61
$14.00 CA$19.56
0.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31 CA$4.62
$2.57 CA$3.59
28.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 CA$4.43
$3.01 CA$4.21
5.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 CA$1.96
$2.55 CA$3.57
-45.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.31 CA$20.00
$84.1 CA$118
-82.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.53 CA$10.52
$2.67 CA$3.73
182.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 CA$2.91
$1.58 CA$2.21
31.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.10 CA$39.28
$32.19 CA$44.99
-12.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.87
$1.45 CA$2.03
-7.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K CA$38.9K
$27.5K CA$38.4K
1.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K CA$30.1K
$21.3K CA$29.8K
1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 CA$181
$82.5 CA$115
56.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.37 CA$46.64
$37.46 CA$52.4
-10.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.1 CA$106
$51.7 CA$72.2
47.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 CA$81.7
$40.52 CA$56.6
44.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.47 CA$4.85
$12.69 CA$17.73
-72.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.50 CA$14.67
$12.66 CA$17.70
-17.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 CA$225
$1,080 CA$1,509
-85.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$20.1K CA$28.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.13 CA$56.1
$58.5 CA$81.7
-31.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.41 CA$48.09
$34.10 CA$47.66
0.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 CA$117
$96.9 CA$135
-13.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 CA$183
$97.4 CA$136
34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$967 CA$1,351
$1,813 CA$2,534
-46.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$760 CA$1,063
$1,576 CA$2,202
-51.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,660 CA$2,320
$3,217 CA$4,496
-48.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 CA$1,730
$2,651 CA$3,706
-53.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,914 CA$4,073
$8,590 CA$12.0K
-66.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,966 CA$2,748
$6,649 CA$9,293
-70.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charlottetown
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,435 CA$3,404
$3,733 CA$5,217
-34.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.58
4.28
7.01%

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

Last update for Charlottetown: October 26, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Charlottetown
$760
Vancouver
$1.6K 107% $815
Groceries & Markets
Charlottetown
$419
Vancouver
$401 4.4% $19
Eating Out
Charlottetown
$239
Vancouver
$277 15.7% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charlottetown
$239
Vancouver
$172 28.1% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Charlottetown
$130
Vancouver
$129 0.9% $1.2
Sport & Entertainment
Charlottetown
$79
Vancouver
$66 17.1% $14
Getting Around
Charlottetown
$38
Vancouver
$105 177% $67

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $967 in Charlottetown 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 53% higher in Vancouver. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Charlottetown versus $72 in Vancouver. Groceries tell a different story – $419 in Charlottetown vs $401 in Vancouver – so Vancouver wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Charlottetown
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
09:51 9:51 AM
06:51 6:51 AM
3 h behind Charlottetown
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
38,809
631,486
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Charlottetown Vancouver 4,380 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Charlottetown
  • 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
Charlottetown vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Charlottetown or Vancouver?
Vancouver costs about 43% more than Charlottetown, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Charlottetown and in Vancouver?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,858 per month in Charlottetown and $4,087 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Charlottetown or Vancouver?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Charlottetown, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $967 there versus $1,813 in Vancouver.
How much does it cost to live in Charlottetown compared to Vancouver?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,906 in Charlottetown and $2,725 in Vancouver. That makes Charlottetown about 30% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Charlottetown compared to Vancouver?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Charlottetown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Charlottetown – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Charlottetown or to Vancouver?
If budget matters most, go with Charlottetown. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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