Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottetown and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlottetown and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,024 per month in Charlottetown vs $2,818 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,001 per month in Charlottetown vs $4,226 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,978 per month in Charlottetown vs $5,634 in Vancouver, rent included.

Charlottetown is about 28% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Charlottetown and Vancouver sit above the global median – Charlottetown by 52%, Vancouver by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.69 CA$20.63

$18.73 CA$26.28

-21.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 CA$85.1

$78.5 CA$110

-22.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.91 CA$12.51

$10.85 CA$15.23

-17.88%

Cappuccino

$3.77 CA$5.29

$4.10 CA$5.76

-8.05%

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

$1.74 CA$2.44

$2.13 CA$2.99

-18.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 CA$1.87

$1.76 CA$2.48

-24.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.76 CA$8.08

$5.76 CA$8.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.87 CA$8.24

$7.23 CA$10.14

-18.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.85

$2.29 CA$3.21

-11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$4.05

$3.22 CA$4.51

-10.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.95

$3.70 CA$5.19

14.59%

Eggs

$4.01 CA$5.63

$4.36 CA$6.11

-8.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 CA$17.38

$12.86 CA$18.05

-3.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.32 CA$20.10

$14.24 CA$19.99

0.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.25 CA$22.81

$15.74 CA$22.09

3.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.47

$4.30 CA$6.04

-9.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CA$2.29

$1.52 CA$2.13

7.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.43

$3.99 CA$5.60

-3.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 CA$7.58

$5.13 CA$7.20

5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 CA$2.92

$3.06 CA$4.29

-32.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.11

$3.05 CA$4.28

-27.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 CA$3.92

$2.63 CA$3.68

6.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$1.87 CA$2.62

0.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.17 CA$25.51

$15.70 CA$22.03

15.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 CA$19.28

$14.59 CA$20.47

-5.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 CA$4.71

$3.21 CA$4.51

4.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CA$4.53

$3.59 CA$5.04

-10.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 CA$2.08

$2.44 CA$3.43

-39.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.69 CA$20.61

$83.2 CA$117

-82.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 CA$10.88

$3.70 CA$5.19

109.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 CA$2.87

$1.49 CA$2.09

37.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.15 CA$40.91

$27.37 CA$38.42

6.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 CA$1.67

$1.33 CA$1.87

-10.53%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$25.1K CA$35.3K

-1.03%

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

$21.1K CA$29.6K

$20.7K CA$29.1K

1.83%

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

$134 CA$188

$90.0 CA$126

48.38%

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

$38.13 CA$53.5

$40.83 CA$57.3

-6.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.2 CA$117

$61.1 CA$85.8

36.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 CA$79.6

$45.73 CA$64.2

23.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 CA$20.51

$15.45 CA$21.68

-5.44%

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 CA$15.19

$12.01 CA$16.86

-9.91%

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

$167 CA$235

$1,162 CA$1,630

-85.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.7K

$18.1K CA$25.3K

-34.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.41 CA$58.1

$63.6 CA$89.3

-34.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.12 CA$49.30

$42.32 CA$59.4

-17.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 CA$121

$96.8 CA$136

-11.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 CA$191

$116 CA$162

17.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 CA$1,568

$2,024 CA$2,841

-44.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$877 CA$1,231

$1,614 CA$2,265

-45.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,728 CA$2,425

$3,464 CA$4,862

-50.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 CA$1,975

$2,743 CA$3,850

-48.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,232 CA$4,537

$8,872 CA$12.5K

-63.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,940 CA$2,723

$7,046 CA$9,890

-72.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,460 CA$3,453

$3,312 CA$4,649

-25.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.61

15.15%

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

Last update for Charlottetown: July 27, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Charlottetown versus $2,024 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 35% 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 $61.0 in Charlottetown versus $78.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $407 vs $417 – making Charlottetown 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

Charlottetown vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 39% more than Charlottetown, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,036 per month in Charlottetown and $4,226 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Charlottetown, 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 $2,024 in Charlottetown and $2,818 in Vancouver. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 467% less in Charlottetown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Charlottetown, where all-in costs run around $2,024, than in Vancouver at $2,818. In Charlottetown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Charlottetown. 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.