Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquitlam and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquitlam and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,949 in Coquitlam versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,123 in Coquitlam versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,297 in Coquitlam versus $5,630 in Vancouver.

Living in Coquitlam is roughly 4% more expensive than Vancouver, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Coquitlam 120% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.48 CA$20.14

$18.26 CA$25.39

-20.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.3 CA$71.3

$77.8 CA$108

-34.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.39 CA$14.45

$10.85 CA$15.09

-4.24%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.14

$3.98 CA$5.54

-7.29%

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

$1.97 CA$2.74

$2.12 CA$2.95

-7.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 CA$2.92

$1.78 CA$2.47

17.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.26

$5.77 CA$8.02

-9.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 CA$8.06

$7.56 CA$10.51

-23.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 CA$2.00

$2.32 CA$3.23

-37.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 CA$4.16

$3.10 CA$4.31

-3.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$3.89 CA$5.40

-42.16%

Eggs

$3.98 CA$5.53

$4.53 CA$6.30

-12.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.51 CA$14.62

$12.92 CA$17.96

-18.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.30 CA$22.67

$14.14 CA$19.67

15.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.44 CA$20.08

$15.74 CA$21.89

-8.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 CA$6.32

$4.26 CA$5.92

6.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 CA$1.99

$1.47 CA$2.04

-2.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.07

$4.02 CA$5.59

26.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 CA$6.35

$5.06 CA$7.04

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 CA$2.23

$3.02 CA$4.20

-47.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 CA$2.46

$2.95 CA$4.10

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 CA$4.14

$2.60 CA$3.62

14.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 CA$1.51

$1.88 CA$2.62

-42.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.11 CA$19.62

$15.20 CA$21.14

-7.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.43 CA$17.29

$14.30 CA$19.88

-13.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.90 CA$5.42

$3.07 CA$4.27

27.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 CA$3.26

$3.74 CA$5.20

-37.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.25

$2.44 CA$3.39

-4.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 CA$108

$84.9 CA$118

-8.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$3.74 CA$5.20

-26.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 CA$2.19

$1.50 CA$2.09

4.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.93 CA$34.67

$27.43 CA$38.15

-9.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.34 CA$1.86

2.24%

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

$24.5K CA$34.1K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

-2.29%

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

$20.1K CA$27.9K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

-3.10%

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

$132 CA$184

$91.8 CA$128

44.32%

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

$36.68 CA$51.0

$39.42 CA$54.8

-6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.9 CA$84.7

$61.1 CA$84.9

-0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.85 CA$38.73

$44.89 CA$62.4

-37.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$15.68 CA$21.81

-28.89%

Cinema Ticket

$11.20 CA$15.58

$12.37 CA$17.20

-9.46%

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

$1,230 CA$1,710

$1,180 CA$1,641

4.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.4K CA$17.2K

$18.8K CA$26.1K

-34.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.7 CA$98.3

$62.7 CA$87.2

12.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 CA$63.5

$43.13 CA$60.0

5.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.1 CA$132

$94.7 CA$132

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$159

$118 CA$165

-3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,055 CA$2,859

$1,995 CA$2,774

3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,817 CA$2,527

$1,629 CA$2,266

11.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,665 CA$5,097

$3,589 CA$4,991

2.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 CA$3,727

$2,769 CA$3,851

-3.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,103 CA$8,487

$9,246 CA$12.9K

-33.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,152 CA$7,165

$7,086 CA$9,854

-27.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,140 CA$4,367

$3,474 CA$4,831

-9.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

5.61

17.83%

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

Last update for Coquitlam: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,055 in Coquitlam and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $51.0 in Coquitlam vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $415 per month, with Coquitlam 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

Coquitlam vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Vancouver earns 11% less. 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: $2,055 in Coquitlam versus $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,949 per month in Coquitlam versus $2,831 in Vancouver – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Vancouver runs roughly 9% less than in Coquitlam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Vancouver is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Vancouver gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.