Cost of Living Comparison Between Dartmouth and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Dartmouth and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,119 per month in Dartmouth vs $2,831 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,202 per month in Dartmouth vs $4,231 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,286 per month in Dartmouth vs $5,630 in Vancouver, rent included.

Dartmouth is about 25% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Dartmouth and Vancouver sit above the global median – Dartmouth by 58%, Vancouver by 111%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.71 CA$20.37

$18.26 CA$25.28

-19.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 CA$84.2

$77.8 CA$108

-21.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 CA$11.98

$10.85 CA$15.02

-20.28%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.25

$3.98 CA$5.51

-4.77%

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

$1.74 CA$2.40

$2.12 CA$2.93

-17.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.78 CA$2.46

-25.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 CA$8.35

$5.77 CA$7.99

4.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 CA$8.33

$7.56 CA$10.46

-20.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 CA$2.83

$2.32 CA$3.21

-12.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 CA$3.48

$3.10 CA$4.29

-19.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.22

$3.89 CA$5.38

-3.08%

Eggs

$3.49 CA$4.83

$4.53 CA$6.27

-22.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.38 CA$14.37

$12.92 CA$17.88

-19.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.44 CA$15.84

$14.14 CA$19.58

-19.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.33 CA$21.22

$15.74 CA$21.80

-2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$4.26 CA$5.89

-15.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CA$2.25

$1.47 CA$2.03

10.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.31

$4.02 CA$5.57

-4.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 CA$7.45

$5.06 CA$7.01

6.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$3.02 CA$4.18

-32.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$2.95 CA$4.09

-24.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.60 CA$3.60

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 CA$2.55

$1.88 CA$2.60

-2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.30

$15.20 CA$21.04

-3.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.41 CA$15.80

$14.30 CA$19.80

-20.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 CA$4.49

$3.07 CA$4.26

5.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CA$4.51

$3.74 CA$5.18

-12.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$2.44 CA$3.37

-19.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.2 CA$84.8

$84.9 CA$118

-27.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$8.00 CA$11.07

$3.74 CA$5.18

113.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 CA$1.96

$1.50 CA$2.08

-5.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.93 CA$40.05

$27.43 CA$37.98

5.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.66

$1.34 CA$1.86

-10.45%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$25.1K CA$34.8K

-0.97%

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

$20.8K CA$28.7K

$20.7K CA$28.7K

0.14%

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

$69.9 CA$96.8

$91.8 CA$127

-23.86%

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

$37.93 CA$52.5

$39.42 CA$54.6

-3.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.4 CA$113

$61.1 CA$84.6

33.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 CA$51.7

$44.89 CA$62.2

-16.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.71

Cinema Ticket

$11.06 CA$15.31

$12.37 CA$17.12

-10.59%

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

$165 CA$229

$1,180 CA$1,634

-85.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.5K

$18.8K CA$26.0K

-36.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.16 CA$57.0

$62.7 CA$86.8

-34.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.99 CA$48.45

$43.13 CA$59.7

-18.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.5 CA$96.3

$94.7 CA$131

-26.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 CA$108

$118 CA$164

-34.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 CA$1,793

$1,995 CA$2,762

-35.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 CA$1,471

$1,629 CA$2,256

-34.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,081 CA$2,881

$3,589 CA$4,969

-42.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,890 CA$2,617

$2,769 CA$3,834

-31.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,811

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,657 CA$3,679

$3,474 CA$4,810

-23.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.62

5.61

0.18%

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

Last update for Dartmouth: May 30, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,295 in Dartmouth versus $1,995 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 31% 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 Dartmouth versus $78.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $415 – making Dartmouth 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

Dartmouth vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,119 in Dartmouth, $2,831 in Vancouver – roughly 34% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,178 per month in Dartmouth and $4,247 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dartmouth, 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 $2,119 in Dartmouth and $2,831 in Vancouver. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Dartmouth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Dartmouth, where all-in costs run around $2,119, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Dartmouth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dartmouth – 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 Dartmouth. 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.