Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Duncan BC and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,184 in Duncan BC versus $2,735 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Duncan BC versus $3,984 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,770 in Duncan BC versus $5,234 in Vancouver.

Living in Duncan BC costs roughly 20% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Duncan BC 60% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.49

$17.82 CA$24.78

2.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.7 CA$99.7

$72.4 CA$101

-1.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.00 CA$15.29

$10.93 CA$15.20

0.64%

Cappuccino

$4.04 CA$5.61

$4.19 CA$5.82

-3.58%

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

$2.19 CA$3.04

$2.22 CA$3.09

-1.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.42

$1.64 CA$2.28

6.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.37

$5.89 CA$8.18

-10.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 CA$8.12

$6.51 CA$9.05

-10.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 CA$2.27

$2.12 CA$2.94

-23.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.64 CA$3.67

0.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.45 CA$6.19

$4.44 CA$6.17

0.23%

Eggs

$4.01 CA$5.58

$4.21 CA$5.86

-4.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 CA$16.22

$12.04 CA$16.74

-3.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.76 CA$19.13

$13.91 CA$19.33

-1.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.54 CA$20.21

$20.62 CA$28.66

-29.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 CA$6.11

$4.29 CA$5.97

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.34 CA$1.87

Oranges (1kg)

$3.94 CA$5.48

$3.88 CA$5.40

1.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.56

$4.08 CA$5.67

-1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.88 CA$4.00

-1.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.14

$2.93 CA$4.07

1.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.70

$2.63 CA$3.66

1.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.30

$1.70 CA$2.36

-2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.17 CA$19.70

$15.66 CA$21.77

-9.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.00 CA$16.68

$14.23 CA$19.78

-15.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 CA$3.78

$2.78 CA$3.86

-2.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.11

$3.05 CA$4.24

-3.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 CA$2.83

$2.53 CA$3.52

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.7 CA$104

$85.5 CA$119

-12.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 CA$3.82

$2.67 CA$3.71

3.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 CA$2.23

$1.61 CA$2.24

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.57 CA$45.27

$32.34 CA$44.96

0.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.40 CA$1.94

-9.29%

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

$26.6K CA$37.0K

$28.6K CA$39.7K

-6.89%

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

$19.5K CA$27.2K

$19.8K CA$27.6K

-1.44%

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

$77.8 CA$108

$78.8 CA$110

-1.36%

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

$35.64 CA$49.55

$35.70 CA$49.63

-0.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.2 CA$69.8

$51.1 CA$71.0

-1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.1 CA$86.3

$42.37 CA$58.9

46.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 CA$18.13

Cinema Ticket

$11.68 CA$16.23

$11.68 CA$16.24

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

$1,064 CA$1,480

$1,108 CA$1,540

-3.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K CA$14.1K

$19.9K CA$27.6K

-49.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 CA$79.4

$57.0 CA$79.2

0.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.66 CA$48.18

$35.01 CA$48.67

-1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$121

$88.0 CA$122

-1.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.2 CA$128

$91.2 CA$127

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 CA$1,738

$1,843 CA$2,562

-32.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 CA$1,474

$1,530 CA$2,127

-30.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,294 CA$3,188

$3,156 CA$4,387

-27.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,166 CA$3,010

$2,476 CA$3,442

-12.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,425 CA$6,152

$8,675 CA$12.1K

-48.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,642 CA$5,062

$6,528 CA$9,075

-44.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,112 CA$4,326

$3,726 CA$5,180

-16.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

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

Last update for Duncan BC: September 14, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,250 in Duncan BC and $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 20% 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: $72.0 in Duncan BC vs $72.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $409 per month, with Duncan BC 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

Duncan BC vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duncan BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Vancouver. 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: $1,250 in Duncan BC versus $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Duncan BC – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $72.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,184 in Duncan BC versus $2,735 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Duncan BC but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Duncan BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Duncan BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.