Cost of Living Comparison Between Estevan and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Estevan and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,272 per month in Estevan vs $2,731 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,242 per month in Estevan vs $3,956 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,212 per month in Estevan vs $5,181 in Vancouver, rent included.

Estevan is about 17% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Estevan and Vancouver sit above the global median – Estevan by 65%, Vancouver by 99%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.50 CA$29.74
$18.36 CA$25.41
17.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 CA$96.2
$72.9 CA$101
-4.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.89 CA$8.15
$10.88 CA$15.05
-45.86%
Cappuccino
$2.11 CA$2.92
$4.25 CA$5.88
-50.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 CA$3.17
$2.12 CA$2.93
8.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.43
$1.69 CA$2.34
3.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.85 CA$9.48
$5.75 CA$7.95
19.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26 CA$8.66
$6.65 CA$9.21
-5.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 CA$1.41
$2.14 CA$2.97
-52.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 CA$1.63
$2.55 CA$3.53
-53.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.17 CA$4.39
$4.41 CA$6.11
-28.12%
Eggs
$1.92 CA$2.65
$4.24 CA$5.87
-54.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.97 CA$19.34
$12.14 CA$16.80
15.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 CA$8.79
$13.66 CA$18.91
-53.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.96 CA$23.47
$20.78 CA$28.76
-18.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 CA$5.94
$4.31 CA$5.96
-0.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 CA$1.66
$1.39 CA$1.93
-13.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.42
$4.00 CA$5.53
-2.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 CA$5.22
$4.06 CA$5.62
-7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 CA$3.18
$2.82 CA$3.90
-18.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 CA$3.37
$2.95 CA$4.08
-17.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 CA$2.05
$2.77 CA$3.83
-46.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 CA$0.61
$1.63 CA$2.25
-73.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.13 CA$20.93
$16.06 CA$22.22
-5.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 CA$19.01
$14.54 CA$20.11
-5.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 CA$4.89
$2.73 CA$3.78
29.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 CA$4.74
$3.07 CA$4.25
11.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 CA$3.23
$2.55 CA$3.52
-8.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.0 CA$76.1
$85.1 CA$118
-35.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$4.99
$2.71 CA$3.75
32.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 CA$1.11
$1.64 CA$2.27
-51.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.56 CA$29.84
$31.75 CA$43.93
-32.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.51
$1.43 CA$1.98
-23.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.0K
$28.9K CA$40.0K
-2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.2K
$19.7K CA$27.2K
7.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 CA$180
$77.6 CA$107
68.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5 CA$72.7
$35.35 CA$48.91
48.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4 CA$80.8
$51.6 CA$71.5
13.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.86 CA$62.1
$46.26 CA$64.0
-3.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.84 CA$21.92
$13.37 CA$18.51
18.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.87 CA$13.65
$11.55 CA$15.98
-14.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 CA$675
$1,137 CA$1,573
-57.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K CA$15.2K
$21.2K CA$29.3K
-48.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 CA$71.8
$59.3 CA$82.0
-12.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.20 CA$54.2
$35.02 CA$48.45
11.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 CA$130
$90.1 CA$125
4.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$153
$96.3 CA$133
14.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,280 CA$1,771
$1,845 CA$2,553
-30.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 CA$1,583
$1,595 CA$2,206
-28.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,955 CA$2,705
$3,271 CA$4,527
-40.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,716 CA$2,374
$2,499 CA$3,458
-31.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,666 CA$6,457
$9,039 CA$12.5K
-48.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,972 CA$5,497
$6,985 CA$9,665
-43.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,366 CA$6,041
$3,659 CA$5,062
19.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.58
4.23
8.27%

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

Last update for Estevan: September 1, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,280 in Estevan versus $1,845 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 19% higher in Estevan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Estevan versus $73.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $409 – making Estevan 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
Estevan vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Estevan and in Vancouver compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,272 in Estevan, $2,731 in Vancouver – roughly 20% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Estevan compared to Vancouver?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,408 per month in Estevan and $4,097 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Estevan and Vancouver?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Estevan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Estevan and Vancouver?
Kindergarten costs $488 per month in Estevan and $1,137 in Vancouver. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Estevan, where all-in costs run around $2,272, than in Vancouver at $2,731. In Estevan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Estevan or Vancouver?
Families tend to lean toward Estevan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Estevan and Vancouver?
If budget matters most, go with Estevan. 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.

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