🙂A single person spends $2,250 per month in Estevan vs $2,845 in Vancouver, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,286 per month in Estevan vs $4,183 in Vancouver, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,323 per month in Estevan vs $5,520 in Vancouver, rent included.
🙂Estevan is about 21% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Estevan and Vancouver sit above the global median – Estevan by 67%, Vancouver by 111%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.47CA$30.79
$18.26CA$25.01
23.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8CA$103
$78.8CA$108
-5.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.92CA$8.11
$11.17CA$15.30
-47.00%
Cappuccino
$2.20CA$3.01
$3.92CA$5.37
-43.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31CA$3.17
$2.23CA$3.05
3.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89CA$2.59
$1.83CA$2.51
3.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94CA$8.14
$5.85CA$8.02
1.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93CA$8.12
$7.17CA$9.82
-17.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96CA$1.32
$2.20CA$3.02
-56.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21CA$1.66
$3.22CA$4.41
-62.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.16CA$4.33
$3.75CA$5.13
-15.73%
Eggs
$1.96CA$2.68
$4.36CA$5.98
-55.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.60CA$15.89
$12.71CA$17.41
-8.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.32CA$8.66
$13.90CA$19.04
-54.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.98CA$24.64
$15.66CA$21.45
14.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62CA$4.96
$4.24CA$5.81
-14.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27CA$1.74
$1.54CA$2.11
-17.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27CA$5.85
$3.87CA$5.30
10.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52CA$4.82
$5.08CA$6.96
-30.71%
Potato(1kg)
$3.31CA$4.54
$3.20CA$4.38
3.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82CA$3.87
$2.93CA$4.02
-3.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51CA$2.07
$2.63CA$3.60
-42.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41CA$0.56
$1.86CA$2.55
-77.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.91CA$20.43
$15.36CA$21.04
-2.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.35CA$18.29
$15.48CA$21.20
-13.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68CA$5.04
$3.10CA$4.25
18.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94CA$4.03
$3.74CA$5.12
-21.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.39CA$3.27
$2.38CA$3.27
0.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.4CA$86.8
$84.0CA$115
-24.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23CA$4.43
$3.66CA$5.01
-11.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67CA$0.92
$1.48CA$2.03
-54.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.53CA$40.45
$26.98CA$36.96
9.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11CA$1.51
$1.28CA$1.76
-13.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$34.8K
$25.6KCA$35.0K
-0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0KCA$27.4K
$20.8KCA$28.6K
-4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136CA$186
$91.0CA$125
49.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1CA$70.0
$40.15CA$55.0
27.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4CA$69.0
$60.8CA$83.3
-17.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.65CA$57.1
$46.05CA$63.1
-9.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.77CA$21.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.27CA$12.69
$12.25CA$16.79
-24.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490CA$672
$1,165CA$1,596
-57.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1KCA$15.2K
$18.4KCA$25.2K
-39.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$86.0
$62.6CA$85.7
0.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.61CA$44.67
$42.30CA$58.0
-22.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1CA$117
$98.1CA$134
-13.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108CA$148
$114CA$156
-5.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,307CA$1,791
$1,988CA$2,724
-34.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172CA$1,606
$1,669CA$2,287
-29.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,998CA$2,737
$3,580CA$4,904
-44.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,810CA$2,479
$2,728CA$3,738
-33.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,835CA$5,254
$9,014CA$12.3K
-57.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,112CA$4,264
$7,085CA$9,707
-56.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Estevan
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,353CA$5,964
$3,588CA$4,916
21.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.47
5.61
15.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Estevan: April 13, 2026
Last update for Vancouver: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,307 in Estevan versus $1,988 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 21% 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 $75 in Estevan versus $79 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $415 – 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 Vancouver compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,250 in Estevan, $2,845 in Vancouver – roughly 26% 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 $3,375 per month in Estevan and $4,268 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 $490 per month in Estevan and $1,165 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 38% 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 $2,250, than in Vancouver at $2,845. 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.