Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Iqaluit, NU and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU versus $5,630 in Vancouver.

Living in Iqaluit, NU is roughly 8% more expensive than Vancouver, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iqaluit, NU 128% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.29 CA$43.33

$18.26 CA$25.28

71.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.0

$77.8 CA$108

-15.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.97 CA$17.96

$10.85 CA$15.02

19.54%

Cappuccino

$6.69 CA$9.26

$3.98 CA$5.51

68.09%

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

$3.99 CA$5.53

$2.12 CA$2.93

88.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 CA$2.33

$1.78 CA$2.46

-5.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 CA$9.53

$5.77 CA$7.99

19.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.30

$7.56 CA$10.46

-20.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.32 CA$3.21

5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 CA$3.72

$3.10 CA$4.29

-13.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.16

$3.89 CA$5.38

-22.88%

Eggs

$4.41 CA$6.11

$4.53 CA$6.27

-2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.17 CA$16.85

$12.92 CA$17.88

-5.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.62 CA$18.86

$14.14 CA$19.58

-3.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.77 CA$34.30

$15.74 CA$21.80

57.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$4.26 CA$5.89

-52.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.12

$1.47 CA$2.03

102.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 CA$2.72

$4.02 CA$5.57

-51.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 CA$2.81

$5.06 CA$7.01

-59.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 CA$4.10

$3.02 CA$4.18

-1.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$2.95 CA$4.09

32.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 CA$4.14

$2.60 CA$3.60

15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.92

$1.88 CA$2.60

88.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.43 CA$19.98

$15.20 CA$21.04

-5.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 CA$17.73

$14.30 CA$19.80

-10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$3.07 CA$4.26

-52.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$3.74 CA$5.18

-41.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 CA$3.25

$2.44 CA$3.37

-3.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$144 CA$200

$84.9 CA$118

69.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 CA$9.44

$3.74 CA$5.18

82.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 CA$0.98

$1.50 CA$2.08

-52.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.47 CA$35.26

$27.43 CA$37.98

-7.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 CA$1.76

$1.34 CA$1.86

-5.22%

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

$50.5K CA$70.0K

$25.1K CA$34.8K

101.24%

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

$45.7K CA$63.3K

$20.7K CA$28.7K

120.42%

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

$119 CA$164

$91.8 CA$127

29.43%

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

$54.3 CA$75.2

$39.42 CA$54.6

37.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.3 CA$77.9

$61.1 CA$84.6

-7.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 CA$58.3

$44.89 CA$62.2

-6.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.02 CA$30.49

$15.68 CA$21.71

40.43%

Cinema Ticket

$8.50 CA$11.77

$12.37 CA$17.12

-31.29%

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

$1,019 CA$1,411

$1,180 CA$1,634

-13.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,997 CA$5,534

$18.8K CA$26.0K

-78.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 CA$87.0

$62.7 CA$86.8

0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.88 CA$51.1

$43.13 CA$59.7

-14.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 CA$143

$94.7 CA$131

8.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$167

$118 CA$164

1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 CA$2,336

$1,995 CA$2,762

-15.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 CA$2,169

$1,629 CA$2,256

-3.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,136 CA$4,342

$3,589 CA$4,969

-12.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 CA$2,545

$2,769 CA$3,834

-33.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,603 CA$6,373

$9,246 CA$12.8K

-50.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,811 CA$5,277

$7,086 CA$9,811

-46.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,299 CA$5,952

$3,474 CA$4,810

23.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.1

5.61

44.39%

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

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 24% 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: $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $414 vs $415 per month, with Iqaluit, NU 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

Iqaluit, NU vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Iqaluit, NU pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,019 in Iqaluit, NU versus $1,180 in Vancouver. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Iqaluit, NU pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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 8% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.