Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between London and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,471 in London versus $2,873 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in London versus $4,180 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,506 in London versus $5,486 in Vancouver.

Living in London costs roughly 14% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: London 85% above, Vancouver 115% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.58 CA$25.46

$18.57 CA$25.44

0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$99.9

$78.8 CA$108

-7.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 CA$14.07

$11.25 CA$15.41

-8.71%

Cappuccino

$3.58 CA$4.91

$3.89 CA$5.33

-7.97%

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

$1.90 CA$2.60

$2.16 CA$2.96

-12.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.55

$1.78 CA$2.44

4.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 CA$8.13

$5.85 CA$8.01

1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.30

$7.44 CA$10.20

-8.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 CA$2.32

$2.28 CA$3.12

-25.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 CA$3.28

$3.21 CA$4.40

-25.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 CA$4.61

$3.75 CA$5.14

-10.13%

Eggs

$3.38 CA$4.63

$4.53 CA$6.21

-25.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 CA$13.44

$12.80 CA$17.54

-23.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.18 CA$16.69

$14.09 CA$19.30

-13.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.03 CA$12.38

$15.87 CA$21.74

-43.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 CA$6.14

$4.18 CA$5.73

7.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.87

$1.53 CA$2.10

-10.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$4.94

$3.90 CA$5.34

-7.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.86 CA$5.29

$4.99 CA$6.84

-22.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 CA$2.32

$3.02 CA$4.13

-44.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 CA$2.81

$3.00 CA$4.11

-31.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 CA$2.89

$2.71 CA$3.71

-22.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 CA$1.96

$1.80 CA$2.47

-20.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.47 CA$17.08

$15.30 CA$20.97

-18.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.28 CA$18.20

$15.38 CA$21.07

-13.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 CA$2.95

$3.10 CA$4.24

-30.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.53

$3.74 CA$5.13

-31.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 CA$3.21

$2.38 CA$3.26

-1.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.9 CA$112

$85.7 CA$117

-4.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 CA$5.61

$3.74 CA$5.13

9.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 CA$2.40

$1.44 CA$1.97

21.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.05 CA$42.54

$27.52 CA$37.70

12.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.53

$1.30 CA$1.78

-14.62%

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

$25.3K CA$34.7K

$25.7K CA$35.2K

-1.55%

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

$20.4K CA$27.9K

$20.4K CA$28.0K

-0.18%

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

$143 CA$196

$90.1 CA$123

58.91%

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

$46.69 CA$64.0

$40.47 CA$55.4

15.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 CA$80.0

$60.4 CA$82.7

-3.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 CA$57.9

$44.45 CA$60.9

-4.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.32 CA$10.03

$15.43 CA$21.13

-52.56%

Cinema Ticket

$11.02 CA$15.10

$12.38 CA$16.96

-10.99%

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

$554 CA$759

$1,153 CA$1,580

-51.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K CA$19.5K

$18.5K CA$25.4K

-23.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 CA$75.7

$63.5 CA$87.0

-12.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.60 CA$63.8

$41.83 CA$57.3

11.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.6 CA$117

$97.5 CA$134

-12.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 CA$111

$116 CA$159

-30.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 CA$1,997

$1,972 CA$2,702

-26.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 CA$1,792

$1,619 CA$2,218

-19.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,574 CA$3,526

$3,531 CA$4,838

-27.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,999 CA$2,739

$2,748 CA$3,765

-27.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,587 CA$4,915

$9,040 CA$12.4K

-60.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,702 CA$5,071

$7,298 CA$9,998

-49.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,024 CA$4,142

$3,619 CA$4,959

-16.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

5.61

10.70%

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

Last update for London: April 28, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,457 in London and $1,972 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: $73.0 in London vs $79.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $416 per month, with London 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

London vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

London is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Vancouver earns 20% less. 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: $1,457 in London versus $1,972 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,471 per month in London versus $2,873 in Vancouver – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in London runs roughly 5% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,471 in London versus $2,873 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in London but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes London the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, London is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vancouver, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, London and Vancouver are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find London gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.