Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Vancouver

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Nanaimo, BC is 5% cheaper than Vancouver without rent, and 18.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Nanaimo, BC is 7.9% cheaper than Vancouver without rent, and 17.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26 CA$24.86
$18.3 CA$24.9
-0.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 CA$84.9
$80.5 CA$110
-22.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.44 CA$18.3
$11.12 CA$15.14
20.86%
Cappuccino
$4.1 CA$5.58
$4.07 CA$5.54
0.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 CA$3.52
$2.15 CA$2.92
20.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 CA$2.66
$1.81 CA$2.46
8.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 CA$7.79
$5.93 CA$8.07
-3.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 CA$8.07
$7.16 CA$9.74
-17.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 CA$2.43
$2.32 CA$3.15
-22.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.33 CA$4.53
$3.2 CA$4.35
4.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.2 CA$5.71
$3.73 CA$5.08
12.60%
Eggs
$3.84 CA$5.23
$4.33 CA$5.89
-11.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.84 CA$16.12
$12.92 CA$17.58
-8.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.1 CA$21.91
$13.87 CA$18.89
16.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 CA$24.55
$15.62 CA$21.26
15.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 CA$6.07
$4.17 CA$5.68
6.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 CA$2.09
$1.52 CA$2.07
0.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.86
$4.04 CA$5.5
-11.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 CA$6.37
$5.08 CA$6.92
-7.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.24
$3.15 CA$4.28
-1.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CA$3.9
$3.09 CA$4.21
-7.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3 CA$4.09
$2.68 CA$3.65
11.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 CA$3.05
$1.89 CA$2.57
18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.3 CA$18.1
$15.4 CA$20.96
-13.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.23 CA$24.82
$16 CA$21.78
13.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 CA$3.2
$3.2 CA$4.35
-26.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 CA$4.63
$3.79 CA$5.16
-10.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 CA$2.68
$2.43 CA$3.3
-18.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.64 CA$66.2
$82.8 CA$113
-41.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 CA$4.08
$3.65 CA$4.96
-18.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 CA$1.83
$1.42 CA$1.94
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.44 CA$46.87
$26.8 CA$36.48
28.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 CA$1.84
$1.32 CA$1.8
2.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$33.8K
$25.4K CA$34.5K
-2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20K CA$27.3K
$20.5K CA$27.9K
-2.17%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$163
$88.7 CA$121
35.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.54 CA$64.7
$40.14 CA$54.6
18.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 CA$90.5
$60.2 CA$82
10.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.49 CA$41.5
$45.18 CA$61.5
-32.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.19 CA$15.23
$15.77 CA$21.46
-29.04%
Cinema Ticket
$11.02 CA$14.99
$12.37 CA$16.84
-10.91%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 CA$1,075
$1,160 CA$1,579
-31.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.1K
$18.5K CA$25.2K
-36.19%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.89 CA$62.5
$63.4 CA$86.3
-27.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.91 CA$47.52
$41.97 CA$57.1
-16.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 CA$110
$94.8 CA$129
-14.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 CA$139
$115 CA$157
-11.35%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 CA$1,801
$2,009 CA$2,735
-34.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,165 CA$1,585
$1,618 CA$2,202
-28.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,064 CA$2,809
$3,495 CA$4,758
-40.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,953 CA$2,658
$2,772 CA$3,773
-29.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,849 CA$5,240
$9,600 CA$13.1K
-59.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,559 CA$4,845
$7,166 CA$9,755
-50.33%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Nanaimo, BC
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,528 CA$3,441
$3,337 CA$4,543
-24.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
5.61
15.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: October 28, 2025

Last update for Vancouver: October 26, 2025

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