Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,598 per month in New Westminster vs $2,735 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,053 per month in New Westminster vs $3,984 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,507 per month in New Westminster vs $5,234 in Vancouver, rent included.

New Westminster is about 5% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both New Westminster and Vancouver sit above the global median – New Westminster by 90%, Vancouver by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.14 CA$27.99

$17.82 CA$24.78

13.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.0 CA$79.3

$72.4 CA$101

-21.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 CA$14.72

$10.93 CA$15.20

-3.11%

Cappuccino

$3.53 CA$4.91

$4.19 CA$5.82

-15.75%

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

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.22 CA$3.09

-9.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 CA$2.22

$1.64 CA$2.28

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.22 CA$8.64

$5.89 CA$8.18

5.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.78 CA$8.04

$6.51 CA$9.05

-11.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 CA$2.55

$2.12 CA$2.94

-13.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$2.64 CA$3.67

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.50 CA$4.86

$4.44 CA$6.17

-21.17%

Eggs

$3.16 CA$4.40

$4.21 CA$5.86

-24.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 CA$15.34

$12.04 CA$16.74

-8.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.94 CA$22.15

$13.91 CA$19.33

14.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.99 CA$37.52

$20.62 CA$28.66

30.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$4.29 CA$5.97

-13.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 CA$1.73

$1.34 CA$1.87

-6.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.13

$3.88 CA$5.40

-4.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.23

$4.08 CA$5.67

-7.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 CA$3.29

$2.88 CA$4.00

-17.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 CA$3.18

$2.93 CA$4.07

-21.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 CA$3.21

$2.63 CA$3.66

-12.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 CA$2.65

$1.70 CA$2.36

12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.94 CA$22.15

$15.66 CA$21.77

1.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.83 CA$15.05

$14.23 CA$19.78

-23.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 CA$2.87

$2.78 CA$3.86

-25.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 CA$4.12

$3.05 CA$4.24

-2.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 CA$3.45

$2.53 CA$3.52

-1.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$92.5 CA$129

$85.5 CA$119

8.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 CA$2.97

$2.67 CA$3.71

-19.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 CA$2.55

$1.61 CA$2.24

13.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.74 CA$31.61

$32.34 CA$44.96

-29.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.75

$1.40 CA$1.94

-10.00%

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

$24.1K CA$33.5K

$28.6K CA$39.7K

-15.62%

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

$19.2K CA$26.7K

$19.8K CA$27.6K

-2.99%

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

$140 CA$195

$78.8 CA$110

77.61%

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

$44.79 CA$62.3

$35.70 CA$49.63

25.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 CA$90.5

$51.1 CA$71.0

27.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.08 CA$47.38

$42.37 CA$58.9

-19.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.72 CA$24.64

$13.04 CA$18.13

35.89%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 CA$17.20

$11.68 CA$16.24

5.99%

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

$789 CA$1,097

$1,108 CA$1,540

-28.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,840 CA$10.9K

$19.9K CA$27.6K

-60.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 CA$74.0

$57.0 CA$79.2

-6.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.86 CA$48.45

$35.01 CA$48.67

-0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 CA$111

$88.0 CA$122

-9.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CA$140

$91.2 CA$127

10.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 CA$2,186

$1,843 CA$2,562

-14.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 CA$1,895

$1,530 CA$2,127

-10.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,911 CA$4,047

$3,156 CA$4,387

-7.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,643 CA$3,674

$2,476 CA$3,442

6.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,777 CA$6,641

$8,675 CA$12.1K

-44.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,094 CA$5,692

$6,528 CA$9,075

-37.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,141 CA$4,366

$3,726 CA$5,180

-15.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

4.21

12.11%

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

Last update for New Westminster: September 12, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in New Westminster versus $1,843 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 Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in New Westminster versus $72.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $404 vs $409 – making New Westminster 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

New Westminster vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 5% more than New Westminster, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,898 per month in New Westminster and $4,103 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in New Westminster, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $789 per month in New Westminster and $1,108 in Vancouver. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,598 in New Westminster and $2,735 in Vancouver. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward New Westminster – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with New Westminster. 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.