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 $2,521 per month in New Westminster vs $2,906 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,864 per month in New Westminster vs $4,209 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,207 per month in New Westminster vs $5,513 in Vancouver, rent included.

New Westminster is about 13% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New Westminster and Vancouver sit above the global median – New Westminster by 89%, Vancouver by 118%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.70 CA$20.68

$18.62 CA$26.20

-21.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 CA$105

$77.9 CA$110

-3.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 CA$13.86

$10.84 CA$15.26

-9.13%

Cappuccino

$4.07 CA$5.73

$3.93 CA$5.53

3.56%

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

$2.01 CA$2.84

$2.24 CA$3.16

-10.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.97

$1.75 CA$2.46

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.24 CA$8.78

$6.05 CA$8.51

3.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.55 CA$9.21

$7.30 CA$10.27

-10.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.27

$2.30 CA$3.24

0.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 CA$3.51

$3.07 CA$4.32

-18.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.76 CA$5.29

$3.77 CA$5.30

-0.27%

Eggs

$3.60 CA$5.07

$4.32 CA$6.08

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 CA$14.13

$12.57 CA$17.69

-20.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.21 CA$14.37

$13.74 CA$19.34

-25.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.85 CA$13.86

$15.99 CA$22.49

-38.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 CA$4.37

$4.26 CA$6.00

-27.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$2.00

$1.52 CA$2.14

-6.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.14

$3.92 CA$5.52

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.72 CA$5.24

$5.08 CA$7.15

-26.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 CA$3.56

$3.20 CA$4.50

-20.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.10

$3.09 CA$4.34

-28.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 CA$2.65

$2.60 CA$3.65

-27.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$3.00

$1.88 CA$2.65

13.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.89 CA$22.35

$15.45 CA$21.74

2.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 CA$15.00

$14.89 CA$20.95

-28.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 CA$3.06

$3.12 CA$4.39

-30.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.20

$3.80 CA$5.35

-21.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.61

$2.42 CA$3.40

6.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.6 CA$133

$83.0 CA$117

14.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 CA$3.03

$3.76 CA$5.28

-42.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 CA$2.25

$1.48 CA$2.09

8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.11 CA$32.52

$26.97 CA$37.95

-14.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.77

$1.30 CA$1.82

-3.08%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

$25.2K CA$35.4K

0.88%

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

$19.8K CA$27.9K

$20.6K CA$28.9K

-3.70%

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

$115 CA$161

$91.8 CA$129

24.95%

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

$45.62 CA$64.2

$39.34 CA$55.4

15.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 CA$93.9

$60.6 CA$85.3

10.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.04 CA$49.31

$44.58 CA$62.7

-21.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.72 CA$26.34

$15.88 CA$22.35

17.88%

Cinema Ticket

$12.17 CA$17.13

$12.18 CA$17.13

-0.08%

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

$820 CA$1,153

$1,185 CA$1,667

-30.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,048 CA$11.3K

$18.5K CA$26.1K

-56.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.26 CA$67.9

$62.5 CA$87.9

-22.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.28 CA$46.83

$42.38 CA$59.6

-21.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 CA$117

$95.0 CA$134

-12.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$147

$115 CA$162

-9.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,625 CA$2,286

$1,979 CA$2,785

-17.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 CA$1,933

$1,644 CA$2,313

-16.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,016 CA$4,243

$3,577 CA$5,033

-15.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,752 CA$3,873

$2,782 CA$3,915

-1.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,732 CA$6,659

$8,754 CA$12.3K

-45.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,089 CA$5,754

$7,087 CA$9,972

-42.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,065 CA$4,313

$3,380 CA$4,756

-9.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.61

14.80%

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

Last update for New Westminster: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in New Westminster versus $1,979 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 10% 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 $75.0 in New Westminster versus $78.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $414 – 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 15% more than New Westminster, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,782 per month in New Westminster and $4,359 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 $820 per month in New Westminster and $1,185 in Vancouver. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $2,521 in New Westminster and $2,906 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.