Cost of Living Comparison Between North Vancouver and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between North Vancouver and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,769 in North Vancouver versus $2,735 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,402 in North Vancouver versus $3,984 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,036 in North Vancouver versus $5,234 in Vancouver.

Living in North Vancouver is roughly 1% more expensive than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North Vancouver 102% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.91 CA$30.65

$17.82 CA$24.94

22.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.7 CA$91.8

$72.4 CA$101

-9.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.38 CA$13.12

$10.93 CA$15.30

-14.18%

Cappuccino

$4.28 CA$5.98

$4.19 CA$5.86

2.15%

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

$2.40 CA$3.36

$2.22 CA$3.11

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.64 CA$2.30

4.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 CA$8.09

$5.89 CA$8.23

-1.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 CA$8.34

$6.51 CA$9.11

-8.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 CA$2.62

$2.12 CA$2.96

-11.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.94

$2.64 CA$3.69

6.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 CA$3.34

$4.44 CA$6.21

-46.17%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.60

$4.21 CA$5.90

-21.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 CA$19.36

$12.04 CA$16.85

14.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.91 CA$18.06

$13.91 CA$19.46

-7.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.72 CA$21.99

$20.62 CA$28.85

-23.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 CA$6.11

$4.29 CA$6.00

1.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.94

$1.34 CA$1.88

2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.63 CA$6.48

$3.88 CA$5.43

19.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.21

$4.08 CA$5.70

8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 CA$4.09

$2.88 CA$4.03

1.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.03

$2.93 CA$4.09

-1.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 CA$3.97

$2.63 CA$3.68

7.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 CA$2.89

$1.70 CA$2.38

21.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.47 CA$20.25

$15.66 CA$21.91

-7.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.54 CA$20.34

$14.23 CA$19.91

2.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 CA$2.91

$2.78 CA$3.89

-25.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.07

$3.05 CA$4.27

-4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 CA$4.22

$2.53 CA$3.54

19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100.0 CA$140

$85.5 CA$120

16.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 CA$3.81

$2.67 CA$3.73

1.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.61 CA$2.25

-3.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.55 CA$39.94

$32.34 CA$45.25

-11.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 CA$1.83

$1.40 CA$1.96

-6.43%

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

$28.7K CA$40.2K

$28.6K CA$40.0K

0.56%

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

$19.4K CA$27.1K

$19.8K CA$27.7K

-2.28%

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

$131 CA$183

$78.8 CA$110

66.10%

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

$37.41 CA$52.3

$35.70 CA$49.95

4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.0 CA$75.6

$51.1 CA$71.5

5.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.46 CA$44.01

$42.37 CA$59.3

-25.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.66 CA$34.50

$13.04 CA$18.25

89.11%

Cinema Ticket

$12.33 CA$17.25

$11.68 CA$16.34

5.57%

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

$1,077 CA$1,508

$1,108 CA$1,550

-2.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K CA$15.1K

$19.9K CA$27.8K

-45.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 CA$89.8

$57.0 CA$79.7

12.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.41 CA$53.8

$35.01 CA$48.99

9.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 CA$117

$88.0 CA$123

-4.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$155

$91.2 CA$128

21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,832 CA$2,563

$1,843 CA$2,579

-0.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,550 CA$2,168

$1,530 CA$2,141

1.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,143 CA$4,397

$3,156 CA$4,415

-0.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,140 CA$4,393

$2,476 CA$3,465

26.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,401 CA$11.8K

$8,675 CA$12.1K

-3.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,679 CA$9,345

$6,528 CA$9,134

2.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,153 CA$4,411

$3,726 CA$5,213

-15.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

4.21

11.40%

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

Last update for North Vancouver: September 12, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,832 in North Vancouver and $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in North Vancouver vs $72.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $409 per month, with North Vancouver 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

North Vancouver vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Vancouver and Vancouver differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($2,769 vs $2,735 including rent). Vancouver is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Vancouver. 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: $1,832 in North Vancouver versus $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Vancouver – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $66.0 in North Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,769 per month in North Vancouver versus $2,735 in Vancouver – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Safety-wise, North Vancouver 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 Vancouver gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in North Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.