Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakville and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Oakville versus $2,731 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,902 in Oakville versus $3,956 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,108 in Oakville versus $5,181 in Vancouver.

Living in Oakville costs roughly 1% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oakville 96% above, Vancouver 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.50 CA$20.07
$18.36 CA$25.41
-21.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6 CA$96.2
$72.9 CA$101
-4.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.36 CA$12.95
$10.88 CA$15.05
-13.97%
Cappuccino
$3.76 CA$5.20
$4.25 CA$5.88
-11.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.77
$2.12 CA$2.93
-5.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 CA$2.22
$1.69 CA$2.34
-5.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 CA$8.14
$5.75 CA$7.95
2.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.57 CA$9.08
$6.65 CA$9.21
-1.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.70 CA$3.73
$2.14 CA$2.97
26.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 CA$4.13
$2.55 CA$3.53
16.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.92
$4.41 CA$6.11
-19.27%
Eggs
$4.24 CA$5.87
$4.24 CA$5.87
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 CA$12.93
$12.14 CA$16.80
-23.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.57 CA$14.63
$13.66 CA$18.91
-22.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.00 CA$19.37
$20.78 CA$28.76
-32.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.94
$4.31 CA$5.96
-17.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 CA$2.53
$1.39 CA$1.93
31.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 CA$4.99
$4.00 CA$5.53
-9.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.91 CA$4.03
$4.06 CA$5.62
-28.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 CA$3.50
$2.82 CA$3.90
-10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.47
$2.95 CA$4.08
9.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 CA$3.05
$2.77 CA$3.83
-20.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.34
$1.63 CA$2.25
3.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.73 CA$20.38
$16.06 CA$22.22
-8.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.93 CA$17.89
$14.54 CA$20.11
-11.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 CA$4.42
$2.73 CA$3.78
16.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 CA$3.70
$3.07 CA$4.25
-12.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 CA$3.88
$2.55 CA$3.52
10.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$102 CA$141
$85.1 CA$118
19.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.71 CA$3.75
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.64 CA$2.27
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$31.75 CA$43.93
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.52
$1.43 CA$1.98
-23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.0K
$28.9K CA$40.0K
-2.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K CA$26.2K
$19.7K CA$27.2K
-3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 CA$139
$77.6 CA$107
29.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.96 CA$41.46
$35.35 CA$48.91
-15.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.25 CA$68.2
$51.6 CA$71.5
-4.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.83 CA$59.3
$46.26 CA$64.0
-7.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.37 CA$18.51
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.34 CA$12.92
$11.55 CA$15.98
-19.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,044 CA$1,445
$1,137 CA$1,573
-8.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K CA$24.2K
$21.2K CA$29.3K
-17.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 CA$99.5
$59.3 CA$82.0
21.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$88.7 CA$123
$35.02 CA$48.45
153.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 CA$159
$90.1 CA$125
27.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$148
$96.3 CA$133
11.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,733 CA$2,397
$1,845 CA$2,553
-6.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 CA$2,196
$1,595 CA$2,206
-0.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,647 CA$3,662
$3,271 CA$4,527
-19.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,459 CA$3,402
$2,499 CA$3,458
-1.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,241 CA$5,869
$9,039 CA$12.5K
-53.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,324 CA$10.1K
$6,985 CA$9,665
4.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oakville
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,231 CA$4,470
$3,659 CA$5,062
-11.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
4.23
27.42%

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

Last update for Oakville: August 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,733 in Oakville and $1,845 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 13% 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: $70.0 in Oakville vs $73.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $409 per month, with Oakville 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
Oakville vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oakville or Vancouver?
Oakville wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oakville the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oakville or in Vancouver?
On paper, salaries run 13% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oakville compared to Vancouver?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,733 in Oakville versus $1,845 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Oakville compared to Vancouver?
A monthly transit pass in Oakville runs roughly 20% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Oakville and in Vancouver?
Childcare runs $1,044 in Oakville versus $1,137 in Vancouver. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Oakville or in Vancouver?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Oakville is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oakville or Vancouver?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oakville delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,695 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oakville hard to pass up.
How safe is Oakville compared to Vancouver?
Safety-wise, Oakville 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oakville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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