Cost of Living Comparison Between Oshawa and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Oshawa and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,357 in Oshawa versus $2,735 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,382 in Oshawa versus $3,984 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,407 in Oshawa versus $5,234 in Vancouver.

Living in Oshawa costs roughly 14% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oshawa 72% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.23 CA$19.90

$17.82 CA$24.94

-20.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.1 CA$89.7

$72.4 CA$101

-11.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 CA$11.81

$10.93 CA$15.30

-22.78%

Cappuccino

$3.50 CA$4.90

$4.19 CA$5.86

-16.47%

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

$1.73 CA$2.42

$2.22 CA$3.11

-22.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 CA$2.00

$1.64 CA$2.30

-12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.17 CA$7.23

$5.89 CA$8.23

-12.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.14 CA$8.59

$6.51 CA$9.11

-5.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.91 CA$4.08

$2.12 CA$2.96

37.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 CA$4.04

$2.64 CA$3.69

9.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$4.44 CA$6.21

-7.88%

Eggs

$3.01 CA$4.20

$4.21 CA$5.90

-28.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.96 CA$13.94

$12.04 CA$16.85

-17.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 CA$20.02

$13.91 CA$19.46

2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.65 CA$23.29

$20.62 CA$28.85

-19.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 CA$6.06

$4.29 CA$6.00

0.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 CA$1.68

$1.34 CA$1.88

-10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$3.88 CA$5.43

-27.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.37

$4.08 CA$5.70

-5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.94

$2.88 CA$4.03

22.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.66

$2.93 CA$4.09

-10.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 CA$3.31

$2.63 CA$3.68

-10.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.46 CA$20.24

$15.66 CA$21.91

-7.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 CA$17.67

$14.23 CA$19.91

-11.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 CA$4.96

$2.78 CA$3.89

27.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 CA$5.02

$3.05 CA$4.27

17.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.60

$2.53 CA$3.54

1.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.3 CA$97.0

$85.5 CA$120

-18.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.50 CA$4.90

$2.67 CA$3.73

31.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 CA$0.97

$1.61 CA$2.25

-56.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.03 CA$25.23

$32.34 CA$45.25

-44.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.40 CA$1.96

-20.00%

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

$28.2K CA$39.5K

$28.6K CA$40.0K

-1.23%

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

$20.1K CA$28.2K

$19.8K CA$27.7K

1.62%

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

$138 CA$193

$78.8 CA$110

74.85%

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

$38.91 CA$54.4

$35.70 CA$49.95

8.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 CA$74.1

$51.1 CA$71.5

3.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.31 CA$41.01

$42.37 CA$59.3

-30.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.67 CA$40.11

$13.04 CA$18.25

119.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 CA$15.37

$11.68 CA$16.34

-5.91%

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

$1,202 CA$1,682

$1,108 CA$1,550

8.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K CA$27.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 CA$79.0

$57.0 CA$79.7

-0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.8 CA$79.4

$35.01 CA$48.99

62.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 CA$147

$88.0 CA$123

19.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 CA$185

$91.2 CA$128

45.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,379 CA$1,929

$1,843 CA$2,579

-25.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 CA$1,732

$1,530 CA$2,141

-19.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,970 CA$2,757

$3,156 CA$4,415

-37.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,822 CA$2,549

$2,476 CA$3,465

-26.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,258 CA$7,357

$8,675 CA$12.1K

-39.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.4K CA$14.6K

$6,528 CA$9,134

59.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,044 CA$4,259

$3,726 CA$5,213

-18.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

4.21

7.60%

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

Last update for Oshawa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,379 in Oshawa and $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 22% 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: $64.0 in Oshawa vs $72.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $409 per month, with Oshawa 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

Oshawa vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oshawa wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oshawa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 22% 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: $1,379 in Oshawa 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 Oshawa – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $72.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,357 per month in Oshawa versus $2,735 in Vancouver – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,357 in Oshawa versus $2,735 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oshawa but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Oshawa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Oshawa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.