🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,252 in Picton versus $2,831 in Vancouver.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,304 in Picton versus $4,231 in Vancouver.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,356 in Picton versus $5,630 in Vancouver.
🙂Living in Picton costs roughly 20% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Picton68% above, Vancouver111% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.89CA$26.27
$18.26CA$25.39
3.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.3CA$76.9
$77.8CA$108
-28.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.04CA$8.41
$10.85CA$15.09
-44.33%
Cappuccino
$3.63CA$5.04
$3.98CA$5.54
-8.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89CA$2.63
$2.12CA$2.95
-10.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50CA$2.09
$1.78CA$2.47
-15.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.55CA$6.33
$5.77CA$8.02
-21.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68CA$9.29
$7.56CA$10.51
-11.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CA$3.10
$2.32CA$3.23
-3.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01CA$2.80
$3.10CA$4.31
-35.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.51CA$4.88
$3.89CA$5.40
-9.77%
Eggs
$2.91CA$4.04
$4.53CA$6.30
-35.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.59CA$18.89
$12.92CA$17.96
5.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.29CA$18.48
$14.14CA$19.67
-6.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.64CA$23.14
$15.74CA$21.89
5.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71CA$5.15
$4.26CA$5.92
-12.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17CA$1.62
$1.47CA$2.04
-20.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40CA$4.72
$4.02CA$5.59
-15.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63CA$5.04
$5.06CA$7.04
-28.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56CA$3.56
$3.02CA$4.20
-15.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.94CA$4.09
$2.95CA$4.10
-0.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35CA$3.27
$2.60CA$3.62
-9.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13CA$1.57
$1.88CA$2.62
-39.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.67CA$20.40
$15.20CA$21.14
-3.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37CA$19.98
$14.30CA$19.88
0.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76CA$3.84
$3.07CA$4.27
-10.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30CA$4.59
$3.74CA$5.20
-11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34CA$3.25
$2.44CA$3.39
-4.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.9CA$87.5
$84.9CA$118
-25.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63CA$5.05
$3.74CA$5.20
-2.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44CA$2.00
$1.50CA$2.09
-4.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.95CA$36.09
$27.43CA$38.15
-5.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13CA$1.57
$1.34CA$1.86
-15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KCA$34.6K
$25.1KCA$34.9K
-1.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KCA$29.8K
$20.7KCA$28.8K
3.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118CA$164
$91.8CA$128
28.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.99CA$52.8
$39.42CA$54.8
-3.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7CA$74.6
$61.1CA$84.9
-12.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.50CA$59.1
$44.89CA$62.4
-5.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.68CA$21.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.81CA$16.42
$12.37CA$17.20
-4.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,113CA$1,548
$1,180CA$1,641
-5.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2KCA$25.3K
$18.8KCA$26.1K
-2.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3CA$81.0
$62.7CA$87.2
-7.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.58CA$55.0
$43.13CA$60.0
-8.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7CA$123
$94.7CA$132
-6.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117CA$163
$118CA$165
-1.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323CA$1,840
$1,995CA$2,774
-33.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,167CA$1,623
$1,629CA$2,266
-28.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,032CA$2,826
$3,589CA$4,991
-43.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,800CA$2,503
$2,769CA$3,851
-35.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,883CA$5,400
$9,246CA$12.9K
-58.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$7,086CA$9,854
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Picton
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,184CA$4,428
$3,474CA$4,831
-8.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.16
5.61
-8.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Picton: June 1, 2026
Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,323 in Picton and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vancouver pays 9% 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: $55.0 in Picton vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 vs $415 per month, with Picton 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
Picton vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Picton and Vancouver?
Picton and Vancouver differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($2,252 vs $2,831 including rent). Picton is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Vancouver earns 9% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Picton and Vancouver?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,323 in Picton versus $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Picton – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Picton or Vancouver?
All in, you'll spend $2,252 per month in Picton versus $2,831 in Vancouver – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,252 in Picton versus $2,831 in Vancouver, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Picton but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Picton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Picton and Vancouver?
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.
Is Picton or Vancouver safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Picton 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.
Where should expats move: Picton or Vancouver?
Expats usually find Picton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.