Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Prince George and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Prince George: $2,144 a month against $2,725 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Prince George, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Prince George
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,144
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,725
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Prince George and in Vancouver

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Prince George and in Vancouver actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,144 in Prince George versus $2,725 in Vancouver.

  • Prince George $2,144
  • Vancouver $2,725

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,217 in Prince George versus $4,039 in Vancouver.

  • Prince George $3,217
  • Vancouver $4,039

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,289 in Prince George versus $5,352 in Vancouver.

  • Prince George $4,289
  • Vancouver $5,352

Living in Prince George costs roughly 21% less than in Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Prince George 58% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.02 CA$25.18
$17.65 CA$24.67
2.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.3 CA$101
$72.4 CA$101
-0.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 CA$12.27
$10.84 CA$15.15
-19.00%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.36
$3.91 CA$5.47
-2.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.10
$2.10 CA$2.94
5.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.17
$1.64 CA$2.29
38.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 CA$8.05
$5.74 CA$8.02
0.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23 CA$10.10
$6.36 CA$8.89
13.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 CA$2.65
$2.21 CA$3.09
-14.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 CA$3.43
$2.64 CA$3.69
-7.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.77 CA$6.67
$4.68 CA$6.54
1.92%
Eggs
$4.31 CA$6.03
$4.24 CA$5.92
1.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.26 CA$8.74
$11.92 CA$16.67
-47.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.95 CA$19.50
$13.12 CA$18.34
6.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.25 CA$19.91
$20.40 CA$28.51
-30.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 CA$5.83
$4.10 CA$5.73
1.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 CA$3.87
$1.38 CA$1.93
100.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.30 CA$7.41
$3.83 CA$5.35
38.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.87 CA$5.40
$3.92 CA$5.48
-1.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 CA$4.23
$2.77 CA$3.88
9.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 CA$3.23
$2.84 CA$3.96
-18.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.04 CA$4.24
$2.60 CA$3.64
16.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 CA$3.06
$1.59 CA$2.23
37.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.91 CA$20.83
$15.87 CA$22.17
-6.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.76 CA$15.04
$14.00 CA$19.56
-23.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.65 CA$7.90
$2.57 CA$3.59
119.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.01 CA$4.21
-
🚌 Getting Around
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.90 CA$2.65
$2.55 CA$3.57
-25.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.07 CA$61.6
$84.1 CA$118
-47.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 CA$4.11
$2.67 CA$3.73
10.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 CA$2.38
$1.58 CA$2.21
8.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.80 CA$45.84
$32.19 CA$44.99
1.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 CA$1.81
$1.45 CA$2.03
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$38.3K
$27.5K CA$38.4K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K CA$30.9K
$21.3K CA$29.8K
3.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 CA$237
$82.5 CA$115
105.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.10 CA$58.8
$37.46 CA$52.4
12.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0 CA$85.2
$51.7 CA$72.2
17.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.66 CA$61.0
$40.52 CA$56.6
7.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.88 CA$24.99
$12.69 CA$17.73
40.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.98 CA$12.56
$12.66 CA$17.70
-29.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$410 CA$573
$1,080 CA$1,509
-62.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$20.1K CA$28.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 CA$85.0
$58.5 CA$81.7
4.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 CA$54.2
$34.10 CA$47.66
13.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 CA$129
$96.9 CA$135
-4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 CA$213
$97.4 CA$136
56.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 CA$1,580
$1,813 CA$2,534
-37.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$923 CA$1,290
$1,576 CA$2,202
-41.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 CA$2,444
$3,217 CA$4,496
-45.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 CA$2,171
$2,651 CA$3,706
-41.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,590 CA$12.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,649 CA$9,293
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Prince George
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,068 CA$4,288
$3,733 CA$5,217
-17.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.96
4.28
15.89%

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

Last update for Prince George: October 27, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Prince George
$923
Vancouver
$1.6K 70.7% $652
Groceries & Markets
Prince George
$391 *
Vancouver
$401 2.5% $9.9
Eating Out
Prince George
$278
Vancouver
$277 0.2% $0.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Prince George
$272
Vancouver
$172 37% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Prince George
$155
Vancouver
$129 16.7% $26
Getting Around
Prince George
$63
Vancouver
$105 66.3% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Prince George
$62
Vancouver
$66 6.8% $4.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Prince George and $1,813 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: $72 in Prince George vs $72 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $401 per month, with Prince George cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Prince George
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
21:44 9:44 PM
21:44 9:44 PM
Same time as Prince George
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
71,974
631,486
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Prince George Vancouver 520 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Prince George
  • Vancouver

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Prince George vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Prince George and in Vancouver?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,144 in Prince George and $2,725 in Vancouver, so Prince George is about 21% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Prince George. 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 Prince George and in Vancouver?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Prince George versus $1,813 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Prince George and Vancouver?
Childcare runs $410 in Prince George versus $1,080 in Vancouver. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more expensive overall: Prince George or Vancouver?
All in, you’ll spend $2,144 per month in Prince George versus $2,725 in Vancouver – Prince George is about 21% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $3,000 go in Prince George compared to Vancouver?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Prince George gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Prince George 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.
How do I decide between Prince George and Vancouver?
It comes down to priorities – Prince George wins on affordability, Vancouver on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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