Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,091 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,845 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,020 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $4,183 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,949 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $5,520 in Vancouver.

Living in Saint John, New Brunswick costs roughly 27% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John, New Brunswick 55% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.77 CA$29.82

$18.26 CA$25.01

19.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.0 CA$83.6

$78.8 CA$108

-22.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 CA$14.31

$11.17 CA$15.30

-6.45%

Cappuccino

$3.03 CA$4.15

$3.92 CA$5.37

-22.70%

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

$1.70 CA$2.33

$2.23 CA$3.05

-23.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 CA$1.67

$1.83 CA$2.51

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.39 CA$6.01

$5.85 CA$8.02

-24.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CA$6.97

$7.17 CA$9.82

-29.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 CA$2.69

$2.20 CA$3.02

-10.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 CA$3.99

$3.22 CA$4.41

-9.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 CA$2.45

$3.75 CA$5.13

-52.27%

Eggs

$3.55 CA$4.87

$4.36 CA$5.98

-18.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$15.84

$12.71 CA$17.41

-9.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 CA$11.79

$13.90 CA$19.04

-38.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.26 CA$22.28

$15.66 CA$21.45

3.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.52

$4.24 CA$5.81

-4.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.06

$1.54 CA$2.11

-2.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 CA$4.98

$3.87 CA$5.30

-6.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.06

$5.08 CA$6.96

-12.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 CA$2.88

$3.20 CA$4.38

-34.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 CA$3.01

$2.93 CA$4.02

-24.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.77

$2.63 CA$3.60

4.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.06

$1.86 CA$2.55

-18.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.35 CA$25.14

$15.36 CA$21.04

19.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 CA$14.08

$15.48 CA$21.20

-33.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.31 CA$4.54

$3.10 CA$4.25

6.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.62

$3.74 CA$5.12

-9.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.24 CA$3.07

$2.38 CA$3.27

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 CA$82.8

$84.0 CA$115

-28.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.90

$3.66 CA$5.01

-2.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 CA$1.53

$1.48 CA$2.03

-24.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.47 CA$40.37

$26.98 CA$36.96

9.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.61

$1.28 CA$1.76

-8.59%

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

$25.1K CA$34.3K

$25.6K CA$35.0K

-2.00%

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

$19.9K CA$27.3K

$20.8K CA$28.6K

-4.41%

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

$127 CA$175

$91.0 CA$125

40.09%

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

$38.36 CA$52.6

$40.15 CA$55.0

-4.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 CA$86.9

$60.8 CA$83.3

4.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.93 CA$58.8

$46.05 CA$63.1

-6.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.01 CA$50.7

$15.77 CA$21.61

134.69%

Cinema Ticket

$11.06 CA$15.16

$12.25 CA$16.79

-9.71%

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

$168 CA$231

$1,165 CA$1,596

-85.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K CA$15.9K

$18.4K CA$25.2K

-36.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.92 CA$56.1

$62.6 CA$85.7

-34.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.57 CA$58.3

$42.30 CA$58.0

0.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 CA$116

$98.1 CA$134

-13.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 CA$168

$114 CA$156

7.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 CA$1,422

$1,988 CA$2,724

-47.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$973 CA$1,333

$1,669 CA$2,287

-41.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 CA$2,178

$3,580 CA$4,904

-55.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,445 CA$1,979

$2,728 CA$3,738

-47.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,133 CA$2,922

$9,014 CA$12.3K

-76.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,202 CA$3,016

$7,085 CA$9,707

-68.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,684 CA$3,677

$3,588 CA$4,916

-25.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

5.61

10.16%

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

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: April 12, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,038 in Saint John, New Brunswick and $1,988 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 34% 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: $61 in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $79 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $415 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick 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

Saint John, New Brunswick vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John, New Brunswick wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint John, New Brunswick the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Vancouver earns 34% less. 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: $1,038 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $1,988 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $79.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,091 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,845 in Vancouver – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,091 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,845 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint John, New Brunswick but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.