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: $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,731 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,928 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $3,956 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,887 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $5,181 in Vancouver.

Living in Saint John, New Brunswick costs roughly 28% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John, New Brunswick 43% above, Vancouver 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.25 CA$26.64

$18.36 CA$25.41

4.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 CA$83.8

$72.9 CA$101

-16.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$10.88 CA$15.05

0.37%

Cappuccino

$3.16 CA$4.37

$4.25 CA$5.88

-25.65%

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

$1.81 CA$2.51

$2.12 CA$2.93

-14.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CA$1.52

$1.69 CA$2.34

-34.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.59 CA$6.35

$5.75 CA$7.95

-20.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 CA$7.11

$6.65 CA$9.21

-22.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$2.14 CA$2.97

2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.55 CA$3.53

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 CA$4.45

$4.41 CA$6.11

-26.98%

Eggs

$3.69 CA$5.11

$4.24 CA$5.87

-12.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 CA$19.17

$12.14 CA$16.80

14.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 CA$14.96

$13.66 CA$18.91

-20.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.14 CA$18.18

$20.78 CA$28.76

-36.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 CA$7.13

$4.31 CA$5.96

19.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.12

$1.39 CA$1.93

10.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 CA$5.96

$4.00 CA$5.53

7.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.62

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 CA$2.94

$2.82 CA$3.90

-24.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 CA$3.10

$2.95 CA$4.08

-24.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.67

$2.77 CA$3.83

-3.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.63 CA$2.25

-9.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.29

$16.06 CA$22.22

-8.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 CA$13.81

$14.54 CA$20.11

-31.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 CA$2.56

$2.73 CA$3.78

-32.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 CA$2.94

$3.07 CA$4.25

-30.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 CA$3.03

$2.55 CA$3.52

-14.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.8 CA$80.0

$85.1 CA$118

-32.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$2.71 CA$3.75

8.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 CA$1.68

$1.64 CA$2.27

-25.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.97 CA$30.41

$31.75 CA$43.93

-30.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.68

$1.43 CA$1.98

-15.38%

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

$25.4K CA$35.2K

$28.9K CA$40.0K

-12.04%

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

$19.4K CA$26.9K

$19.7K CA$27.2K

-1.28%

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

$124 CA$172

$77.6 CA$107

60.22%

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

$41.81 CA$57.9

$35.35 CA$48.91

18.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 CA$90.5

$51.6 CA$71.5

26.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 CA$75.5

$46.26 CA$64.0

17.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.76 CA$49.49

$13.37 CA$18.51

167.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.76 CA$17.65

$11.55 CA$15.98

10.48%

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

$384 CA$531

$1,137 CA$1,573

-66.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K CA$15.9K

$21.2K CA$29.3K

-45.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CA$71.2

$59.3 CA$82.0

-13.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.92 CA$49.70

$35.02 CA$48.45

2.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 CA$147

$90.1 CA$125

18.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$153

$96.3 CA$133

14.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,011 CA$1,399

$1,845 CA$2,553

-45.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 CA$1,163

$1,595 CA$2,206

-47.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 CA$2,265

$3,271 CA$4,527

-49.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 CA$1,847

$2,499 CA$3,458

-46.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,072 CA$2,867

$9,039 CA$12.5K

-77.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,192 CA$3,033

$6,985 CA$9,665

-68.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,491 CA$3,447

$3,659 CA$5,062

-31.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.69

4.23

10.87%

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

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: September 1, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick and $1,845 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 47% 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: $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $73.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 vs $409 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 39% 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, salaries run 47% 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: $1,011 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $1,845 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 $73.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,970 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,731 in Vancouver – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,970 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,731 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 39% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.