Cost of Living Comparison Between Saskatoon and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Saskatoon and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,173 in Saskatoon versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,352 in Saskatoon versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,531 in Saskatoon versus $5,630 in Vancouver.

Living in Saskatoon costs roughly 23% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saskatoon 62% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.73 CA$30.19
$18.26 CA$25.37
19.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.1 CA$121
$77.8 CA$108
11.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 CA$14.22
$10.85 CA$15.08
-5.71%
Cappuccino
$3.67 CA$5.10
$3.98 CA$5.53
-7.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 CA$3.48
$2.12 CA$2.94
17.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.69
$1.78 CA$2.47
8.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.79 CA$8.04
$5.77 CA$8.02
0.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35 CA$10.22
$7.56 CA$10.50
-2.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.09 CA$4.30
$2.32 CA$3.23
33.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 CA$3.87
$3.10 CA$4.30
-10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.28 CA$7.33
$3.89 CA$5.40
35.73%
Eggs
$3.71 CA$5.16
$4.53 CA$6.29
-18.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.67 CA$13.44
$12.92 CA$17.95
-25.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.08 CA$16.79
$14.14 CA$19.65
-14.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.37 CA$22.75
$15.74 CA$21.87
4.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.11
$4.26 CA$5.91
3.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 CA$2.41
$1.47 CA$2.04
17.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 CA$6.72
$4.02 CA$5.59
20.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.37
$5.06 CA$7.03
-37.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 CA$3.98
$3.02 CA$4.20
-4.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 CA$3.13
$2.95 CA$4.10
-23.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 CA$3.79
$2.60 CA$3.61
5.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 CA$1.77
$1.88 CA$2.61
-32.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.38 CA$19.99
$15.20 CA$21.12
-5.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 CA$19.23
$14.30 CA$19.86
-3.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36 CA$4.66
$3.07 CA$4.27
9.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 CA$4.79
$3.74 CA$5.20
-7.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 CA$3.13
$2.44 CA$3.39
-7.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.2 CA$87.9
$84.9 CA$118
-25.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 CA$4.85
$3.74 CA$5.19
-6.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 CA$1.69
$1.50 CA$2.09
-18.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.90 CA$20.71
$27.43 CA$38.11
-45.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.61
$1.34 CA$1.86
-13.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K CA$34.3K
$25.1K CA$34.9K
-1.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K CA$28.9K
$20.7K CA$28.8K
0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 CA$296
$91.8 CA$128
132.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 CA$82.6
$39.42 CA$54.8
50.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.4 CA$101
$61.1 CA$84.9
18.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.00 CA$58.4
$44.89 CA$62.4
-6.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 CA$23.92
$15.68 CA$21.79
9.82%
Cinema Ticket
$14.44 CA$20.06
$12.37 CA$17.18
16.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$529 CA$735
$1,180 CA$1,640
-55.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K CA$20.7K
$18.8K CA$26.1K
-20.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.4 CA$106
$62.7 CA$87.1
21.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 CA$81.4
$43.13 CA$59.9
35.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 CA$131
$94.7 CA$132
-0.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 CA$156
$118 CA$164
-5.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 CA$1,393
$1,995 CA$2,771
-49.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$869 CA$1,208
$1,629 CA$2,264
-46.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,780 CA$2,473
$3,589 CA$4,986
-50.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 CA$2,000
$2,769 CA$3,848
-48.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,944 CA$4,090
$9,246 CA$12.8K
-68.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,835 CA$3,939
$7,086 CA$9,845
-59.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,624 CA$3,646
$3,474 CA$4,827
-24.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
5.61
18.54%

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

Last update for Saskatoon: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Saskatoon and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 32% 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: $87.0 in Saskatoon vs $78.0 in Vancouver. Groceries flip the comparison at $391 vs $415, with Saskatoon cheaper for home cooking.

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
Saskatoon vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saskatoon or Vancouver?
Saskatoon wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saskatoon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Saskatoon or Vancouver?
On paper, Vancouver earns 32% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Saskatoon vs Vancouver?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Saskatoon versus $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Saskatoon vs Vancouver?
A monthly transit pass in Saskatoon runs roughly 34% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Saskatoon and Vancouver?
Childcare runs $529 in Saskatoon versus $1,180 in Vancouver. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Saskatoon or Vancouver?
At $2,173 in Saskatoon versus $2,831 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saskatoon but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Saskatoon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Saskatoon or 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Saskatoon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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