Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saskatoon and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Saskatoon: $2,186 a month against $2,725 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saskatoon, Canada
Vancouver, Canada
Saskatoon
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,186
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,725
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saskatoon 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 Saskatoon and in Vancouver actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,186 in Saskatoon versus $2,725 in Vancouver.

  • Saskatoon $2,186
  • Vancouver $2,725

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,142 in Saskatoon versus $4,039 in Vancouver.

  • Saskatoon $3,142
  • Vancouver $4,039

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,098 in Saskatoon versus $5,352 in Vancouver.

  • Saskatoon $4,098
  • Vancouver $5,352

Living in Saskatoon costs roughly 20% less than in Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saskatoon 61% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.78 CA$24.98
$17.65 CA$24.80
0.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4 CA$99.0
$72.4 CA$102
-2.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.25 CA$13.00
$10.84 CA$15.23
-14.67%
Cappuccino
$3.64 CA$5.12
$3.91 CA$5.50
-6.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.85
$2.10 CA$2.95
-3.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.59
$1.64 CA$2.30
12.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.24 CA$5.96
$5.74 CA$8.06
-26.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.28 CA$8.83
$6.36 CA$8.94
-1.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.07 CA$4.31
$2.21 CA$3.11
38.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 CA$3.19
$2.64 CA$3.71
-14.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 CA$6.69
$4.68 CA$6.57
1.71%
Eggs
$3.64 CA$5.12
$4.24 CA$5.95
-14.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.83 CA$13.80
$11.92 CA$16.75
-17.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.79 CA$16.56
$13.12 CA$18.44
-10.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.52 CA$23.21
$20.40 CA$28.66
-19.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.19 CA$5.89
$4.10 CA$5.76
2.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 CA$2.30
$1.38 CA$1.94
18.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 CA$6.19
$3.83 CA$5.38
14.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.20 CA$4.49
$3.92 CA$5.50
-18.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 CA$4.01
$2.77 CA$3.90
3.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 CA$3.04
$2.84 CA$3.98
-23.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 CA$3.86
$2.60 CA$3.65
5.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.04
$1.59 CA$2.24
-8.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.06 CA$21.16
$15.87 CA$22.29
-5.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.02 CA$19.70
$14.00 CA$19.66
0.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 CA$4.04
$2.57 CA$3.61
12.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 CA$4.74
$3.01 CA$4.24
12.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.35
$2.55 CA$3.59
-6.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.4 CA$84.8
$84.1 CA$118
-28.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.44 CA$6.23
$2.67 CA$3.75
66.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 CA$1.82
$1.58 CA$2.23
-17.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.53 CA$20.41
$32.19 CA$45.23
-54.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 CA$1.69
$1.45 CA$2.04
-17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K CA$40.4K
$27.5K CA$38.6K
4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$30.3K
$21.3K CA$30.0K
1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 CA$313
$82.5 CA$116
170.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.02 CA$66.1
$37.46 CA$52.6
25.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7 CA$82.5
$51.7 CA$72.6
13.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.26 CA$56.6
$40.52 CA$56.9
-0.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$25.48
$12.69 CA$17.83
42.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.02 CA$15.48
$12.66 CA$17.79
-12.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 CA$686
$1,080 CA$1,517
-54.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K CA$20.3K
$20.1K CA$28.3K
-28.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 CA$81.7
$58.5 CA$82.1
-0.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.90 CA$61.7
$34.10 CA$47.91
28.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 CA$122
$96.9 CA$136
-10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$149
$97.4 CA$137
8.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 CA$1,466
$1,813 CA$2,547
-42.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$939 CA$1,319
$1,576 CA$2,214
-40.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 CA$2,406
$3,217 CA$4,519
-46.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 CA$1,914
$2,651 CA$3,725
-48.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,855 CA$4,011
$8,590 CA$12.1K
-66.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,474 CA$3,476
$6,649 CA$9,342
-62.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saskatoon
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,730 CA$3,836
$3,733 CA$5,245
-26.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.28
12.15%

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

Last update for Saskatoon: October 25, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saskatoon
$939
Vancouver
$1.6K 67.8% $637
Groceries & Markets
Saskatoon
$380
Vancouver
$401 5.5% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saskatoon
$329
Vancouver
$172 47.8% $157
Eating Out
Saskatoon
$263
Vancouver
$277 5.4% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Saskatoon
$133
Vancouver
$129 2.6% $3.4
Getting Around
Saskatoon
$81
Vancouver
$105 29.8% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Saskatoon
$62
Vancouver
$66 5.7% $3.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,043 in Saskatoon and $1,813 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 37% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $70 in Saskatoon vs $72 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $401 per month, with Saskatoon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Saskatoon
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
05:45 5:45 AM
04:45 4:45 AM
1 h behind Saskatoon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
246,376
631,486
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.712 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saskatoon Vancouver 1,200 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saskatoon
  • 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
Saskatoon vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saskatoon or Vancouver?
Saskatoon wins on cost – living expenses run 20% 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 in Vancouver?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Saskatoon. 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 compared to Vancouver?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,043 in Saskatoon versus $1,813 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Saskatoon compared to Vancouver?
A monthly transit pass in Saskatoon runs roughly 28% 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 in Vancouver?
Childcare runs $488 in Saskatoon versus $1,080 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 in Vancouver?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Saskatoon is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Saskatoon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vancouver, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Saskatoon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Saskatoon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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