Cost of Living Comparison Between Sault Ste. Marie and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Sault Ste. Marie and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,041 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $2,906 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,032 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $4,209 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,022 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $5,513 in Vancouver.

Living in Sault Ste. Marie costs roughly 30% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sault Ste. Marie 53% above, Vancouver 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.78 CA$23.61

$18.62 CA$26.20

-9.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 CA$104

$77.9 CA$110

-4.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 CA$13.94

$10.84 CA$15.26

-8.58%

Cappuccino

$3.62 CA$5.09

$3.93 CA$5.53

-7.89%

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

$1.81 CA$2.54

$2.24 CA$3.16

-19.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 CA$1.80

$1.75 CA$2.46

-26.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.44 CA$6.25

$6.05 CA$8.51

-26.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 CA$7.65

$7.30 CA$10.27

-25.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.74 CA$3.86

$2.30 CA$3.24

19.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 CA$3.17

$3.07 CA$4.32

-26.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.44

$3.77 CA$5.30

2.65%

Eggs

$2.87 CA$4.04

$4.32 CA$6.08

-33.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 CA$12.97

$12.57 CA$17.69

-26.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 CA$14.52

$13.74 CA$19.34

-24.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 CA$16.03

$15.99 CA$22.49

-28.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.34

$4.26 CA$6.00

-27.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 CA$1.62

$1.52 CA$2.14

-24.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.07

$3.92 CA$5.52

-26.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 CA$5.06

$5.08 CA$7.15

-29.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 CA$3.25

$3.20 CA$4.50

-27.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CA$2.22

$3.09 CA$4.34

-48.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.66

$2.60 CA$3.65

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 CA$2.20

$1.88 CA$2.65

-17.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.94 CA$16.81

$15.45 CA$21.74

-22.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.51 CA$14.78

$14.89 CA$20.95

-29.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 CA$2.69

$3.12 CA$4.39

-38.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 CA$3.41

$3.80 CA$5.35

-36.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.41

$2.42 CA$3.40

0.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.6 CA$82.4

$83.0 CA$117

-29.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 CA$4.91

$3.76 CA$5.28

-7.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 CA$2.63

$1.48 CA$2.09

26.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.59 CA$34.60

$26.97 CA$37.95

-8.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.65

$1.30 CA$1.82

-10.00%

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

$25.0K CA$35.2K

$25.2K CA$35.4K

-0.79%

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

$20.3K CA$28.6K

$20.6K CA$28.9K

-1.32%

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

$169 CA$237

$91.8 CA$129

83.78%

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

$42.02 CA$59.1

$39.34 CA$55.4

6.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 CA$98.1

$60.6 CA$85.3

15.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.48 CA$45.70

$44.58 CA$62.7

-27.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.07 CA$25.43

$15.88 CA$22.35

13.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 CA$17.90

$12.18 CA$17.13

4.43%

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

$517 CA$728

$1,185 CA$1,667

-56.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,070 CA$7,134

$18.5K CA$26.1K

-72.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.59 CA$65.6

$62.5 CA$87.9

-25.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.75 CA$51.7

$42.38 CA$59.6

-13.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 CA$86.7

$95.0 CA$134

-35.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$170

$115 CA$162

5.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$912 CA$1,283

$1,979 CA$2,785

-53.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$909 CA$1,279

$1,644 CA$2,313

-44.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,470 CA$2,069

$3,577 CA$5,033

-58.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,512 CA$2,128

$2,782 CA$3,915

-45.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,845 CA$2,596

$8,754 CA$12.3K

-78.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,517 CA$7,763

$7,087 CA$9,972

-22.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,949 CA$4,150

$3,380 CA$4,756

-12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

5.61

18.89%

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

Last update for Sault Ste. Marie: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $912 in Sault Ste. Marie and $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 15% 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: $74.0 in Sault Ste. Marie vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 vs $414 per month, with Sault Ste. Marie 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

Sault Ste. Marie vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sault Ste. Marie is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 15% 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: $912 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $1,979 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sault Ste. Marie – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,041 per month in Sault Ste. Marie versus $2,906 in Vancouver – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,041 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $2,906 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sault Ste. Marie but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.