🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,380 in Surrey versus $2,616 in Victoria.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,617 in Surrey versus $3,960 in Victoria.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,853 in Surrey versus $5,303 in Victoria.
🌍Living in Surrey costs roughly 9% less than in Victoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey73% above, Victoria90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.12CA$25.13
$18.01CA$24.98
0.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2CA$79.3
$71.7CA$99.4
-20.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60CA$14.70
$10.88CA$15.09
-2.57%
Cappuccino
$3.67CA$5.08
$4.55CA$6.31
-19.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.91
$2.41CA$3.34
-12.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67CA$2.31
$1.85CA$2.56
-9.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91CA$8.20
$5.67CA$7.87
4.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10CA$8.47
$6.62CA$9.18
-7.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.48CA$3.44
$2.95CA$4.09
-15.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07CA$2.86
$3.21CA$4.46
-35.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.16
$4.22CA$5.85
-11.85%
Eggs
$3.21CA$4.46
$4.39CA$6.09
-26.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05CA$13.94
$27.94CA$38.75
-64.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.50CA$14.57
$12.18CA$16.89
-13.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.41CA$28.31
$15.03CA$20.84
35.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30CA$4.57
$4.14CA$5.74
-20.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36CA$1.88
$1.47CA$2.04
-7.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08CA$4.27
$4.14CA$5.74
-25.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07CA$4.26
$4.21CA$5.83
-27.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.66CA$3.69
$3.56CA$4.94
-25.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17CA$3.01
$3.02CA$4.19
-28.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03CA$2.81
$3.18CA$4.41
-36.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86CA$2.58
$2.54CA$3.53
-26.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22CA$19.72
$15.46CA$21.45
-8.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.35CA$19.90
$18.35CA$25.45
-21.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60CA$3.60
$4.11CA$5.70
-36.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31CA$4.59
$3.60CA$5.00
-8.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65CA$3.68
$2.19CA$3.04
21.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$112CA$155
$62.2CA$86.2
80.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73CA$3.78
$2.77CA$3.84
-1.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61CA$2.24
$1.58CA$2.19
1.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.60CA$39.66
$34.86CA$48.35
-17.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34CA$1.86
$1.42CA$1.98
-5.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KCA$39.1K
$28.1KCA$39.0K
0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KCA$26.8K
$18.7KCA$26.0K
3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190CA$264
$118CA$163
61.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.56CA$52.1
$46.09CA$63.9
-18.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9CA$92.8
$63.3CA$87.8
5.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.12CA$48.71
$43.42CA$60.2
-19.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.61CA$35.51
$18.74CA$25.98
36.66%
Cinema Ticket
$12.85CA$17.82
$10.82CA$15.00
18.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$863CA$1,197
$906CA$1,257
-4.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KCA$17.0K
$23.5KCA$32.5K
-47.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4CA$79.6
$52.9CA$73.4
8.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.1CA$87.5
$45.58CA$63.2
38.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102CA$141
$91.7CA$127
11.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3CA$127
$106CA$148
-14.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,341CA$1,859
$1,607CA$2,229
-16.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061CA$1,471
$1,339CA$1,857
-20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,773CA$3,846
$2,840CA$3,939
-2.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,211CA$3,066
$2,331CA$3,233
-5.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,645CA$13.4K
$5,473CA$7,591
76.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,562CA$11.9K
$4,549CA$6,309
88.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Victoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,107CA$4,310
$3,306CA$4,585
-6.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
4.32
12.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surrey: September 7, 2026
Last update for Victoria: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Surrey and $1,607 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Victoria pays 6% 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: $57.0 in Surrey vs $72.0 in Victoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $477 per month, with Surrey 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
Surrey vs Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surrey and in Victoria?
Surrey and Victoria differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,380 vs $2,616 including rent). Surrey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Victoria. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Surrey and in Victoria?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Surrey versus $1,607 in Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Surrey – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $72.0 in Victoria. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Surrey or Victoria?
All in, you'll spend $2,380 per month in Surrey versus $2,616 in Victoria – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,380 in Surrey versus $2,616 in Victoria, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Surrey but tight or insufficient in Victoria. The gap between the two cities makes Surrey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surrey and Victoria?
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.
Where should expats move: Surrey or Victoria?
Expats usually find Surrey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Victoria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.