Cost of Living Comparison Between Thompson and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Thompson and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,864 per month in Thompson vs $2,860 in Vancouver, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,795 per month in Thompson vs $4,199 in Vancouver, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,725 per month in Thompson vs $5,538 in Vancouver, rent included.

Thompson is about 35% cheaper than Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Thompson and Vancouver sit above the global median – Thompson by 39%, Vancouver by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.89 CA$23.59

$18.50 CA$25.84

-8.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.6 CA$98.6

$79.5 CA$111

-11.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 CA$15.67

$11.11 CA$15.52

0.99%

Cappuccino

$3.71 CA$5.18

$4.11 CA$5.74

-9.73%

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

$1.98 CA$2.77

$2.21 CA$3.08

-10.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.28

$1.75 CA$2.45

-6.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.50 CA$7.68

$5.77 CA$8.06

-4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 CA$8.21

$7.45 CA$10.40

-21.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 CA$2.98

$2.20 CA$3.07

-3.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 CA$3.63

$3.22 CA$4.49

-19.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.53 CA$4.93

$3.68 CA$5.14

-4.08%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.75

$4.39 CA$6.13

-22.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 CA$15.88

$12.82 CA$17.90

-11.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.53 CA$16.10

$14.20 CA$19.82

-18.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 CA$20.44

$16.04 CA$22.40

-8.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.13 CA$5.76

$4.38 CA$6.12

-5.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.91

$1.53 CA$2.13

-10.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 CA$5.06

$4.07 CA$5.68

-11.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.65 CA$5.10

$5.18 CA$7.23

-29.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 CA$3.38

$3.05 CA$4.25

-20.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 CA$3.42

$2.96 CA$4.14

-17.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CA$3.52

$2.73 CA$3.81

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.41

$1.87 CA$2.61

-8.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.00 CA$19.55

$15.40 CA$21.51

-9.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.36 CA$17.27

$14.32 CA$20.00

-13.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.08

$3.11 CA$4.35

-6.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 CA$4.26

$3.66 CA$5.12

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 CA$3.33

$2.41 CA$3.37

-0.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.0 CA$88.0

$82.6 CA$115

-23.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 CA$4.45

$3.65 CA$5.10

-12.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.01

$1.49 CA$2.08

-3.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.94 CA$36.23

$26.94 CA$37.63

-3.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.64

$1.28 CA$1.78

-8.59%

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

$25.4K CA$35.5K

$24.9K CA$34.8K

2.06%

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

$21.0K CA$29.4K

$21.0K CA$29.3K

0.14%

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

$145 CA$202

$92.2 CA$129

56.97%

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

$44.24 CA$61.8

$40.43 CA$56.5

9.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 CA$86.5

$62.0 CA$86.6

-0.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.95 CA$58.6

$44.57 CA$62.2

-5.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.75 CA$21.99

Cinema Ticket

$11.63 CA$16.24

$12.19 CA$17.02

-4.59%

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

$741 CA$1,035

$1,164 CA$1,625

-36.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K CA$16.3K

$18.1K CA$25.3K

-35.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 CA$75.8

$62.9 CA$87.9

-13.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 CA$55.5

$42.23 CA$59.0

-5.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 CA$119

$98.0 CA$137

-13.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$150

$118 CA$165

-8.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 CA$977

$1,977 CA$2,761

-64.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 CA$970

$1,665 CA$2,325

-58.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 CA$1,612

$3,579 CA$4,997

-67.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 CA$1,598

$2,798 CA$3,907

-59.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,971 CA$6,942

$8,881 CA$12.4K

-44.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,897 CA$5,443

$6,873 CA$9,598

-43.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,556 CA$2,173

$3,432 CA$4,792

-54.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.61

15.15%

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

Last update for Thompson: June 7, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $699 in Thompson versus $1,977 in Vancouver. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 121% higher in Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Thompson versus $80.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $417 – making Thompson the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Thompson vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 53% more than Thompson, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,795 per month in Thompson and $4,291 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thompson, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Thompson and $80.0 in Vancouver. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,864 in Thompson and $2,860 in Vancouver. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Thompson, where all-in costs run around $1,864, than in Vancouver at $2,860. In Thompson it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Thompson – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Thompson. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.