Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Airdrie

For one person, living costs are similar in Vancouver and in Airdrie: $2,725 and $2,607 a month, rent and utilities included.

Vancouver, Canada
Airdrie, Canada
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,725
/mo nomad
Airdrie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Airdrie

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vancouver and in Airdrie actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,725 per month in Vancouver vs $2,607 in Airdrie, rent included.

  • Vancouver $2,725
  • Airdrie $2,607

A couple spends around $4,039 per month in Vancouver vs $3,721 in Airdrie, rent included.

  • Vancouver $4,039
  • Airdrie $3,721

A family of three spends $5,352 per month in Vancouver vs $4,836 in Airdrie, rent included.

  • Vancouver $5,352
  • Airdrie $4,836

Vancouver costs about 5% more than Airdrie, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Vancouver and Airdrie sit above the global median – Vancouver by 100%, Airdrie by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.65 CA$24.80
$19.92 CA$27.98
-11.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 CA$102
$75.8 CA$107
-4.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.84 CA$15.23
$10.73 CA$15.08
1.03%
Cappuccino
$3.91 CA$5.50
$3.99 CA$5.61
-2.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.95
$2.29 CA$3.22
-8.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.30
$2.05 CA$2.88
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 CA$8.06
$5.56 CA$7.81
3.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.36 CA$8.94
$6.50 CA$9.13
-2.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 CA$3.11
$2.00 CA$2.81
10.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 CA$3.71
$2.79 CA$3.93
-5.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.68 CA$6.57
$3.51 CA$4.94
33.33%
Eggs
$4.24 CA$5.95
$3.73 CA$5.25
13.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.92 CA$16.75
$11.40 CA$16.02
4.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.12 CA$18.44
$11.57 CA$16.26
13.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.40 CA$28.66
$18.77 CA$26.37
8.68%
Apples (1kg)
$4.10 CA$5.76
$4.77 CA$6.70
-14.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$1.36 CA$1.91
1.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.38
$4.27 CA$6.00
-10.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.50
$3.95 CA$5.55
-0.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 CA$3.90
$2.72 CA$3.82
1.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.84 CA$3.98
$2.68 CA$3.77
5.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 CA$3.65
$2.64 CA$3.71
-1.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 CA$2.24
$1.88 CA$2.65
-15.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.87 CA$22.29
$14.53 CA$20.42
9.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.00 CA$19.66
$11.28 CA$15.85
24.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 CA$3.61
$3.62 CA$5.09
-29.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.24
$3.11 CA$4.37
-3.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 CA$3.59
$2.09 CA$2.94
22.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.1 CA$118
$180 CA$253
-53.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 CA$3.75
$3.17 CA$4.46
-15.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 CA$2.23
$1.33 CA$1.87
18.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.19 CA$45.23
$21.83 CA$30.67
47.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 CA$2.04
$1.16 CA$1.63
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K CA$38.6K
$27.8K CA$39.0K
-1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K CA$30.0K
$21.0K CA$29.5K
1.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 CA$116
$223 CA$314
-63.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.46 CA$52.6
$44.59 CA$62.7
-15.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7 CA$72.6
$54.9 CA$77.2
-5.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.52 CA$56.9
$84.1 CA$118
-51.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.69 CA$17.83
$36.13 CA$50.8
-64.88%
Cinema Ticket
$12.66 CA$17.79
$13.99 CA$19.65
-9.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,080 CA$1,517
$645 CA$906
67.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.1K CA$28.3K
$9,668 CA$13.6K
108.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$82.1
$44.55 CA$62.6
31.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.10 CA$47.91
$43.45 CA$61.1
-21.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 CA$136
$87.1 CA$122
11.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.4 CA$137
$114 CA$160
-14.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,813 CA$2,547
$1,294 CA$1,818
40.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 CA$2,214
$1,158 CA$1,627
36.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,217 CA$4,519
$1,786 CA$2,509
80.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,651 CA$3,725
$1,645 CA$2,311
61.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,590 CA$12.1K
$6,073 CA$8,533
41.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,649 CA$9,342
$6,241 CA$8,769
6.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Airdrie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,733 CA$5,245
$2,955 CA$4,151
26.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
4.32
-0.93%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 27, 2026

Last update for Airdrie: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.6K
Airdrie
$1.2K 26.5% $418
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$401
Airdrie
$388 3.3% $13
Eating Out
Vancouver
$277
Airdrie
$298 7.4% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$172
Airdrie
$323 88.1% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$129
Airdrie
$130 0.8% $1
Getting Around
Vancouver
$105
Airdrie
$198 89.1% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$66
Airdrie
$112 70.2% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,813 in Vancouver versus $1,294 in Airdrie. 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 26% higher in Vancouver. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Vancouver versus $76 in Airdrie. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Vancouver vs $388 in Airdrie – so Airdrie wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇨🇦 Airdrie
🕒 Local time
11:40 11:40 AM
12:40 12:40 PM
1 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
54,891
💱 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 = 0.639 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Airdrie 680 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Airdrie

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
Vancouver vs Airdrie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Vancouver and in Airdrie compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,725 in Vancouver, $2,607 in Airdrie – roughly 5% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Vancouver compared to Airdrie?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,087 per month in Vancouver and $3,910 in Airdrie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Vancouver and Airdrie?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Airdrie, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,294 there versus $1,813 in Vancouver.
Which city is more expensive overall: Vancouver or Airdrie?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,725 in Vancouver and $2,607 in Airdrie. That’s a gap of about 5%.
How do commuting costs compare in Vancouver and in Airdrie?
Public transport costs about 53% less in Vancouver. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $3,000 go in Vancouver compared to Airdrie?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,725 in Vancouver and $2,607 in Airdrie, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Vancouver or Airdrie?
Families tend to lean toward Airdrie – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Vancouver and Airdrie?
If budget matters most, go with Airdrie. 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.

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