Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Ajax, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Ajax, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $3,038 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $3,920 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $4,802 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Vancouver is about 7% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Ajax, ON by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.37

$14.69 CA$20.41

24.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$74.8 CA$104

4.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.08

$10.46 CA$14.54

3.73%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.53

$3.52 CA$4.89

13.07%

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

$2.12 CA$2.94

$1.96 CA$2.73

8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.67 CA$2.32

6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$3.64 CA$5.06

58.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.50

$5.87 CA$8.15

28.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$1.76 CA$2.44

31.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.30

$2.88 CA$4.01

7.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$4.47 CA$6.21

-12.98%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.29

$3.27 CA$4.54

38.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.95

$9.67 CA$13.43

33.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.65

$10.16 CA$14.12

39.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.87

$16.25 CA$22.58

-3.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.91

$4.43 CA$6.15

-3.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.51 CA$2.09

-2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$2.91 CA$4.04

38.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$4.53 CA$6.30

11.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$2.42 CA$3.37

24.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.56 CA$3.56

15.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$2.88 CA$4.00

-9.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.61

$1.73 CA$2.41

8.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.12

$14.21 CA$19.74

6.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.86

$14.22 CA$19.75

0.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$2.24 CA$3.11

37.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$2.32 CA$3.22

61.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$2.57 CA$3.57

-5.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$65.8 CA$91.4

29.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.19

$3.07 CA$4.27

21.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$2.79 CA$3.88

-46.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.11

$25.44 CA$35.35

7.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.16 CA$1.62

15.52%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-0.47%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$20.1K CA$28.0K

2.88%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$188 CA$262

-51.26%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$33.41 CA$46.42

17.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$59.9 CA$83.2

1.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$33.59 CA$46.67

33.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.79

$10.82 CA$15.04

44.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.18

$10.94 CA$15.20

13.07%

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

$1,180 CA$1,640

$905 CA$1,258

30.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$18.4K CA$25.5K

2.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$49.88 CA$69.3

25.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$59.9

$37.21 CA$51.7

15.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$87.2 CA$121

8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$112 CA$156

5.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,771

$1,809 CA$2,513

10.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,264

$1,856 CA$2,578

-12.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,986

$2,480 CA$3,446

44.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,848

$2,228 CA$3,096

24.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,845

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,827

$3,081 CA$4,281

12.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.83

-17.86%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,809 in Ajax, ON. 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 13% higher in Vancouver, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Vancouver versus $75.0 in Ajax, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $360 – making Ajax, ON 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

Vancouver vs Ajax, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ajax, ON costs about 7% more than Vancouver, 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 $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $4,558 in Ajax, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,831 in Vancouver and $3,038 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 29% less in Vancouver. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,831 in Vancouver and $3,038 in Ajax, ON. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Vancouver – 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 Vancouver. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajax, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.