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 $2,783 per month in Vancouver vs $2,535 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,030 per month in Vancouver vs $3,633 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,278 per month in Vancouver vs $4,732 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 10% more than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Vancouver by 102%, Ajax, ON by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.99 CA$24.95

$17.87 CA$24.79

0.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$101

$53.5 CA$74.1

36.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.76 CA$14.92

$11.01 CA$15.27

-2.27%

Cappuccino

$4.17 CA$5.79

$3.76 CA$5.22

10.90%

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

$2.20 CA$3.05

$1.80 CA$2.49

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.37

$1.59 CA$2.20

7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 CA$8.19

$3.59 CA$4.98

64.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.66 CA$9.24

$5.81 CA$8.06

14.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.04

$1.98 CA$2.74

10.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CA$3.69

$2.87 CA$3.98

-7.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.14

$3.38 CA$4.69

31.07%

Eggs

$4.20 CA$5.83

$3.13 CA$4.34

34.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 CA$16.47

$9.41 CA$13.05

26.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.95

$11.87 CA$16.47

15.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 CA$28.18

$17.45 CA$24.20

16.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.92

$1.68 CA$2.33

-17.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.61

$4.36 CA$6.05

-7.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.58

$3.37 CA$4.67

19.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 CA$3.97

$3.10 CA$4.30

-7.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.15

$1.98 CA$2.75

51.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$3.00 CA$4.15

-12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$1.96 CA$2.72

-15.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.92 CA$22.07

$14.22 CA$19.72

11.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.63 CA$20.29

$13.17 CA$18.26

11.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 CA$3.86

$2.14 CA$2.96

29.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 CA$4.25

$2.60 CA$3.60

17.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.56

$2.45 CA$3.39

4.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 CA$115

$89.1 CA$124

-6.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$3.50 CA$4.86

-22.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 CA$2.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.68 CA$45.33

$25.50 CA$35.37

28.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CA$2.00

$1.10 CA$1.53

30.91%

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

$28.4K CA$39.4K

$28.1K CA$39.0K

0.92%

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

$19.5K CA$27.1K

$19.3K CA$26.8K

1.01%

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

$79.2 CA$110

$130 CA$181

-39.16%

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

$36.21 CA$50.2

$27.51 CA$38.16

31.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.3 CA$71.2

$59.2 CA$82.1

-13.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 CA$60.4

$33.70 CA$46.73

29.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 CA$18.25

$10.67 CA$14.80

23.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 CA$16.44

$10.27 CA$14.24

15.38%

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

$1,131 CA$1,568

$918 CA$1,273

23.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K CA$27.3K

$17.5K CA$24.3K

12.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 CA$83.2

$52.7 CA$73.2

13.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 CA$48.32

$38.03 CA$52.7

-8.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 CA$125

$87.1 CA$121

3.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 CA$130

$97.1 CA$135

-3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 CA$2,505

$1,579 CA$2,190

14.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 CA$2,193

$1,391 CA$1,929

13.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,182 CA$4,413

$2,315 CA$3,211

37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 CA$3,418

$2,237 CA$3,103

10.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,841 CA$12.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,963 CA$9,657

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,738 CA$5,184

$3,053 CA$4,234

22.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

4.8

-12.29%

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

Last update for Vancouver: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,806 in Vancouver versus $1,579 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 22% 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 $73.0 in Vancouver versus $53.0 in Ajax, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $371 – 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

Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,174 per month in Vancouver and $3,802 in Ajax, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ajax, ON, 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 $2,783 in Vancouver and $2,535 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 7% less in Ajax, ON. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,783 in Vancouver and $2,535 in Ajax, ON. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Ajax, ON – 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 Ajax, ON. 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.