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 $2,906 per month in Vancouver vs $3,045 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,209 per month in Vancouver vs $3,923 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,513 per month in Vancouver vs $4,802 in Ajax, ON, rent included.

Vancouver is about 5% cheaper than Ajax, ON, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Vancouver and Ajax, ON sit above the global median – Vancouver by 118%, Ajax, ON by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.62 CA$26.20

$14.56 CA$20.49

27.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.9 CA$110

$75.2 CA$106

3.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$15.26

$10.13 CA$14.25

7.01%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.53

$3.53 CA$4.97

11.33%

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

$2.24 CA$3.16

$1.96 CA$2.76

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.46

$1.67 CA$2.35

4.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.51

$3.59 CA$5.04

68.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CA$10.27

$5.74 CA$8.07

27.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 CA$3.24

$1.73 CA$2.43

32.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.32

$2.90 CA$4.09

5.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.30

$4.73 CA$6.66

-20.30%

Eggs

$4.32 CA$6.08

$3.32 CA$4.67

30.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 CA$17.69

$9.65 CA$13.57

30.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.34

$9.91 CA$13.95

38.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 CA$22.49

$16.15 CA$22.72

-0.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$6.00

$4.44 CA$6.24

-4.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.14

$1.57 CA$2.21

-3.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.52

$2.80 CA$3.94

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.15

$4.34 CA$6.11

17.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.50

$2.47 CA$3.47

29.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.34

$2.47 CA$3.48

25.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.65

$2.84 CA$4.00

-8.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.65

$1.73 CA$2.43

8.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.45 CA$21.74

$14.15 CA$19.91

9.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 CA$20.95

$13.93 CA$19.61

6.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$2.16 CA$3.04

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 CA$5.35

$2.33 CA$3.28

63.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.40

$2.65 CA$3.72

-8.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.0 CA$117

$66.0 CA$92.9

25.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.28

$3.22 CA$4.53

16.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$2.85 CA$4.01

-48.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.97 CA$37.95

$25.70 CA$36.16

4.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.13 CA$1.58

15.04%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

$25.3K CA$35.5K

-0.27%

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

$20.6K CA$28.9K

$20.0K CA$28.1K

3.05%

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

$91.8 CA$129

$186 CA$261

-50.51%

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

$39.34 CA$55.4

$33.62 CA$47.30

17.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CA$85.3

$60.1 CA$84.5

0.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.58 CA$62.7

$33.55 CA$47.21

32.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.35

$11.00 CA$15.47

44.36%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 CA$17.13

$10.82 CA$15.22

12.57%

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

$1,185 CA$1,667

$907 CA$1,276

30.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$26.1K

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$87.9

$50.2 CA$70.7

24.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 CA$59.6

$36.58 CA$51.5

15.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 CA$134

$90.1 CA$127

5.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$162

$110 CA$155

4.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,979 CA$2,785

$1,840 CA$2,590

7.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 CA$2,313

$1,867 CA$2,627

-11.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,577 CA$5,033

$2,468 CA$3,473

44.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 CA$3,915

$2,215 CA$3,117

25.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,754 CA$12.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 CA$9,972

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,380 CA$4,756

$3,047 CA$4,288

10.92%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ajax, ON: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,979 in Vancouver versus $1,840 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 11% 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: $414 vs $358 – 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 5% more than Vancouver, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,359 per month in Vancouver and $4,567 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 $2,906 in Vancouver and $3,045 in Ajax, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 26% 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 $2,906 in Vancouver and $3,045 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.