Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Bathurst Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Bathurst

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $2,227 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $3,170 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $4,113 in Bathurst, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 27% more than Bathurst, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Bathurst sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Bathurst by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.39

$14.69 CA$20.43

24.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$43.47 CA$60.5

79.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.09

$8.96 CA$12.46

21.09%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.54

$3.40 CA$4.72

17.06%

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

$2.12 CA$2.95

$1.68 CA$2.34

26.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.31 CA$1.82

35.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$5.21 CA$7.25

10.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.51

$5.14 CA$7.15

47.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$1.95 CA$2.71

18.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$2.72 CA$3.78

13.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$4.03 CA$5.61

-3.47%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.30

$3.74 CA$5.20

21.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.96

$12.75 CA$17.73

1.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.67

$9.51 CA$13.23

48.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.89

$6.45 CA$8.98

144.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.92

$4.01 CA$5.58

6.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.64 CA$2.28

-10.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$3.77 CA$5.24

6.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.04

$1.88 CA$2.62

169.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$2.10 CA$2.93

43.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.21 CA$3.07

33.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$2.71 CA$3.76

-4.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.87 CA$2.60

0.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.14

$10.14 CA$14.10

49.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.88

$11.57 CA$16.10

23.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$3.37 CA$4.69

-8.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.37 CA$4.68

10.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$2.39 CA$3.32

2.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$67.4 CA$93.8

25.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$7.62 CA$10.60

-50.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.78 CA$2.47

-15.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.15

$29.42 CA$40.92

-6.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.16 CA$1.61

15.52%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$24.8K CA$34.4K

1.43%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

-0.75%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$106 CA$147

-13.11%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$38.17 CA$53.1

3.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$62.0 CA$86.2

-1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$43.58 CA$60.6

3.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.81

$33.15 CA$46.10

-52.70%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.20

$11.06 CA$15.39

11.84%

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

$1,180 CA$1,641

$166 CA$231

610.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$12.0K CA$16.7K

56.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.2

$41.42 CA$57.6

51.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.0

$35.09 CA$48.80

22.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$73.7 CA$102

28.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$138 CA$192

-14.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,774

$724 CA$1,007

175.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,266

$1,187 CA$1,650

37.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,991

$2,038 CA$2,834

76.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,851

$1,837 CA$2,554

50.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,854

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,831

$2,109 CA$2,933

64.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.46

-13.16%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $724 in Bathurst. 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 65% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver versus $43.00 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $328 – making Bathurst 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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 27%, 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 $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $3,340 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, 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 $2,227 in Bathurst. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 26% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $2,227, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – 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 Bathurst. 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.