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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,783 per month in Vancouver vs $1,778 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,030 per month in Vancouver vs $2,054 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,278 per month in Vancouver vs $2,329 in Bathurst, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 56% more than Bathurst, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Bathurst sit above the global median – Vancouver by 102%, Bathurst by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.99 CA$24.95

$16.49 CA$22.87

9.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$101

$43.40 CA$60.2

67.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.76 CA$14.92

$11.82 CA$16.39

-8.97%

Cappuccino

$4.17 CA$5.79

$3.52 CA$4.88

18.47%

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

$2.20 CA$3.05

$2.03 CA$2.82

8.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.37

$1.66 CA$2.30

3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 CA$8.19

$4.99 CA$6.93

18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.66 CA$9.24

$5.03 CA$6.97

32.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.04

$1.74 CA$2.41

25.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CA$3.69

$2.61 CA$3.62

1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.14

$2.51 CA$3.49

76.49%

Eggs

$4.20 CA$5.83

$3.58 CA$4.96

17.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 CA$16.47

$11.29 CA$15.65

5.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.95

$9.59 CA$13.30

42.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 CA$28.18

$6.59 CA$9.14

208.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.88

$4.66 CA$6.47

-9.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.92

$1.64 CA$2.27

-15.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.61

$4.85 CA$6.73

-16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.58

$1.95 CA$2.70

106.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 CA$3.97

$2.68 CA$3.71

7.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.15

$1.60 CA$2.22

86.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.27 CA$3.15

16.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$1.62 CA$2.25

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.92 CA$22.07

$10.21 CA$14.16

55.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.63 CA$20.29

$12.09 CA$16.77

21.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 CA$3.86

$3.24 CA$4.49

-14.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 CA$4.25

$4.61 CA$6.39

-33.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.56

$3.70 CA$5.13

-30.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 CA$115

$64.8 CA$89.9

28.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.97 CA$4.12

-9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 CA$2.26

$1.35 CA$1.88

20.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.68 CA$45.33

$21.58 CA$29.93

51.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CA$2.00

$1.18 CA$1.63

22.03%

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

$28.4K CA$39.4K

$28.7K CA$39.8K

-1.02%

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

$19.5K CA$27.1K

$19.2K CA$26.7K

1.57%

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

$79.2 CA$110

$105 CA$145

-24.36%

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

$36.21 CA$50.2

$71.8 CA$99.6

-49.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.3 CA$71.2

$60.9 CA$84.5

-15.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 CA$60.4

$44.44 CA$61.6

-1.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 CA$18.25

$32.01 CA$44.39

-58.89%

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 CA$16.44

$9.65 CA$13.38

22.80%

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

$1,131 CA$1,568

$585 CA$811

93.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K CA$27.3K

$1,728 CA$2,397

1039.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 CA$83.2

$51.3 CA$71.1

16.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 CA$48.32

$41.21 CA$57.2

-15.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 CA$125

$79.3 CA$110

14.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 CA$130

$81.7 CA$113

14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 CA$2,505

$770 CA$1,067

134.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 CA$2,193

$713 CA$988

121.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,182 CA$4,413

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 CA$3,418

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

$2,061 CA$2,858

81.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

4.77

-11.74%

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

Last update for Vancouver: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,806 in Vancouver versus $770 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 81% 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 $43.00 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $321 – 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 56%, 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 $2,668 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 $2,783 in Vancouver and $1,778 in Bathurst. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 28% 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 $1,778, than in Vancouver at $2,783. 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.