Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Brampton Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Brampton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,873 in Vancouver versus $2,388 in Brampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,180 in Vancouver versus $3,423 in Brampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,486 in Vancouver versus $4,459 in Brampton.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 20% more expensive than Brampton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 115% above, Brampton 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.57 CA$25.44

$15.13 CA$20.72

22.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 CA$108

$44.21 CA$60.6

78.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.41

$10.97 CA$15.03

2.55%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.33

$3.49 CA$4.78

11.46%

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

$2.16 CA$2.96

$1.80 CA$2.46

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.44

$1.27 CA$1.74

40.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.01

$5.11 CA$7.00

14.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.44 CA$10.20

$5.99 CA$8.20

24.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CA$3.12

$3.33 CA$4.57

-31.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.40

$2.22 CA$3.04

44.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.14

$2.97 CA$4.07

26.26%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.21

$3.36 CA$4.60

34.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.80 CA$17.54

$8.10 CA$11.10

58.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.09 CA$19.30

$9.51 CA$13.03

48.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 CA$21.74

$15.14 CA$20.75

4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.73

$4.10 CA$5.62

1.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.10

$1.65 CA$2.26

-7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.34

$3.40 CA$4.66

14.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 CA$6.84

$3.46 CA$4.73

44.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.13

$2.14 CA$2.94

41.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.11

$2.19 CA$3.00

36.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 CA$3.71

$1.80 CA$2.47

50.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.47

$1.98 CA$2.71

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.30 CA$20.97

$13.06 CA$17.89

17.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 CA$21.07

$12.22 CA$16.73

25.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.24

$2.50 CA$3.42

24.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.13

$2.67 CA$3.66

40.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.26

$3.25 CA$4.45

-26.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CA$117

$102 CA$140

-16.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.13

$3.04 CA$4.17

23.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$1.97

$1.21 CA$1.65

19.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.52 CA$37.70

$22.41 CA$30.70

22.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.78

$1.16 CA$1.60

12.07%

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

$25.7K CA$35.2K

$24.5K CA$33.6K

4.77%

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

$20.4K CA$28.0K

$20.8K CA$28.4K

-1.66%

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

$90.1 CA$123

$174 CA$238

-48.18%

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

$40.47 CA$55.4

$34.34 CA$47.04

17.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 CA$82.7

$51.5 CA$70.5

17.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.45 CA$60.9

$28.23 CA$38.68

57.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.43 CA$21.13

$26.06 CA$35.71

-40.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 CA$16.96

$13.46 CA$18.44

-8.02%

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

$1,153 CA$1,580

$998 CA$1,368

15.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$25.4K

$11.3K CA$15.5K

63.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 CA$87.0

$61.8 CA$84.7

2.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.83 CA$57.3

$43.78 CA$60.0

-4.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 CA$134

$97.4 CA$133

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$159

$94.2 CA$129

23.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 CA$2,702

$1,530 CA$2,096

28.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 CA$2,218

$1,176 CA$1,611

37.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,531 CA$4,838

$2,221 CA$3,043

58.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,748 CA$3,765

$2,090 CA$2,863

31.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,040 CA$12.4K

$5,977 CA$8,188

51.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,298 CA$9,998

$5,358 CA$7,340

36.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,619 CA$4,959

$2,972 CA$4,072

21.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.51

-13.82%

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

Last update for Vancouver: April 26, 2026

Last update for Brampton: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,972 in Vancouver and $1,530 in Brampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Vancouver vs $44.00 in Brampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $343 per month, with Brampton cheaper across the board.

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 Brampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brampton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Vancouver pays 22% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,972 in Vancouver versus $1,530 in Brampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,873 per month in Vancouver versus $2,388 in Brampton – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Brampton runs roughly 19% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Brampton is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Brampton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.