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: $2,860 in Vancouver versus $2,378 in Brampton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,199 in Vancouver versus $3,505 in Brampton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,538 in Vancouver versus $4,632 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 113% above, Brampton 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.50 CA$25.84
$15.15 CA$21.16
22.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 CA$111
$44.09 CA$61.6
80.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 CA$15.52
$10.88 CA$15.19
2.11%
Cappuccino
$4.11 CA$5.74
$3.33 CA$4.65
23.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 CA$3.08
$1.78 CA$2.49
24.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.45
$1.25 CA$1.75
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 CA$8.06
$5.24 CA$7.31
10.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45 CA$10.40
$5.72 CA$7.99
30.24%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 CA$3.07
$3.29 CA$4.59
-33.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 CA$4.49
$2.20 CA$3.07
46.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 CA$5.14
$2.83 CA$3.95
30.04%
Eggs
$4.39 CA$6.13
$3.21 CA$4.48
36.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.82 CA$17.90
$8.02 CA$11.20
59.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.20 CA$19.82
$9.68 CA$13.52
46.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.04 CA$22.40
$14.73 CA$20.58
8.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 CA$6.12
$4.14 CA$5.79
5.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 CA$2.13
$1.72 CA$2.41
-11.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.07 CA$5.68
$3.43 CA$4.79
18.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.18 CA$7.23
$3.53 CA$4.93
46.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.05 CA$4.25
$2.08 CA$2.90
46.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 CA$4.14
$2.13 CA$2.98
38.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.73 CA$3.81
$1.81 CA$2.53
50.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 CA$2.61
$1.90 CA$2.65
-1.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40 CA$21.51
$13.04 CA$18.21
18.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.32 CA$20.00
$11.81 CA$16.49
21.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11 CA$4.35
$2.39 CA$3.34
30.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 CA$5.12
$2.78 CA$3.88
31.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.41 CA$3.37
$3.35 CA$4.69
-28.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.6 CA$115
$106 CA$148
-21.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 CA$5.10
$3.10 CA$4.33
17.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 CA$2.08
$1.26 CA$1.76
18.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.94 CA$37.63
$21.79 CA$30.43
23.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 CA$1.78
$1.17 CA$1.64
9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K CA$34.8K
$25.4K CA$35.5K
-1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CA$29.3K
$20.4K CA$28.4K
3.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.2 CA$129
$173 CA$242
-46.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.43 CA$56.5
$33.12 CA$46.25
22.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.0 CA$86.6
$51.5 CA$71.9
20.33%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.57 CA$62.2
$28.49 CA$39.79
56.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.75 CA$21.99
$26.26 CA$36.67
-40.02%
Cinema Ticket
$12.19 CA$17.02
$13.28 CA$18.54
-8.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,164 CA$1,625
$968 CA$1,352
20.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K CA$25.3K
$11.6K CA$16.2K
55.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 CA$87.9
$62.6 CA$87.5
0.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.23 CA$59.0
$44.19 CA$61.7
-4.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 CA$137
$95.3 CA$133
2.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CA$165
$92.3 CA$129
27.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,977 CA$2,761
$1,509 CA$2,108
30.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 CA$2,325
$1,208 CA$1,687
37.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,579 CA$4,997
$2,255 CA$3,149
58.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,798 CA$3,907
$2,089 CA$2,917
33.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,881 CA$12.4K
$5,974 CA$8,343
48.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,873 CA$9,598
$5,226 CA$7,298
31.51%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Brampton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,432 CA$4,792
$2,848 CA$3,977
20.51%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Brampton: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,977 in Vancouver and $1,509 in Brampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 21% 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: $80.0 in Vancouver vs $44.00 in Brampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $340 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
Is Brampton cheaper than Vancouver?
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.
Where can you earn more: Vancouver or Brampton?
Vancouver pays 21% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Vancouver and Brampton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,977 in Vancouver versus $1,509 in Brampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Vancouver vs Brampton?
All in, you'll spend $2,860 per month in Vancouver versus $2,378 in Brampton – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Brampton runs roughly 28% less than in Vancouver. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Vancouver or Brampton?
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.
Is it better to live in Vancouver or Brampton?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
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.

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