Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Burlington Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Burlington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,906 per month in Vancouver vs $2,724 in Burlington, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,209 per month in Vancouver vs $4,059 in Burlington, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,513 per month in Vancouver vs $5,393 in Burlington, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 7% more than Burlington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Burlington sit above the global median – Vancouver by 118%, Burlington by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.62 CA$26.20

$20.03 CA$28.18

-7.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.9 CA$110

$73.0 CA$103

6.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$15.26

$10.90 CA$15.34

-0.55%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.53

$3.66 CA$5.15

7.38%

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

$2.24 CA$3.16

$1.94 CA$2.73

15.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.46

$1.65 CA$2.32

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.51

$5.97 CA$8.40

1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CA$10.27

$6.65 CA$9.36

9.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 CA$3.24

$2.07 CA$2.91

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.32

$3.03 CA$4.26

1.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.30

$4.38 CA$6.17

-13.93%

Eggs

$4.32 CA$6.08

$3.03 CA$4.26

42.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 CA$17.69

$13.73 CA$19.32

-8.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.34

$8.89 CA$12.51

54.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 CA$22.49

$21.96 CA$30.90

-27.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$6.00

$3.46 CA$4.87

23.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.14

$1.39 CA$1.95

9.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.52

$3.64 CA$5.12

7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.15

$3.56 CA$5.00

42.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.50

$1.95 CA$2.74

64.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.34

$1.79 CA$2.51

72.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.65

$2.20 CA$3.10

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.65

$2.06 CA$2.89

-8.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.45 CA$21.74

$14.99 CA$21.09

3.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 CA$20.95

$12.29 CA$17.30

21.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$2.47 CA$3.48

26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 CA$5.35

$2.24 CA$3.15

69.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.40

$3.24 CA$4.55

-25.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.0 CA$117

$103 CA$146

-19.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.28

$2.34 CA$3.29

60.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$1.72 CA$2.42

-13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.97 CA$37.95

$44.29 CA$62.3

-39.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.16 CA$1.63

12.07%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

$25.0K CA$35.2K

0.70%

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

$20.6K CA$28.9K

$21.6K CA$30.4K

-4.82%

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

$91.8 CA$129

$133 CA$187

-30.95%

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

$39.34 CA$55.4

$53.1 CA$74.8

-25.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CA$85.3

$61.5 CA$86.6

-1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.58 CA$62.7

$46.83 CA$65.9

-4.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.35

$22.90 CA$32.22

-30.66%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 CA$17.13

$10.95 CA$15.41

11.23%

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

$1,185 CA$1,667

$947 CA$1,332

25.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$26.1K

$24.6K CA$34.6K

-24.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$87.9

$61.6 CA$86.7

1.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 CA$59.6

$68.5 CA$96.4

-38.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 CA$134

$87.0 CA$122

9.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$162

$137 CA$193

-16.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,979 CA$2,785

$1,716 CA$2,414

15.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 CA$2,313

$1,481 CA$2,083

11.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,577 CA$5,033

$2,722 CA$3,830

31.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 CA$3,915

$2,436 CA$3,427

14.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,754 CA$12.3K

$5,331 CA$7,502

64.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 CA$9,972

$4,338 CA$6,104

63.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,380 CA$4,756

$3,413 CA$4,802

-0.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.4

-12.34%

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

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Last update for Burlington: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,979 in Vancouver versus $1,716 in Burlington. 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 1% higher in Burlington, 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 $73.0 in Burlington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $374 – making Burlington 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 Burlington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 7%, 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 $4,359 per month in Vancouver and $4,086 in Burlington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burlington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,185 per month in Vancouver and $947 in Burlington. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,906 in Vancouver and $2,724 in Burlington. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Burlington – 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 Burlington. 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.