πA single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $2,026 in Cornwall, ON, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $2,995 in Cornwall, ON, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $3,963 in Cornwall, ON, rent included.
πVancouver costs about 40% more than Cornwall, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Vancouver and Cornwall, ON sit above the global median β Vancouver by 111%, Cornwall, ON by 51%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26CA$25.39
$14.89CA$20.71
22.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8CA$108
$67.4CA$93.7
15.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.85CA$15.09
$12.04CA$16.74
-9.88%
Cappuccino
$3.98CA$5.54
$4.36CA$6.06
-8.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12CA$2.95
$2.07CA$2.88
2.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78CA$2.47
$1.43CA$1.99
24.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77CA$8.02
$5.96CA$8.28
-3.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56CA$10.51
$5.60CA$7.79
35.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CA$3.23
$2.57CA$3.57
-9.73%
White Bread(500g)
$3.10CA$4.31
$2.38CA$3.30
30.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89CA$5.40
$2.72CA$3.78
43.01%
Eggs
$4.53CA$6.30
$2.67CA$3.72
69.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.92CA$17.96
$5.12CA$7.12
152.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.14CA$19.67
$10.51CA$14.61
34.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74CA$21.89
$15.22CA$21.17
3.42%
Apples(1kg)
$4.26CA$5.92
$5.97CA$8.30
-28.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47CA$2.04
$1.75CA$2.44
-16.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.02CA$5.59
$3.39CA$4.71
18.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.06CA$7.04
$3.78CA$5.25
33.86%
Potato(1kg)
$3.02CA$4.20
$2.52CA$3.50
19.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95CA$4.10
$3.31CA$4.61
-10.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60CA$3.62
$1.27CA$1.77
104.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88CA$2.62
$1.19CA$1.65
57.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.20CA$21.14
$10.62CA$14.77
43.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.30CA$19.88
$12.45CA$17.31
14.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.07CA$4.27
$3.29CA$4.57
-6.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74CA$5.20
$3.67CA$5.11
1.91%
π Getting Around
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.44CA$3.39
$2.24CA$3.12
8.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9CA$118
$48.04CA$66.8
76.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.74CA$5.20
$2.99CA$4.15
25.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50CA$2.09
$1.02CA$1.42
47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.43CA$38.15
$26.11CA$36.31
5.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34CA$1.86
$1.13CA$1.57
18.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.9K
$22.1KCA$30.7K
13.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KCA$28.8K
$20.1KCA$28.0K
3.05%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.8CA$128
$93.5CA$130
-1.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.42CA$54.8
$44.67CA$62.1
-11.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1CA$84.9
$46.81CA$65.1
30.46%
π Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.89CA$62.4
$31.87CA$44.32
40.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.68CA$21.81
$12.95CA$18.02
21.08%
Cinema Ticket
$12.37CA$17.20
$11.21CA$15.59
10.35%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,180CA$1,641
$506CA$703
133.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KCA$26.1K
$11.8KCA$16.4K
58.81%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$87.2
$55.2CA$76.8
13.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.13CA$60.0
$57.8CA$80.4
-25.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7CA$132
$101CA$141
-6.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118CA$165
$93.1CA$130
27.14%
π Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,995CA$2,774
$1,091CA$1,518
82.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,629CA$2,266
$963CA$1,340
69.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,589CA$4,991
$2,110CA$2,934
70.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,769CA$3,851
$1,578CA$2,194
75.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,246CA$12.9K
$2,544CA$3,538
263.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,086CA$9,854
$2,143CA$2,980
230.65%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Cornwall, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,474CA$4,831
$3,063CA$4,259
13.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.61
6.53
-14.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026
Last update for Cornwall, ON: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,091 in Cornwall, ON. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 13% higher in Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Vancouver versus $67.0 in Cornwall, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $340 β making Cornwall, ON 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 Cornwall, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Vancouver and Cornwall, ON compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver, $2,026 in Cornwall, ON β roughly 40% apart. Vancouver costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Vancouver compared to Cornwall, ON?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $3,039 in Cornwall, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Vancouver and Cornwall, ON?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cornwall, ON, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Vancouver or Cornwall, ON?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,831 in Vancouver and $2,026 in Cornwall, ON. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Vancouver and Cornwall, ON?
Public transport costs about 77% less in Cornwall, ON. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cornwall, ON, where all-in costs run around $2,026, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Cornwall, ON it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Vancouver or Cornwall, ON?
Families tend to lean toward Cornwall, ON β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Vancouver and Cornwall, ON?
If budget matters most, go with Cornwall, ON. 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.