Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Fort Lee, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Vancouver: $2,684 a month against $3,937 in Fort Lee, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $15,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

128

Cost of Living Index in Vancouver
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Vancouver Living Index
189

Cost of Living Index in Fort Lee, NJ
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Fort Lee, NJ Living Index

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Vancouver

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,684

/mo nomad

Fort Lee, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$3,937

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Fort Lee, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vancouver and in Fort Lee, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,684 in Vancouver versus $3,937 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Vancouver $2,684
Fort Lee, NJ $3,937

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,878 in Vancouver versus $6,241 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Vancouver $3,878
Fort Lee, NJ $6,241

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,072 in Vancouver versus $8,546 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Vancouver $5,072
Fort Lee, NJ $8,546

Living in Vancouver costs roughly 32% less than in Fort Lee, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 100% above, Fort Lee, NJ 194% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 CA$24.66

$25.14 $25.14

-31.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 CA$98.3

$82.1 $82.1

-16.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.56 CA$15.05

$11.02 $11.02

-4.17%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.54

$5.48 $5.48

-29.01%

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

$2.05 CA$2.93

$2.23 $2.23

-8.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 CA$2.31

$1.60 $1.60

1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 CA$7.90

$8.15 $8.15

-32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.33 CA$9.02

$8.09 $8.09

-21.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.30

$1.33 $1.33

73.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 CA$3.56

$3.76 $3.76

-33.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.33

$6.66 $6.66

-33.33%

Eggs

$4.07 CA$5.80

$4.79 $4.79

-15.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.28 CA$16.08

$12.36 $12.36

-8.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 CA$19.13

$11.82 $11.82

13.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.10 CA$28.65

$17.34 $17.34

15.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.78

$5.43 $5.43

-25.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 CA$1.90

$1.80 $1.80

-26.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 CA$5.57

$6.48 $6.48

-39.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.78

$5.35 $5.35

-24.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.88

$3.97 $3.97

-31.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.12

$3.90 $3.90

-25.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CA$3.61

$2.87 $2.87

-11.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CA$2.31

$2.82 $2.82

-42.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.57 CA$22.19

$11.60 $11.60

34.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 CA$20.03

$11.84 $11.84

18.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 CA$3.83

$1.75 $1.75

53.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.26

$1.99 $1.99

50.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.48

$2.76 $2.76

-11.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.4 CA$119

$139 $139

-39.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.87

$2.95 $2.95

-8.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 CA$2.24

$2.08 $2.08

-24.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.39 CA$44.75

$23.65 $23.65

32.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CA$1.96

$0.87 $0.87

58.62%

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

$28.1K CA$40.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

-12.07%

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

$19.8K CA$28.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

-23.10%

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

$81.2 CA$116

$214 $214

-62.06%

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

$37.45 CA$53.4

$74.4 $74.4

-49.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$73.2

$65.4 $65.4

-21.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.47 CA$62.0

$125 $125

-65.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.53 CA$17.86

Cinema Ticket

$12.54 CA$17.88

$14.61 $14.61

-14.17%

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

$1,094 CA$1,560

$1,983 $1,983

-44.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K CA$28.4K

$24.1K $24.1K

-17.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 CA$81.3

$41.22 $41.22

38.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.73 CA$46.66

$56.5 $56.5

-42.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 CA$132

$77.4 $77.4

19.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 CA$134

$85.5 $85.5

10.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,745 CA$2,488

$2,933 $2,933

-40.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,484 CA$2,115

$2,298 $2,298

-35.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,998 CA$4,273

$6,476 $6,476

-53.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,422 CA$3,453

$4,974 $4,974

-51.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,002 CA$11.4K

$4,302 $4,302

86.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,457 CA$9,204

$3,810 $3,810

69.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,799 CA$5,416

$6,520 $6,520

-41.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.28

6.75

-36.59%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 3, 2026

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Vancouver

$1.5K 56.6%

Fort Lee, NJ

$2.3K 59% 54.9% $814

Groceries & Markets

Vancouver

$399 15.2%

Fort Lee, NJ

$437 11.2% 9.6% $38

Eating Out

Vancouver

$272 10.4%

Fort Lee, NJ

$372 9.6% 36.9% $100

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Vancouver

$170 6.5%

Fort Lee, NJ

$354 9.1% 108% $184

Clothing & Footwear

Vancouver

$124 4.8%

Fort Lee, NJ

$117 3% 5.8% $7.2

Getting Around

Vancouver

$104 4%

Fort Lee, NJ

$163 4.2% 57.2% $59

Sport & Entertainment

Vancouver

$69 2.6%

Fort Lee, NJ

$154 4% 125% $85

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,745 in Vancouver and $2,933 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 72% 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: $69.0 in Vancouver vs $82.0 in Fort Lee, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $437 per month, with Vancouver cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Vancouver

🇺🇸 Fort Lee, NJ

🕒 Local time

19:28 7:28 PM

22:28 10:28 PM

3 h ahead of Vancouver

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

631,486

37,008

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.702 USD

1 CAD = 0.626 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

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Vancouver Fort Lee, NJ 3,900 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

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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 Fort Lee, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vancouver the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 72% lower in Fort Lee, NJ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,745 in Vancouver versus $2,933 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,684 per month in Vancouver versus $3,937 in Fort Lee, NJ – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Vancouver runs roughly 66% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Vancouver 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.

Safety-wise, Vancouver and Fort Lee, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Vancouver gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.