Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Hay River, NT Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Hay River, NT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,906 per month in Vancouver vs $2,312 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,209 per month in Vancouver vs $3,325 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,513 per month in Vancouver vs $4,338 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 26% more than Hay River, NT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Hay River, NT sit above the global median – Vancouver by 118%, Hay River, NT by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.62 CA$26.20

$17.22 CA$24.22

8.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.9 CA$110

$68.7 CA$96.7

13.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$15.26

$11.21 CA$15.78

-3.30%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.53

$3.89 CA$5.47

1.03%

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

$2.24 CA$3.16

$1.96 CA$2.76

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.46

$1.69 CA$2.38

3.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.51

$5.44 CA$7.65

11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CA$10.27

$5.86 CA$8.24

24.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 CA$3.24

$2.19 CA$3.08

5.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.32

$2.72 CA$3.82

12.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.30

$3.67 CA$5.17

2.72%

Eggs

$4.32 CA$6.08

$3.38 CA$4.75

27.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 CA$17.69

$10.97 CA$15.43

14.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.34

$11.58 CA$16.29

18.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 CA$22.49

$14.97 CA$21.07

6.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$6.00

$3.99 CA$5.62

6.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.14

$1.37 CA$1.92

10.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.52

$3.72 CA$5.24

5.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.15

$3.81 CA$5.36

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.50

$2.49 CA$3.50

28.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.34

$2.49 CA$3.50

24.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.65

$2.64 CA$3.71

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.65

$1.77 CA$2.49

6.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.45 CA$21.74

$13.87 CA$19.52

11.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 CA$20.95

$12.56 CA$17.67

18.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$2.88 CA$4.06

8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 CA$5.35

$3.08 CA$4.33

23.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.40

$2.34 CA$3.30

3.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.0 CA$117

$62.5 CA$88.0

32.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.28

$3.24 CA$4.55

16.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.09

$1.49 CA$2.10

-0.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.97 CA$37.95

$25.32 CA$35.62

6.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.13 CA$1.59

15.04%

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

$25.2K CA$35.4K

0.01%

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

$20.6K CA$28.9K

$20.5K CA$28.8K

0.43%

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

$91.8 CA$129

$144 CA$203

-36.21%

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

$39.34 CA$55.4

$43.97 CA$61.9

-10.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CA$85.3

$63.0 CA$88.7

-3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.58 CA$62.7

$41.88 CA$58.9

6.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.35

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 CA$17.13

$11.27 CA$15.86

8.07%

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

$1,185 CA$1,667

$731 CA$1,028

62.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$26.1K

$11.8K CA$16.5K

57.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$87.9

$54.6 CA$76.8

14.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 CA$59.6

$40.11 CA$56.4

5.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 CA$134

$86.6 CA$122

9.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$162

$106 CA$149

8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,979 CA$2,785

$1,315 CA$1,850

50.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 CA$2,313

$1,188 CA$1,672

38.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,577 CA$5,033

$2,015 CA$2,835

77.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 CA$3,915

$1,831 CA$2,576

51.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,754 CA$12.3K

$4,892 CA$6,884

78.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 CA$9,972

$3,207 CA$4,513

120.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,380 CA$4,756

$4,282 CA$6,026

-21.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.46

-13.16%

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

Last update for Vancouver: July 14, 2026

Last update for Hay River, NT: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,979 in Vancouver versus $1,315 in Hay River, NT. 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 27% higher in Hay River, NT, 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 $69.0 in Hay River, NT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $365 – making Hay River, NT 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 Hay River, NT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 26% more than Hay River, NT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,359 per month in Vancouver and $3,468 in Hay River, NT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,906 in Vancouver and $2,312 in Hay River, NT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Hay River, NT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hay River, NT, where all-in costs run around $2,312, than in Vancouver at $2,906. In Hay River, NT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hay River, NT – 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 Hay River, NT. 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.