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 $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $2,296 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $3,340 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $4,383 in Hay River, NT, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 23% more than Hay River, NT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Hay River, NT sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Hay River, NT by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.39

$16.77 CA$23.32

8.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$69.7 CA$96.9

11.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.09

$11.07 CA$15.39

-1.99%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.54

$3.68 CA$5.11

8.15%

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

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.07 CA$2.87

2.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.72 CA$2.39

3.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$5.48 CA$7.62

5.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.51

$6.01 CA$8.36

25.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$2.20 CA$3.06

5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$2.70 CA$3.76

14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$3.61 CA$5.01

7.76%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.30

$3.40 CA$4.73

33.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.96

$11.07 CA$15.39

16.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.67

$11.54 CA$16.05

22.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.89

$14.43 CA$20.07

9.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.92

$3.96 CA$5.51

7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.43 CA$1.99

2.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$3.61 CA$5.03

11.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.04

$3.68 CA$5.12

37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$2.38 CA$3.31

26.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.54 CA$3.53

16.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$2.53 CA$3.52

2.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.79 CA$2.48

5.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.14

$14.20 CA$19.75

7.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.88

$12.85 CA$17.87

11.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$2.86 CA$3.97

7.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.15 CA$4.39

18.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$2.43 CA$3.38

0.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$62.5 CA$86.8

35.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$3.13 CA$4.35

19.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.43 CA$1.99

4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.15

$25.90 CA$36.01

5.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.17 CA$1.63

14.53%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$24.8K CA$34.5K

1.18%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$20.7K CA$28.7K

0.39%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$142 CA$197

-35.34%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$44.25 CA$61.5

-10.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$63.0 CA$87.6

-3.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$42.21 CA$58.7

6.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.81

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.20

$11.38 CA$15.82

8.70%

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

$1,180 CA$1,641

$727 CA$1,012

62.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$11.9K CA$16.6K

57.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.2

$53.7 CA$74.6

16.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.0

$39.98 CA$55.6

7.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$88.0 CA$122

7.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$108 CA$151

9.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,774

$1,327 CA$1,846

50.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,266

$1,158 CA$1,610

40.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,991

$2,046 CA$2,845

75.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,851

$1,794 CA$2,495

54.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

$4,755 CA$6,613

94.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,854

$4,160 CA$5,786

70.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,831

$4,369 CA$6,076

-20.49%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Hay River, NT: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,327 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 26% 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 $70.0 in Hay River, NT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $363 – 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 23% 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 $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $3,444 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 $2,831 in Vancouver and $2,296 in Hay River, NT. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $2,296, than in Vancouver at $2,831. 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.