Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Ibarra

For one person, living is cheaper in Ibarra: $664 a month against $2,683 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $24,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vancouver, Canada
Ibarra, Ecuador
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,683
/mo nomad
Ibarra
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$664
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Ibarra

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 Ibarra actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,683 in Vancouver versus $664 in Ibarra.

  • Vancouver $2,683
  • Ibarra $664

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,963 in Vancouver versus $1,152 in Ibarra.

  • Vancouver $3,963
  • Ibarra $1,152

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,244 in Vancouver versus $1,639 in Ibarra.

  • Vancouver $5,244
  • Ibarra $1,639

Living in Vancouver is roughly 304% more expensive than in Ibarra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Vancouver is 98% above, Ibarra is 51% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.10 CA$25.37
$2.66 $2.66
580.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 CA$99.5
$25.40 $25.40
179.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 CA$14.81
$5.88 $5.88
79.76%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.56
$2.23 $2.23
78.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.90
$1.05 $1.05
97.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.59
$0.56 $0.56
230.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 CA$7.95
$1.98 $1.98
186.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61 CA$9.27
$2.27 $2.27
191.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CA$3.02
$0.99 $0.99
118.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 CA$3.62
$1.02 $1.02
152.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 CA$6.02
$1.46 $1.46
194.52%
Eggs
$4.09 CA$5.74
$2.13 $2.13
92.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.12 CA$16.98
$3.79 $3.79
219.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 CA$18.62
$5.33 $5.33
149.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.11 CA$28.19
$7.76 $7.76
159.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 CA$5.56
$2.01 $2.01
97.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 CA$2.00
$1.20 $1.20
19.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 CA$5.20
$1.33 $1.33
178.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.50
$0.92 $0.92
326.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 CA$4.02
$0.48 $0.48
497.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.17
$1.02 $1.02
192.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.66
$0.70 $0.70
272.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.29
$1.03 $1.03
58.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.94 CA$22.35
$3.02 $3.02
427.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$19.97
$8.73 $8.73
63.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.54
$1.53 $1.53
64.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 CA$4.03
$3.15 $3.15
-8.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 CA$3.60
$0.37 $0.37
594.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.4 CA$118
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 CA$3.85
$1.52 $1.52
80.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 CA$2.28
$1.47 $1.47
10.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.90 CA$44.71
$9.82 $9.82
224.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 CA$2.04
$0.69 $0.69
111.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K CA$37.4K
$22.9K $22.9K
16.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CA$29.5K
$30.0K $30.0K
-29.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.2 CA$124
$28.33 $28.33
211.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.72 CA$51.5
$14.95 $14.95
145.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.81 CA$69.8
$18.29 $18.29
172.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.34 CA$63.6
$29.75 $29.75
52.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.13 CA$17.00
$16.24 $16.24
-25.31%
Cinema Ticket
$12.55 CA$17.59
$6.64 $6.64
89.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,055 CA$1,479
$111 $111
848.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K CA$39.9K
$8,911 $8,911
219.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 CA$79.1
$59.7 $59.7
-5.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.37 CA$48.18
$45.20 $45.20
-23.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 CA$126
$91.6 $91.6
-1.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 CA$132
$50.6 $50.6
86.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,738 CA$2,436
$228 $228
660.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 CA$2,143
$178 $178
757.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,107 CA$4,355
$817 $817
280.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,547 CA$3,570
$508 $508
401.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,540 CA$12.0K
$759 $759
1025.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,328 CA$8,870
$625 $625
913.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Ibarra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,770 CA$5,284
$603 $603
525.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.24
10.12
-58.10%

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

Last update for Vancouver: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ibarra: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Ibarra
$178 88.3% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$398
Ibarra
$173 56.6% $225
Eating Out
Vancouver
$281
Ibarra
$87 69.2% $195
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$175
Ibarra
$62 64.8% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$124
Ibarra
$111 10.2% $13
Getting Around
Vancouver
$106
Ibarra
$10 * 90.2% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$70
Ibarra
$43 38.9% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,738 in Vancouver and $228 in Ibarra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays about 6.3 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $71 in Vancouver vs $25 in Ibarra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $173 per month, with Ibarra cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇪🇨 Ibarra
🕒 Local time
02:09 2:09 AM
04:09 4:09 AM
2 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
108,666
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Ibarra 6,920 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Ibarra

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ibarra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vancouver or Ibarra?
Ibarra wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ibarra the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Vancouver or in Ibarra?
Average pay in Vancouver is about 6.3 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Vancouver compared to Ibarra?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,738 in Vancouver versus $228 in Ibarra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Vancouver and in Ibarra?
Childcare runs $1,055 in Vancouver versus $111 in Ibarra. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Vancouver and in Ibarra?
Dining out is cheaper in Ibarra – a meal for two runs $25 versus $71 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Vancouver or in Ibarra?
At $664 in Ibarra versus $2,683 in Vancouver, a $800 budget is realistic in Ibarra but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Ibarra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Ibarra is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vancouver, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Should I move to Vancouver or to Ibarra?
It comes down to priorities – Ibarra wins on affordability, Vancouver on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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