Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Iqaluit, NU Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Iqaluit, NU

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver versus $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,231 in Vancouver versus $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,630 in Vancouver versus $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU.

Living in Vancouver costs roughly 7% less than in Iqaluit, NU, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 111% above, Iqaluit, NU 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.28

$31.29 CA$43.33

-41.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$65.7 CA$91.0

18.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.02

$12.97 CA$17.96

-16.35%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.51

$6.69 CA$9.26

-40.51%

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

$2.12 CA$2.93

$3.99 CA$5.53

-46.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.46

$1.68 CA$2.33

5.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$7.99

$6.89 CA$9.53

-16.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.46

$5.99 CA$8.30

26.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.21

$2.44 CA$3.37

-4.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.29

$2.69 CA$3.72

15.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.38

$3.00 CA$4.16

29.67%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.27

$4.41 CA$6.11

2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.88

$12.17 CA$16.85

6.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.58

$13.62 CA$18.86

3.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.80

$24.77 CA$34.30

-36.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.89

$2.03 CA$2.82

109.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.03

$2.98 CA$4.12

-50.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.57

$1.97 CA$2.72

104.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.01

$2.03 CA$2.81

149.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.18

$2.96 CA$4.10

2.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$3.90 CA$5.41

-24.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.60

$2.99 CA$4.14

-13.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.60

$3.55 CA$4.92

-47.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.04

$14.43 CA$19.98

5.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.80

$12.80 CA$17.73

11.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.26

$1.46 CA$2.02

110.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$2.19 CA$3.03

70.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.37

$2.35 CA$3.25

3.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$144 CA$200

-41.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.18

$6.82 CA$9.44

-45.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$0.71 CA$0.98

111.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$37.98

$25.47 CA$35.26

7.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.27 CA$1.76

5.51%

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

$25.1K CA$34.8K

$50.5K CA$70.0K

-50.31%

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

$20.7K CA$28.7K

$45.7K CA$63.3K

-54.63%

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

$91.8 CA$127

$119 CA$164

-22.74%

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

$39.42 CA$54.6

$54.3 CA$75.2

-27.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.6

$56.3 CA$77.9

8.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.2

$42.07 CA$58.3

6.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.71

$22.02 CA$30.49

-28.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.12

$8.50 CA$11.77

45.53%

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

$1,180 CA$1,634

$1,019 CA$1,411

15.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.0K

$3,997 CA$5,534

369.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$86.8

$62.9 CA$87.0

-0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$59.7

$36.88 CA$51.1

16.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$131

$103 CA$143

-8.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$121 CA$167

-1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,762

$1,687 CA$2,336

18.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,256

$1,567 CA$2,169

3.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,969

$3,136 CA$4,342

14.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,834

$1,838 CA$2,545

50.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.8K

$4,603 CA$6,373

100.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,811

$3,811 CA$5,277

85.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,810

$4,299 CA$5,952

-19.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

8.1

-30.74%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Vancouver and $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 24% 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: $78.0 in Vancouver vs $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $414 per month, with Iqaluit, NU cheaper across the board.

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 Iqaluit, NU: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Iqaluit, NU earns 24% less. 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: $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,180 in Vancouver versus $1,019 in Iqaluit, NU. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Iqaluit, NU pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

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.

Expats usually find Vancouver gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.