Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Johnson City, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Johnson City, TN: $2,099 a month against $2,626 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,626
/mo nomad
Johnson City, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,099
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Johnson City, TN

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 Johnson City, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,626 per month in Vancouver vs $2,099 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

  • Vancouver $2,626
  • Johnson City, TN $2,099

A couple spends around $3,841 per month in Vancouver vs $3,126 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

  • Vancouver $3,841
  • Johnson City, TN $3,126

A family of three spends $5,056 per month in Vancouver vs $4,153 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

  • Vancouver $5,056
  • Johnson City, TN $4,153

Vancouver costs about 25% more than Johnson City, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Vancouver and Johnson City, TN sit above the global median – Vancouver by 95%, Johnson City, TN by 55%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 CA$24.30
$14.27 $14.27
20.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 CA$97.6
$54.1 $54.1
27.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.61 CA$15.00
$9.89 $9.89
7.28%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.42
$5.32 $5.32
-28.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.88
$2.94 $2.94
-30.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.34
$1.95 $1.95
-15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 CA$7.83
$4.90 $4.90
13.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20 CA$8.77
$5.86 $5.86
5.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$1.01 $1.01
111.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 CA$3.54
$3.92 $3.92
-35.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 CA$6.35
$3.87 $3.87
16.02%
Eggs
$4.09 CA$5.78
$3.20 $3.20
27.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.73 CA$16.58
$7.31 $7.31
60.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 CA$18.54
$13.57 $13.57
-3.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.50 CA$27.57
$12.99 $12.99
50.12%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 CA$5.65
$7.75 $7.75
-48.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$1.79 $1.79
-22.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.48
$3.94 $3.94
-1.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 CA$5.58
$3.61 $3.61
9.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$3.50 $3.50
-22.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CA$4.05
$4.20 $4.20
-31.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 CA$3.48
$2.24 $2.24
9.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.21
$2.31 $2.31
-32.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.48 CA$21.88
$8.06 $8.06
92.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.75 CA$19.44
$13.10 $13.10
4.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 CA$3.72
$1.70 $1.70
54.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 CA$4.09
$4.42 $4.42
-34.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 CA$3.51
$2.46 $2.46
0.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.0 CA$117
$37.08 $37.08
123.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$5.37 $5.37
-49.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 CA$2.24
$1.48 $1.48
6.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.05 CA$43.89
$15.07 $15.07
106.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 CA$1.94
$0.88 $0.88
55.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$39.1K
$32.1K $32.1K
-13.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$21.7K $21.7K
-9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 CA$117
$176 $176
-53.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.26 CA$52.7
$52.0 $52.0
-28.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7 CA$73.1
$63.3 $63.3
-18.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.87 CA$60.6
$47.50 $47.50
-9.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40 CA$17.53
$19.61 $19.61
-36.77%
Cinema Ticket
$12.13 CA$17.15
$11.77 $11.77
3.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,102 CA$1,557
$1,224 $1,224
-10.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K CA$28.0K
$14.6K $14.6K
35.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 CA$79.7
$36.93 $36.93
52.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 CA$47.26
$30.74 $30.74
8.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 CA$133
$86.9 $86.9
8.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8 CA$133
$95.3 $95.3
-1.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,775 CA$2,509
$1,085 $1,085
63.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 CA$2,116
$912 $912
64.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,082 CA$4,357
$2,031 $2,031
51.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,416 CA$3,416
$1,583 $1,583
52.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,069 CA$11.4K
$2,201 $2,201
266.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,449 CA$9,118
$2,159 $2,159
198.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,776 CA$5,339
$3,505 $3,505
7.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
6.49
-34.05%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 10, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Johnson City, TN
$912 39.1% $584
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$392
Johnson City, TN
$389 0.9% $3.7
Eating Out
Vancouver
$270
Johnson City, TN
$263 2.5% $6.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$171
Johnson City, TN
$291 70% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$125
Johnson City, TN
$112 10% $12
Getting Around
Vancouver
$104
Johnson City, TN
$60 42.3% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$67
Johnson City, TN
$71 5.8% $3.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,775 in Vancouver versus $1,085 in Johnson City, TN. 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 8% higher in Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Vancouver versus $54.0 in Johnson City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $389 – making Johnson City, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇺🇸 Johnson City, TN
🕒 Local time
04:49 4:49 AM
07:49 7:49 AM
3 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
66,027
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Johnson City, TN 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Johnson City, TN

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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnson City, TN cheaper than Vancouver?
Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,939 per month in Vancouver and $3,148 in Johnson City, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Johnson City, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Vancouver or in Johnson City, TN?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Vancouver and $54.0 in Johnson City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Vancouver and in Johnson City, TN?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,626 in Vancouver and $2,099 in Johnson City, TN. That's a gap of about 25%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Vancouver or in Johnson City, TN?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Johnson City, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,099, than in Vancouver at $2,626. In Johnson City, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vancouver or Johnson City, TN more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Johnson City, TN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Vancouver or Johnson City, TN?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Johnson City, TN. 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.

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