😐A single person spends $2,783 per month in Vancouver vs $1,639 in Joliette, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,030 per month in Vancouver vs $2,554 in Joliette, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,278 per month in Vancouver vs $3,469 in Joliette, rent included.
😐Vancouver costs about 70% more than Joliette, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Vancouver and Joliette sit above the global median – Vancouver by 102%, Joliette by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.99CA$24.95
$17.90CA$24.82
0.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.9CA$101
$54.9CA$76.2
32.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.76CA$14.92
$11.35CA$15.75
-5.20%
Cappuccino
$4.17CA$5.79
$2.48CA$3.44
68.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20CA$3.05
$2.09CA$2.89
5.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.37
$1.49CA$2.07
14.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91CA$8.19
$4.35CA$6.04
35.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66CA$9.24
$5.61CA$7.78
18.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CA$3.04
$2.01CA$2.79
8.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66CA$3.69
$2.49CA$3.46
6.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.43CA$6.14
$4.08CA$5.66
8.58%
Eggs
$4.20CA$5.83
$2.56CA$3.55
64.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.88CA$16.47
$8.84CA$12.26
34.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.66CA$18.95
$10.82CA$15.00
26.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.32CA$28.18
$10.88CA$15.08
86.76%
Apples(1kg)
$4.24CA$5.88
$4.30CA$5.97
-1.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38CA$1.92
$1.54CA$2.14
-10.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.05CA$5.61
$3.75CA$5.20
8.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.03CA$5.58
$4.16CA$5.77
-3.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87CA$3.97
$2.88CA$4.00
-0.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.99CA$4.15
$2.96CA$4.11
1.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.66
$1.71CA$2.37
54.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65CA$2.29
$1.54CA$2.14
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.92CA$22.07
$14.92CA$20.69
6.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.63CA$20.29
$11.34CA$15.73
29.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78CA$3.86
$2.92CA$4.05
-4.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06CA$4.25
$3.37CA$4.67
-9.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.57CA$3.56
$2.38CA$3.30
7.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.2CA$115
$62.7CA$86.9
32.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70CA$3.74
$2.90CA$4.02
-6.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63CA$2.26
$1.46CA$2.02
11.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.68CA$45.33
$35.66CA$49.46
-8.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44CA$2.00
$0.94CA$1.31
53.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KCA$39.4K
$28.5KCA$39.5K
-0.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KCA$27.1K
$21.1KCA$29.3K
-7.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.2CA$110
$101CA$140
-21.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.21CA$50.2
$32.69CA$45.34
10.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3CA$71.2
$46.26CA$64.2
10.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.58CA$60.4
$40.98CA$56.8
6.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.16CA$18.25
$18.60CA$25.79
-29.25%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85CA$16.44
$11.20CA$15.54
5.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,131CA$1,568
$694CA$962
62.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.7KCA$27.3K
$9,651CA$13.4K
104.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0CA$83.2
$51.0CA$70.8
17.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.84CA$48.32
$40.04CA$55.5
-12.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5CA$125
$85.9CA$119
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5CA$130
$106CA$147
-12.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,806CA$2,505
$657CA$912
174.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,581CA$2,193
$612CA$848
158.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,182CA$4,413
$1,313CA$1,821
142.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,465CA$3,418
$1,096CA$1,520
124.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,841CA$12.3K
$4,289CA$5,949
106.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,963CA$9,657
$3,708CA$5,142
87.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Joliette
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,738CA$5,184
$2,801CA$3,885
33.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.21
4.45
-5.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vancouver: September 7, 2026
Last update for Joliette: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,806 in Vancouver versus $657 in Joliette. 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 33% 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 $73.0 in Vancouver versus $55.0 in Joliette. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $335 – making Joliette 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 Joliette: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joliette cheaper than Vancouver?
Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,174 per month in Vancouver and $2,458 in Joliette. 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 Joliette, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,131 per month in Vancouver and $694 in Joliette. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Vancouver and in Joliette?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Vancouver or in Joliette?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Joliette, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Vancouver at $2,783. In Joliette it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vancouver or Joliette more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Joliette – 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 Joliette?
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 Joliette. 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.