Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Knoxville, TN

For one person, living costs are similar in Vancouver and in Knoxville, TN: $2,684 and $2,566 a month, rent and utilities included.

Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,684
/mo nomad
Knoxville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,566
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,684 in Vancouver versus $2,566 in Knoxville, TN.

  • Vancouver $2,684
  • Knoxville, TN $2,566

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,878 in Vancouver versus $3,815 in Knoxville, TN.

  • Vancouver $3,878
  • Knoxville, TN $3,815

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,072 in Vancouver versus $5,064 in Knoxville, TN.

  • Vancouver $5,072
  • Knoxville, TN $5,064

Living in Vancouver is roughly 5% more expensive than in Knoxville, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 100% above, Knoxville, TN 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 CA$24.66
$17.48 $17.48
-1.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0 CA$98.3
$76.4 $76.4
-9.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.56 CA$15.05
$10.14 $10.14
4.14%
Cappuccino
$3.89 CA$5.54
$5.35 $5.35
-27.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.93
$2.69 $2.69
-23.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.31
$2.73 $2.73
-40.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 CA$7.90
$6.31 $6.31
-12.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 CA$9.02
$6.65 $6.65
-4.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.30
$1.08 $1.08
113.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 CA$3.56
$3.48 $3.48
-28.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 CA$6.33
$4.76 $4.76
-6.72%
Eggs
$4.07 CA$5.80
$4.27 $4.27
-4.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 CA$16.08
$9.93 $9.93
13.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.42 CA$19.13
$9.34 $9.34
43.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.10 CA$28.65
$15.20 $15.20
32.24%
Apples (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.78
$6.76 $6.76
-39.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 CA$1.90
$1.49 $1.49
-10.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 CA$5.57
$2.72 $2.72
43.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.05 CA$5.78
$5.47 $5.47
-25.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.88
$2.22 $2.22
22.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 CA$4.12
$4.14 $4.14
-30.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 CA$3.61
$2.33 $2.33
8.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.31
$2.19 $2.19
-26.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.57 CA$22.19
$9.84 $9.84
58.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.05 CA$20.03
$14.74 $14.74
-4.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 CA$3.83
$1.93 $1.93
39.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 CA$4.26
$3.11 $3.11
-3.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 CA$3.48
$1.01 $1.01
141.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.4 CA$119
$30.07 $30.07
177.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 CA$3.87
$4.96 $4.96
-45.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 CA$2.24
$1.58 $1.58
-0.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.39 CA$44.75
$30.43 $30.43
3.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 CA$1.96
$0.94 $0.94
46.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K CA$40.0K
$37.7K $37.7K
-25.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.2K
$27.3K $27.3K
-27.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.2 CA$116
$219 $219
-62.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.45 CA$53.4
$73.9 $73.9
-49.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 CA$73.2
$53.3 $53.3
-3.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.47 CA$62.0
$29.46 $29.46
47.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.53 CA$17.86
$21.85 $21.85
-42.65%
Cinema Ticket
$12.54 CA$17.88
$15.40 $15.40
-18.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,094 CA$1,560
$1,230 $1,230
-11.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K CA$28.4K
$24.0K $24.0K
-17.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 CA$81.3
$49.76 $49.76
14.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.73 CA$46.66
$45.35 $45.35
-27.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 CA$132
$109 $109
-14.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2 CA$134
$122 $122
-22.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,745 CA$2,488
$1,767 $1,767
-1.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 CA$2,115
$1,264 $1,264
17.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,998 CA$4,273
$2,902 $2,902
3.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,422 CA$3,453
$2,166 $2,166
11.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,002 CA$11.4K
$4,689 $4,689
70.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,457 CA$9,204
$2,267 $2,267
184.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,799 CA$5,416
$3,623 $3,623
4.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
6.64
-35.54%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 3, 2026

Last update for Knoxville, TN: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Knoxville, TN
$1.3K 14.8% $220
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$399
Knoxville, TN
$381 4.5% $18
Eating Out
Vancouver
$272
Knoxville, TN
$301 10.8% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$170
Knoxville, TN
$346 104% $176
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$124
Knoxville, TN
$147 17.8% $22
Getting Around
Vancouver
$104
Knoxville, TN
$47 54.7% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$69
Knoxville, TN
$60 12.1% $8.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,745 in Vancouver and $1,767 in Knoxville, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 5% 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: $69.0 in Vancouver vs $76.0 in Knoxville, TN. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $381, with Knoxville, TN cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇺🇸 Knoxville, TN
🕒 Local time
01:52 1:52 AM
04:52 4:52 AM
3 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
190,740
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Knoxville, TN 3,480 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vancouver or Knoxville, TN?
Knoxville, TN wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Vancouver. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Knoxville, TN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Vancouver or in Knoxville, TN?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Vancouver, 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 Knoxville, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,745 in Vancouver versus $1,767 in Knoxville, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Vancouver or in Knoxville, TN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Vancouver and in Knoxville, TN?
Dining out is cheaper in Knoxville, TN – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $69.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vancouver or in Knoxville, TN?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Knoxville, TN is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vancouver or Knoxville, TN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Knoxville, TN delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,566 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Knoxville, TN hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Knoxville, TN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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