Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Loja

For one person, living is cheaper in Loja: $675 a month against $2,683 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $24,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vancouver, Canada
Loja, Ecuador
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,683
/mo nomad
Loja
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$675
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Loja

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

A single person spends $2,683 per month in Vancouver vs $675 in Loja, rent included.

  • Vancouver $2,683
  • Loja $675

A couple spends around $3,963 per month in Vancouver vs $1,064 in Loja, rent included.

  • Vancouver $3,963
  • Loja $1,064

A family of three spends $5,244 per month in Vancouver vs $1,453 in Loja, rent included.

  • Vancouver $5,244
  • Loja $1,453

Vancouver costs about 298% more than Loja, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Vancouver sits 98% above the global median, while Loja is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.10 CA$25.37
$3.03 $3.03
497.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 CA$99.5
$20.77 $20.77
241.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 CA$14.81
$5.44 $5.44
94.30%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.56
$2.24 $2.24
77.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.90
$0.73 $0.73
183.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.59
$0.42 $0.42
340.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 CA$7.95
$1.28 $1.28
342.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61 CA$9.27
$3.48 $3.48
89.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CA$3.02
$1.02 $1.02
111.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 CA$3.62
$1.46 $1.46
76.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 CA$6.02
$1.28 $1.28
235.94%
Eggs
$4.09 CA$5.74
$1.91 $1.91
114.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.12 CA$16.98
$5.73 $5.73
111.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 CA$18.62
$4.08 $4.08
225.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.11 CA$28.19
$5.90 $5.90
240.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 CA$5.56
$1.69 $1.69
134.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 CA$2.00
$1.07 $1.07
33.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 CA$5.20
$1.18 $1.18
214.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.50
$1.12 $1.12
250.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 CA$4.02
$1.11 $1.11
158.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.17
$1.04 $1.04
186.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.66
$0.48 $0.48
443.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.29
$1.13 $1.13
44.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.94 CA$22.35
$5.35 $5.35
197.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$19.97
$7.12 $7.12
100.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.54
$1.45 $1.45
73.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 CA$4.03
$3.06 $3.06
-6.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 CA$3.60
$0.31 $0.31
729.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.4 CA$118
$29.87 $29.87
182.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 CA$3.85
$0.66 $0.66
315.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 CA$2.28
$1.12 $1.12
45.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.90 CA$44.71
$10.03 $10.03
218.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 CA$2.04
$0.75 $0.75
94.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K CA$37.4K
$14.9K $14.9K
78.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CA$29.5K
$29.0K $29.0K
-27.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.2 CA$124
$19.78 $19.78
346.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.72 CA$51.5
$11.40 $11.40
222.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.81 CA$69.8
$26.92 $26.92
85.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.34 CA$63.6
$29.50 $29.50
53.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.13 CA$17.00
$14.80 $14.80
-18.04%
Cinema Ticket
$12.55 CA$17.59
$7.23 $7.23
73.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,055 CA$1,479
$180 $180
485.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K CA$39.9K
$2,025 $2,025
1306.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 CA$79.1
$52.6 $52.6
7.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.37 CA$48.18
$48.01 $48.01
-28.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 CA$126
$78.1 $78.1
15.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 CA$132
$72.8 $72.8
29.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,738 CA$2,436
$237 $237
634.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 CA$2,143
$170 $170
798.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,107 CA$4,355
$383 $383
712.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,547 CA$3,570
$308 $308
727.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,540 CA$12.0K
$548 $548
1459.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,328 CA$8,870
$320 $320
1875.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Loja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,770 CA$5,284
$496 $496
660.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.24
8.5
-50.12%

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

Last update for Vancouver: November 2, 2026

Last update for Loja: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Loja
$170 88.9% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$398
Loja
$167 58.2% $232
Eating Out
Vancouver
$281
Loja
$85 69.6% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$175
Loja
$58 66.8% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$124
Loja
$113 8.5% $11
Getting Around
Vancouver
$106
Loja
$37 64.6% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$70
Loja
$44 37.6% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,738 in Vancouver versus $237 in Loja. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Vancouver are about 7.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Vancouver versus $21 in Loja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $167 – making Loja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇪🇨 Loja
🕒 Local time
18:00 6:00 PM
20:00 8:00 PM
2 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
180,617
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 = 0.891 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Loja 7,270 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Loja

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 Loja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Vancouver and in Loja compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,683 in Vancouver, $675 in Loja – Loja comes out roughly 75% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Vancouver compared to Loja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,024 per month in Vancouver and $1,012 in Loja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Vancouver and Loja?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Loja, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $237 there versus $1,738 in Vancouver.
How do commuting costs compare in Vancouver and in Loja?
Public transport costs about 65% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Vancouver and Loja?
Kindergarten costs $1,055 per month in Vancouver and $180 in Loja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $675, than in Vancouver at $2,683. In Loja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Vancouver or Loja?
Families tend to lean toward Loja – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Vancouver and Loja?
If budget matters most, go with Loja. If higher salaries 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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