Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Long Island, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Vancouver: $2,626 a month against $3,867 in Long Island, NY, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,626
/mo nomad
Long Island, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$3,867
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Long Island, NY

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 Long Island, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,626 per month in Vancouver vs $3,867 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

  • Vancouver $2,626
  • Long Island, NY $3,867

A couple spends around $3,841 per month in Vancouver vs $5,541 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

  • Vancouver $3,841
  • Long Island, NY $5,541

A family of three spends $5,056 per month in Vancouver vs $7,215 in Long Island, NY, rent included.

  • Vancouver $5,056
  • Long Island, NY $7,215

Vancouver is about 32% cheaper than Long Island, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Vancouver and Long Island, NY sit above the global median – Vancouver by 95%, Long Island, NY by 186%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 CA$24.30
$25.36 $25.36
-32.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 CA$97.6
$101 $101
-31.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.61 CA$15.00
$10.94 $10.94
-3.02%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.42
$5.07 $5.07
-24.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.88
$2.14 $2.14
-4.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.34
$1.59 $1.59
3.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 CA$7.83
$8.06 $8.06
-31.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20 CA$8.77
$7.87 $7.87
-21.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$1.27 $1.27
68.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 CA$3.54
$4.23 $4.23
-40.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 CA$6.35
$1.91 $1.91
135.08%
Eggs
$4.09 CA$5.78
$5.07 $5.07
-19.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.73 CA$16.58
$7.14 $7.14
64.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 CA$18.54
$11.65 $11.65
12.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.50 CA$27.57
$16.63 $16.63
17.26%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 CA$5.65
$4.11 $4.11
-2.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$1.26 $1.26
9.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.48
$2.15 $2.15
80.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 CA$5.58
$6.06 $6.06
-34.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$1.08 $1.08
151.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CA$4.05
$2.25 $2.25
27.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 CA$3.48
$1.48 $1.48
66.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.21
$2.83 $2.83
-44.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.48 CA$21.88
$11.27 $11.27
37.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.75 CA$19.44
$17.38 $17.38
-20.89%
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
$4.06 $4.06
-28.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 CA$3.51
$2.76 $2.76
-10.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.0 CA$117
$131 $131
-36.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$3.05 $3.05
-10.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 CA$2.24
$2.08 $2.08
-24.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.05 CA$43.89
$24.16 $24.16
28.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 CA$1.94
$1.12 $1.12
22.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$39.1K
$36.7K $36.7K
-24.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$25.5K $25.5K
-22.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 CA$117
$190 $190
-56.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.26 CA$52.7
$48.53 $48.53
-23.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7 CA$73.1
$54.4 $54.4
-4.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.87 CA$60.6
$31.55 $31.55
35.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40 CA$17.53
$102 $102
-87.87%
Cinema Ticket
$12.13 CA$17.15
$14.23 $14.23
-14.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,102 CA$1,557
$2,219 $2,219
-50.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K CA$28.0K
$24.0K $24.0K
-17.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 CA$79.7
$40.01 $40.01
40.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 CA$47.26
$56.5 $56.5
-40.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 CA$133
$75.7 $75.7
24.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8 CA$133
$158 $158
-40.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,775 CA$2,509
$2,715 $2,715
-34.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 CA$2,116
$2,463 $2,463
-39.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,082 CA$4,357
$5,300 $5,300
-41.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,416 CA$3,416
$3,883 $3,883
-37.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,069 CA$11.4K
$4,360 $4,360
85.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,449 CA$9,118
$4,364 $4,364
47.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Long Island, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,776 CA$5,339
$4,983 $4,983
-24.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
6.63
-35.44%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 10, 2026

Last update for Long Island, NY: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Long Island, NY
$2.5K 64.6% $967
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$392
Long Island, NY
$378 3.6% $14
Eating Out
Vancouver
$270
Long Island, NY
$368 36% $97
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$171
Long Island, NY
$293 71.1% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$125
Long Island, NY
$149 19.1% $24
Getting Around
Vancouver
$104
Long Island, NY
$155 50% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$67
Long Island, NY
$60 10.6% $7.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,775 in Vancouver versus $2,715 in Long Island, NY. 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 32% higher in Long Island, NY, 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 $101 in Long Island, NY. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Vancouver vs $378 in Long Island, NY – so Long Island, NY wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇺🇸 Long Island, NY
🕒 Local time
16:31 4:31 PM
19:31 7:31 PM
3 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
7,804,968
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 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 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Long Island, NY 3,960 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Long Island, NY

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 Long Island, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Vancouver and in Long Island, NY compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,626 in Vancouver, $3,867 in Long Island, NY – roughly 47% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Vancouver compared to Long Island, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,939 per month in Vancouver and $5,800 in Long Island, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Vancouver and Long Island, NY?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vancouver, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Vancouver and Long Island, NY?
Kindergarten costs $1,102 per month in Vancouver and $2,219 in Long Island, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Long Island, NY – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,626 in Vancouver and $3,867 in Long Island, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Vancouver and Long Island, NY?
It depends on your priorities. Long Island, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,626 in Vancouver to $3,867 in Long Island, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Vancouver or Long Island, NY safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Vancouver and Long Island, NY?
If budget matters most, go with Vancouver. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Long Island, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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