Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Meadow Lake, SK Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Meadow Lake, SK

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $2,452 in Meadow Lake, SK, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $3,535 in Meadow Lake, SK, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $4,618 in Meadow Lake, SK, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 15% more than Meadow Lake, SK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Meadow Lake, SK sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Meadow Lake, SK by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.45

$16.10 CA$22.44

13.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$88.0 CA$123

-11.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.12

$10.46 CA$14.57

3.73%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.55

$3.69 CA$5.14

7.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.51 CA$3.50

-15.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.48

$2.04 CA$2.84

-12.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.04

$4.13 CA$5.76

39.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.53

$5.93 CA$8.26

27.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.24

$1.26 CA$1.76

84.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.32

$2.83 CA$3.94

9.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.42

$5.30 CA$7.38

-26.60%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.31

$3.73 CA$5.20

21.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$18.00

$8.65 CA$12.05

49.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.71

$12.35 CA$17.22

14.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.94

$16.05 CA$22.36

-1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.93

$3.60 CA$5.01

18.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.68 CA$2.34

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.60

$4.75 CA$6.62

-15.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.06

$3.22 CA$4.48

57.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.21

$2.87 CA$4.00

5.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.11

$1.70 CA$2.37

73.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$1.85 CA$2.58

40.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.25 CA$1.75

50.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.18

$14.53 CA$20.25

4.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.93

$13.88 CA$19.34

3.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.28

$3.23 CA$4.51

-4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.21

$3.27 CA$4.56

14.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.40

$2.31 CA$3.22

5.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$62.1 CA$86.6

36.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.21

$3.49 CA$4.87

7.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.26 CA$1.76

19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.23

$10.88 CA$15.17

152.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.87

$1.16 CA$1.62

15.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K CA$35.0K

$24.8K CA$34.5K

1.39%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.7K CA$28.9K

$20.6K CA$28.7K

0.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.8 CA$128

$214 CA$298

-57.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.42 CA$54.9

$59.4 CA$82.8

-33.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$85.1

$73.2 CA$102

-16.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.6

$42.04 CA$58.6

6.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.85

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.24

$14.92 CA$20.80

-17.09%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,645

$527 CA$735

123.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$14.8K CA$20.6K

27.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.3

$75.3 CA$105

-16.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.1

$57.5 CA$80.2

-25.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$92.8 CA$129

2.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$114 CA$159

3.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,780

$1,297 CA$1,808

53.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,271

$1,195 CA$1,665

36.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$5,002

$2,033 CA$2,833

76.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,860

$1,840 CA$2,564

50.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

$4,160 CA$5,798

122.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,876

$3,530 CA$4,919

100.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,842

$2,975 CA$4,146

16.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.65

-15.64%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Meadow Lake, SK: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,297 in Meadow Lake, SK. 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 17% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver versus $88.0 in Meadow Lake, SK. Groceries tell a different story – $415 in Vancouver vs $361 in Meadow Lake, SK – so Meadow Lake, SK wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Meadow Lake, SK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $3,678 in Meadow Lake, SK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Meadow Lake, SK, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Meadow Lake, SK. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,180 per month in Vancouver and $527 in Meadow Lake, SK. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Meadow Lake, SK, where all-in costs run around $2,452, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Meadow Lake, SK it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Meadow Lake, SK – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Meadow Lake, SK. 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.