πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver versus $2,780 in Mississauga.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,231 in Vancouver versus $3,929 in Mississauga.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,630 in Vancouver versus $5,079 in Mississauga.
πLiving in Vancouver is roughly 2% more expensive than Mississauga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver111% above, Mississauga107% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26CA$25.37
$18.63CA$25.89
-1.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8CA$108
$81.3CA$113
-4.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.85CA$15.08
$10.86CA$15.09
-0.09%
Cappuccino
$3.98CA$5.53
$4.01CA$5.58
-0.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12CA$2.94
$1.71CA$2.37
23.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78CA$2.47
$1.51CA$2.09
17.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77CA$8.02
$6.00CA$8.33
-3.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56CA$10.50
$6.00CA$8.34
26.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CA$3.23
$2.33CA$3.24
-0.43%
White Bread(500g)
$3.10CA$4.30
$2.48CA$3.45
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89CA$5.40
$2.71CA$3.77
43.54%
Eggs
$4.53CA$6.29
$3.88CA$5.38
16.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.92CA$17.95
$13.72CA$19.06
-5.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.14CA$19.65
$11.52CA$16.01
22.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74CA$21.87
$14.85CA$20.63
5.99%
Apples(1kg)
$4.26CA$5.91
$3.50CA$4.86
21.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47CA$2.04
$1.24CA$1.73
18.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.02CA$5.59
$2.92CA$4.06
37.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.06CA$7.03
$3.54CA$4.91
42.94%
Potato(1kg)
$3.02CA$4.20
$1.66CA$2.31
81.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95CA$4.10
$2.50CA$3.48
18.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60CA$3.61
$1.82CA$2.53
42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88CA$2.61
$1.63CA$2.26
15.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.20CA$21.12
$12.16CA$16.90
25.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.30CA$19.86
$12.96CA$18.00
10.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.07CA$4.27
$2.56CA$3.56
19.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74CA$5.20
$2.57CA$3.57
45.53%
π Getting Around
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.44CA$3.39
$3.01CA$4.18
-18.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9CA$118
$96.3CA$134
-11.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.74CA$5.19
$3.15CA$4.38
18.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50CA$2.09
$1.20CA$1.67
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.43CA$38.11
$22.14CA$30.76
23.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34CA$1.86
$1.10CA$1.53
21.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.9K
$25.5KCA$35.4K
-1.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KCA$28.8K
$20.7KCA$28.8K
0.15%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.8CA$128
$179CA$248
-48.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.42CA$54.8
$41.99CA$58.3
-6.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1CA$84.9
$53.9CA$74.8
13.37%
π Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.89CA$62.4
$44.28CA$61.5
1.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.68CA$21.79
$23.71CA$32.94
-33.87%
Cinema Ticket
$12.37CA$17.18
$13.83CA$19.21
-10.56%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,180CA$1,640
$430CA$597
174.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8KCA$26.1K
$10.9KCA$15.1K
72.69%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7CA$87.1
$47.23CA$65.6
32.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.13CA$59.9
$44.12CA$61.3
-2.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7CA$132
$85.9CA$119
10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118CA$164
$104CA$145
13.77%
π Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,995CA$2,771
$1,890CA$2,626
5.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,629CA$2,264
$1,588CA$2,206
2.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,589CA$4,986
$2,718CA$3,776
32.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,769CA$3,848
$2,389CA$3,320
15.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,246CA$12.8K
$7,904CA$11.0K
16.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,086CA$9,845
$6,306CA$8,761
12.38%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Mississauga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,474CA$4,827
$3,091CA$4,295
12.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.61
6.08
-7.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mississauga: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Vancouver and $1,890 in Mississauga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Vancouver pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $78.0 in Vancouver vs $81.0 in Mississauga. Groceries flip the comparison at $415 vs $353, with Mississauga cheaper for home cooking.
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 Mississauga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vancouver and Mississauga?
Vancouver and Mississauga differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,831 vs $2,780 including rent). Mississauga is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Vancouver or Mississauga?
Vancouver pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Vancouver and Mississauga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,890 in Mississauga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mississauga β a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Vancouver or Mississauga?
All in, you'll spend $2,831 per month in Vancouver versus $2,780 in Mississauga β a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Mississauga is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Vancouver and Mississauga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Vancouver or Mississauga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vancouver and Mississauga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Vancouver or Mississauga?
Expats usually find Mississauga gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.