Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Montclair, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Vancouver: $2,626 a month against $2,923 in Montclair, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,626
/mo nomad
Montclair, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,923
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Montclair, NJ

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

A single person spends $2,626 per month in Vancouver vs $2,923 in Montclair, NJ, rent included.

  • Vancouver $2,626
  • Montclair, NJ $2,923

A couple spends around $3,841 per month in Vancouver vs $4,274 in Montclair, NJ, rent included.

  • Vancouver $3,841
  • Montclair, NJ $4,274

A family of three spends $5,056 per month in Vancouver vs $5,626 in Montclair, NJ, rent included.

  • Vancouver $5,056
  • Montclair, NJ $5,626

Vancouver is about 10% cheaper than Montclair, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Vancouver and Montclair, NJ sit above the global median – Vancouver by 95%, Montclair, NJ by 117%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19 CA$24.30
$19.91 $19.91
-13.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 CA$97.6
$79.4 $79.4
-13.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.61 CA$15.00
$13.18 $13.18
-19.50%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.42
$6.44 $6.44
-40.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.88
$2.48 $2.48
-17.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.34
$1.48 $1.48
11.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 CA$7.83
$8.66 $8.66
-36.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20 CA$8.77
$6.91 $6.91
-10.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$1.27 $1.27
68.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 CA$3.54
$4.47 $4.47
-43.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 CA$6.35
$6.09 $6.09
-26.27%
Eggs
$4.09 CA$5.78
$6.14 $6.14
-33.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.73 CA$16.58
$13.71 $13.71
-14.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 CA$18.54
$10.37 $10.37
26.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.50 CA$27.57
$18.41 $18.41
5.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 CA$5.65
$5.87 $5.87
-31.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$2.09 $2.09
-33.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.48
$4.18 $4.18
-7.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 CA$5.58
$5.45 $5.45
-27.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$3.09 $3.09
-11.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CA$4.05
$3.00 $3.00
-4.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 CA$3.48
$2.90 $2.90
-15.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.21
$2.62 $2.62
-40.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.48 CA$21.88
$17.73 $17.73
-12.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.75 CA$19.44
$14.84 $14.84
-7.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 CA$3.72
$1.76 $1.76
49.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 CA$4.09
$3.65 $3.65
-20.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 CA$3.51
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.0 CA$117
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 CA$3.85
$2.92 $2.92
-6.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 CA$2.24
$2.11 $2.11
-25.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.05 CA$43.89
$41.91 $41.91
-25.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 CA$1.94
$1.11 $1.11
23.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K CA$39.1K
$36.2K $36.2K
-23.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$25.1K $25.1K
-21.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 CA$117
$170 $170
-51.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.26 CA$52.7
$51.7 $51.7
-27.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.7 CA$73.1
$49.53 $49.53
4.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.87 CA$60.6
$79.2 $79.2
-45.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.40 CA$17.53
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.13 CA$17.15
$20.46 $20.46
-40.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,102 CA$1,557
$2,014 $2,014
-45.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K CA$28.0K
$15.9K $15.9K
24.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 CA$79.7
$71.1 $71.1
-20.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.43 CA$47.26
$51.5 $51.5
-35.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 CA$133
$101 $101
-7.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8 CA$133
$121 $121
-22.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,775 CA$2,509
$2,227 $2,227
-20.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 CA$2,116
$1,570 $1,570
-4.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,082 CA$4,357
$3,763 $3,763
-18.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,416 CA$3,416
$2,573 $2,573
-6.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,069 CA$11.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,449 CA$9,118
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Montclair, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,776 CA$5,339
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
6.8
-37.06%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 10, 2026

Last update for Montclair, NJ: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Montclair, NJ
$1.6K 4.9% $73
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$392
Montclair, NJ
$444 13.2% $52
Eating Out
Vancouver
$270
Montclair, NJ
$349 29.2% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$171
Montclair, NJ
$271 58% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$125
Montclair, NJ
$155 24.2% $30
Getting Around
Vancouver
$104
Montclair, NJ
$13 * 87% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$67
Montclair, NJ
$120 78.9% $53

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,775 in Vancouver versus $2,227 in Montclair, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Vancouver versus $79.0 in Montclair, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $444 – making Vancouver the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇺🇸 Montclair, NJ
🕒 Local time
07:10 7:10 AM
10:10 10:10 AM
3 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
37,669
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Montclair, NJ 3,880 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Montclair, NJ

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 Montclair, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montclair, NJ cheaper than Vancouver?
Yes – Montclair, NJ is pricier by about 11%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,939 per month in Vancouver and $4,384 in Montclair, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 are total monthly expenses in Vancouver and in Montclair, NJ?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,626 in Vancouver and $2,923 in Montclair, NJ. That's a gap of about 11%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,102 per month in Vancouver and $2,014 in Montclair, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Vancouver or in Montclair, NJ?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,626 in Vancouver and $2,923 in Montclair, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Vancouver or Montclair, NJ more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Vancouver – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Vancouver or Montclair, NJ?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Vancouver. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montclair, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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