Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Nanaimo, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Nanaimo, BC

😐 Solo nomad: Vancouver is 5.6% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC without rent, and 22.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vancouver is 6.8% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 CA$25.66
$18.27 CA$25.03
2.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5 CA$110
$62.6 CA$85.7
28.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.19 CA$15.34
$13.30 CA$18.22
-15.86%
Cappuccino
$4.11 CA$5.64
$4.11 CA$5.62
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.91
$2.50 CA$3.43
-15.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.40
$1.97 CA$2.70
-11.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 CA$8.25
$6.05 CA$8.29
-0.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 CA$9.83
$5.78 CA$7.92
24.22%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.16
$1.87 CA$2.56
23.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 CA$4.27
$3.33 CA$4.56
-6.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.20
$4.15 CA$5.69
-8.67%
Eggs
$4.39 CA$6.02
$3.85 CA$5.27
14.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 CA$17.83
$12.00 CA$16.44
8.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.20 CA$19.45
$16.00 CA$21.92
-11.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.03 CA$21.96
$18.44 CA$25.27
-13.07%
Apples (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.78
$4.32 CA$5.91
-2.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 CA$2.03
$1.56 CA$2.14
-5.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.86 CA$5.29
$3.42 CA$4.69
12.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.06 CA$6.93
$4.65 CA$6.37
8.82%
Potato (1kg)
$3.17 CA$4.34
$3.06 CA$4.20
3.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 CA$4.09
$2.90 CA$3.98
3.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 CA$3.63
$3.13 CA$4.29
-15.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 CA$2.60
$2.28 CA$3.13
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.43 CA$21.14
$13.56 CA$18.58
13.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.43 CA$21.14
$12.84 CA$17.59
20.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.35
$2.45 CA$3.35
29.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 CA$4.98
$3.40 CA$4.65
7.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.18
$1.99 CA$2.72
16.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.2 CA$117
$47.19 CA$64.6
80.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 CA$4.98
$2.87 CA$3.93
26.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.02
$1.33 CA$1.83
10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.66 CA$36.52
$34.09 CA$46.71
-21.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 CA$1.76
$1.30 CA$1.78
-0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$34.8K
$25.0K CA$34.2K
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$28.3K
$20.5K CA$28.0K
1.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.5 CA$123
$117 CA$160
-23.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.76 CA$55.9
$46.98 CA$64.4
-13.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8 CA$83.3
$67.0 CA$91.7
-9.23%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.63 CA$62.5
$30.25 CA$41.45
50.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56 CA$21.32
$10.92 CA$14.96
42.49%
Cinema Ticket
$12.01 CA$16.45
$10.97 CA$15.02
9.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,183 CA$1,621
$773 CA$1,059
53.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.5K CA$25.4K
$12.2K CA$16.7K
52.28%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 CA$87.8
$44.63 CA$61.2
43.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.22 CA$59.2
$34.26 CA$46.93
26.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.2 CA$133
$80.6 CA$110
20.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 CA$160
$103 CA$141
13.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 CA$2,693
$1,353 CA$1,854
45.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 CA$2,230
$1,158 CA$1,587
40.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 CA$4,760
$2,044 CA$2,801
69.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,718 CA$3,724
$1,892 CA$2,592
43.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,232 CA$12.6K
$3,889 CA$5,328
137.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,000 CA$9,590
$3,472 CA$4,757
101.59%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,646 CA$4,995
$3,105 CA$4,254
17.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.61
6.47
-13.29%

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

Last update for Vancouver: March 2, 2026

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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