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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Vancouver is 5.3% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC without rent, and 23.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Vancouver is 8.6% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.3 CA$24.9
$18.26 CA$24.86
0.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5 CA$110
$62.4 CA$84.9
29.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 CA$15.14
$13.44 CA$18.3
-17.26%
Cappuccino
$4.07 CA$5.54
$4.1 CA$5.58
-0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 CA$2.92
$2.59 CA$3.52
-16.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 CA$2.46
$1.96 CA$2.66
-7.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 CA$8.07
$5.72 CA$7.79
3.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 CA$9.74
$5.93 CA$8.07
20.74%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.15
$1.79 CA$2.43
29.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.2 CA$4.35
$3.33 CA$4.53
-3.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.08
$4.2 CA$5.71
-11.19%
Eggs
$4.33 CA$5.89
$3.84 CA$5.23
12.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.92 CA$17.58
$11.84 CA$16.12
9.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.87 CA$18.89
$16.1 CA$21.91
-13.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.62 CA$21.26
$18.04 CA$24.55
-13.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 CA$5.68
$4.46 CA$6.07
-6.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 CA$2.07
$1.53 CA$2.09
-0.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.5
$3.57 CA$4.86
13.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.08 CA$6.92
$4.68 CA$6.37
8.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.28
$3.11 CA$4.24
1.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 CA$4.21
$2.86 CA$3.9
8.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 CA$3.65
$3 CA$4.09
-10.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 CA$2.57
$2.24 CA$3.05
-15.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.4 CA$20.96
$13.3 CA$18.1
15.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$16 CA$21.78
$18.23 CA$24.82
-12.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.2 CA$4.35
$2.35 CA$3.2
36.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 CA$5.16
$3.4 CA$4.63
11.47%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 CA$3.3
$1.97 CA$2.68
23.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.8 CA$113
$48.64 CA$66.2
70.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 CA$4.96
$2.99 CA$4.08
22.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 CA$1.94
$1.34 CA$1.83
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.8 CA$36.48
$34.44 CA$46.87
-22.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 CA$1.8
$1.35 CA$1.84
-2.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$34.5K
$24.8K CA$33.8K
2.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K CA$27.9K
$20K CA$27.3K
2.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 CA$121
$120 CA$163
-26.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.14 CA$54.6
$47.54 CA$64.7
-15.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 CA$82
$66.5 CA$90.5
-9.36%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.18 CA$61.5
$30.49 CA$41.5
48.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.77 CA$21.46
$11.19 CA$15.23
40.93%
Cinema Ticket
$12.37 CA$16.84
$11.02 CA$14.99
12.25%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,160 CA$1,579
$790 CA$1,075
46.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.5K CA$25.2K
$11.8K CA$16.1K
56.71%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 CA$86.3
$45.89 CA$62.5
38.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.97 CA$57.1
$34.91 CA$47.52
20.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 CA$129
$80.6 CA$110
17.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 CA$157
$102 CA$139
12.80%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 CA$2,735
$1,323 CA$1,801
51.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,618 CA$2,202
$1,165 CA$1,585
38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,495 CA$4,758
$2,064 CA$2,809
69.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,772 CA$3,773
$1,953 CA$2,658
41.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,600 CA$13.1K
$3,849 CA$5,240
149.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,166 CA$9,755
$3,559 CA$4,845
101.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,337 CA$4,543
$2,528 CA$3,441
32.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.61
6.47
-13.29%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vancouver: October 26, 2025

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: October 28, 2025

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