Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and New Westminster Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and New Westminster

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $2,472 in New Westminster, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $3,911 in New Westminster, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $5,351 in New Westminster, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 15% more than New Westminster, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and New Westminster sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, New Westminster by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.39

$14.83 CA$20.63

23.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$72.7 CA$101

7.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.09

$9.66 CA$13.43

12.32%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.54

$3.88 CA$5.39

2.58%

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

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.05 CA$2.85

3.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.42 CA$1.97

25.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$6.09 CA$8.47

-5.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.51

$6.68 CA$9.28

13.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$2.33 CA$3.25

-0.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$2.44 CA$3.40

27.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$3.74 CA$5.21

4.01%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.30

$3.42 CA$4.76

32.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.96

$10.15 CA$14.12

27.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.67

$10.25 CA$14.26

37.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.89

$10.01 CA$13.93

57.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.92

$3.08 CA$4.28

38.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.39 CA$1.93

5.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$2.95 CA$4.10

36.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.04

$3.73 CA$5.19

35.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$2.43 CA$3.38

24.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.22 CA$3.09

32.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$1.89 CA$2.62

37.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$2.11 CA$2.94

-10.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.14

$15.99 CA$22.23

-4.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.88

$12.60 CA$17.52

13.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$2.20 CA$3.07

39.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$2.91 CA$4.05

28.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$2.60 CA$3.61

-6.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$95.9 CA$133

-11.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$2.27 CA$3.16

64.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.66 CA$2.31

-9.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.15

$23.28 CA$32.37

17.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.33 CA$1.84

0.75%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$24.7K CA$34.4K

1.57%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$20.2K CA$28.1K

2.62%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$117 CA$163

-21.83%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$45.91 CA$63.8

-14.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$66.3 CA$92.2

-7.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$34.64 CA$48.17

29.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.81

$18.46 CA$25.67

-15.06%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.20

$12.00 CA$16.69

3.08%

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

$1,180 CA$1,641

$820 CA$1,141

43.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$8,202 CA$11.4K

128.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.2

$47.31 CA$65.8

32.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.0

$34.02 CA$47.31

26.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$82.2 CA$114

15.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$104 CA$144

14.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,774

$1,627 CA$2,263

22.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,266

$1,355 CA$1,885

20.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,991

$2,968 CA$4,127

20.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,851

$2,702 CA$3,758

2.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

$4,826 CA$6,712

91.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,854

$4,068 CA$5,657

74.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,831

$3,133 CA$4,356

10.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.44

-12.89%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for New Westminster: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,627 in New Westminster. 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 11% 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 $73.0 in New Westminster. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $329 – making New Westminster the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 New Westminster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 15% more than New Westminster, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $3,707 in New Westminster. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $1,180 per month in Vancouver and $820 in New Westminster. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in New Westminster, where all-in costs run around $2,472, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In New Westminster it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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.

If budget matters most, go with New Westminster. 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.