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 $2,845 per month in Vancouver vs $2,514 in New Westminster, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,183 per month in Vancouver vs $3,909 in New Westminster, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,520 per month in Vancouver vs $5,304 in New Westminster, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 13% 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 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.01

$14.63 CA$20.04

24.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 CA$108

$73.0 CA$99.9

8.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 CA$15.30

$9.36 CA$12.83

19.34%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.37

$3.98 CA$5.45

-1.51%

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

$2.23 CA$3.05

$1.98 CA$2.71

12.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CA$2.51

$1.46 CA$2.00

25.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.02

$6.40 CA$8.77

-8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 CA$9.82

$6.72 CA$9.20

6.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.02

$2.24 CA$3.07

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 CA$4.41

$2.46 CA$3.38

30.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.13

$3.60 CA$4.93

4.17%

Eggs

$4.36 CA$5.98

$3.47 CA$4.75

25.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.71 CA$17.41

$10.15 CA$13.90

25.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.90 CA$19.04

$10.47 CA$14.35

32.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 CA$21.45

$10.04 CA$13.76

55.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.81

$3.06 CA$4.20

38.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.11

$1.37 CA$1.88

12.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.30

$2.83 CA$3.88

36.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$6.96

$3.67 CA$5.02

38.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.38

$2.43 CA$3.33

31.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.02

$2.21 CA$3.03

32.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 CA$3.60

$1.89 CA$2.59

39.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.55

$2.11 CA$2.89

-11.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.36 CA$21.04

$16.48 CA$22.58

-6.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 CA$21.20

$15.49 CA$21.22

-0.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.25

$2.25 CA$3.08

37.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.12

$2.99 CA$4.10

25.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.27

$2.56 CA$3.51

-7.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.0 CA$115

$96.7 CA$133

-13.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 CA$5.01

$2.27 CA$3.11

61.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.03

$1.61 CA$2.21

-8.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.98 CA$36.96

$23.89 CA$32.72

12.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 CA$1.76

$1.28 CA$1.75

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

$25.6K CA$35.0K

$24.8K CA$34.0K

2.88%

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

$20.8K CA$28.6K

$19.8K CA$27.1K

5.25%

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

$91.0 CA$125

$116 CA$159

-21.47%

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

$40.15 CA$55.0

$45.86 CA$62.8

-12.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 CA$83.3

$68.4 CA$93.7

-11.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.05 CA$63.1

$34.08 CA$46.69

35.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.77 CA$21.61

$18.08 CA$24.77

-12.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.25 CA$16.79

$12.32 CA$16.88

-0.57%

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

$1,165 CA$1,596

$825 CA$1,130

41.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.2K

$8,121 CA$11.1K

126.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 CA$85.7

$47.08 CA$64.5

32.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.30 CA$58.0

$33.48 CA$45.87

26.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CA$134

$83.5 CA$114

17.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$156

$105 CA$144

8.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 CA$2,724

$1,606 CA$2,200

23.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,669 CA$2,287

$1,394 CA$1,909

19.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,580 CA$4,904

$2,918 CA$3,997

22.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 CA$3,738

$2,735 CA$3,746

-0.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,014 CA$12.3K

$4,872 CA$6,674

85.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,085 CA$9,707

$4,203 CA$5,758

68.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,588 CA$4,916

$3,149 CA$4,314

13.95%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for New Westminster: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,988 in Vancouver versus $1,606 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 14% 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 $79 in Vancouver versus $73 in New Westminster. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $334 – 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 13% 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 $4,268 per month in Vancouver and $3,771 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 $1,165 per month in Vancouver and $825 in New Westminster. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,845 in Vancouver and $2,514 in New Westminster. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.