Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and North Brunswick, NJ

For one person, living costs are similar in Vancouver and in North Brunswick, NJ: $2,662 and $2,641 a month, rent and utilities included.

Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,662
/mo nomad
North Brunswick, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,641
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in North Brunswick, 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 North Brunswick, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,662 in Vancouver versus $2,641 in North Brunswick, NJ.

  • Vancouver $2,662
  • North Brunswick, NJ $2,641

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,916 in Vancouver versus $3,632 in North Brunswick, NJ.

  • Vancouver $3,916
  • North Brunswick, NJ $3,632

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,170 in Vancouver versus $4,623 in North Brunswick, NJ.

  • Vancouver $5,170
  • North Brunswick, NJ $4,623

Living in Vancouver is roughly 1% more expensive than in North Brunswick, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 96% above, North Brunswick, NJ 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.01 CA$25.46
$20.38 $20.38
-11.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 CA$100
$60.4 $60.4
17.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$15.31
$12.05 $12.05
-10.12%
Cappuccino
$3.94 CA$5.56
$3.04 $3.04
29.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 CA$3.01
$2.68 $2.68
-20.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.34
$1.18 $1.18
40.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.73 CA$8.10
$6.64 $6.64
-13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.40 CA$9.04
$5.94 $5.94
7.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 CA$3.04
$1.11 $1.11
93.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 CA$3.61
$1.60 $1.60
59.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.56 CA$6.45
$5.62 $5.62
-18.86%
Eggs
$4.06 CA$5.74
$4.59 $4.59
-11.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.14 CA$17.17
$13.21 $13.21
-8.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.23 CA$18.71
$17.20 $17.20
-23.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.24 CA$28.62
$15.96 $15.96
26.82%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 CA$5.73
$3.96 $3.96
2.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 CA$2.00
$1.86 $1.86
-23.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 CA$5.62
$4.27 $4.27
-7.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.91 CA$5.53
$6.02 $6.02
-35.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.74
$3.23 $3.23
-18.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 CA$3.98
$3.37 $3.37
-16.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 CA$3.51
$2.32 $2.32
6.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 CA$2.24
$2.04 $2.04
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.30 CA$21.64
$14.66 $14.66
4.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.32 CA$20.24
$18.04 $18.04
-20.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 CA$3.63
$2.60 $2.60
-1.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.12
$4.11 $4.11
-29.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 CA$3.60
$1.99 $1.99
28.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.6 CA$120
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$2.81 $2.81
-6.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 CA$2.31
$3.67 $3.67
-55.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.77 CA$44.91
$49.62 $49.62
-35.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 CA$2.01
$0.99 $0.99
43.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K CA$38.3K
$27.4K $27.4K
-1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$30.5K
$26.5K $26.5K
-18.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 CA$115
$127 $127
-35.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.20 CA$52.6
$47.32 $47.32
-21.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.6 CA$74.4
$56.7 $56.7
-7.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.34 CA$62.7
$47.51 $47.51
-6.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.37 CA$17.49
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.62 CA$17.85
$13.03 $13.03
-3.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,093 CA$1,544
$1,418 $1,418
-22.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K CA$28.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
-14.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 CA$82.7
$54.1 $54.1
8.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.35 CA$47.14
$50.5 $50.5
-33.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.3 CA$136
$122 $122
-21.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.6 CA$135
$132 $132
-27.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 CA$2,495
$1,430 $1,430
23.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,508 CA$2,132
$1,423 $1,423
5.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,122 CA$4,414
$2,221 $2,221
40.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,469 CA$3,490
$1,902 $1,902
29.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,173 CA$11.6K
$2,715 $2,715
201.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,354 CA$8,982
$2,046 $2,046
210.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
North Brunswick, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,592 CA$5,078
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
7.01
-38.94%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 17, 2026

Last update for North Brunswick, NJ: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
North Brunswick, NJ
$1.4K 5.6% $85
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$399
North Brunswick, NJ
$427 7.1% $28
Eating Out
Vancouver
$280
North Brunswick, NJ
$296 5.6% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$171
North Brunswick, NJ
$231 35% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$128
North Brunswick, NJ
$161 26.4% $34
Getting Around
Vancouver
$106
North Brunswick, NJ
$29 * 72.4% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$70
North Brunswick, NJ
$74 5.7% $4

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,765 in Vancouver and $1,430 in North Brunswick, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Vancouver vs $60.0 in North Brunswick, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $427, with Vancouver cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇺🇸 North Brunswick, NJ
🕒 Local time
22:19 10:19 PM
01:19 1:19 AM
3 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
43,905
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver North Brunswick, NJ 3,880 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • North Brunswick, 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 North Brunswick, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Brunswick, NJ cheaper than Vancouver?
North Brunswick, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in transport. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,992 in Vancouver and $3,962 in North Brunswick, NJ to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Vancouver and North Brunswick, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,765 in Vancouver versus $1,430 in North Brunswick, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,093 in Vancouver versus $1,418 in North Brunswick, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Vancouver or in North Brunswick, NJ?
Dining out is cheaper in North Brunswick, NJ – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $71.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Vancouver or in North Brunswick, NJ?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. North Brunswick, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Vancouver or in North Brunswick, NJ?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Vancouver or North Brunswick, NJ?
Safety-wise, Vancouver and North Brunswick, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find North Brunswick, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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