Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Parry Sound Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Parry Sound

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,873 per month in Vancouver vs $2,451 in Parry Sound, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,180 per month in Vancouver vs $3,255 in Parry Sound, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,486 per month in Vancouver vs $4,059 in Parry Sound, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 17% more than Parry Sound, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Parry Sound sit above the global median – Vancouver by 115%, Parry Sound by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.57 CA$25.44

$15.37 CA$21.06

20.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 CA$108

$44.34 CA$60.7

77.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.41

$10.83 CA$14.84

3.88%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.33

$3.00 CA$4.10

29.67%

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

$2.16 CA$2.96

$1.81 CA$2.48

19.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.44

$1.31 CA$1.79

35.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.01

$5.03 CA$6.90

16.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.44 CA$10.20

$4.40 CA$6.03

69.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CA$3.12

$2.33 CA$3.19

-2.15%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.40

$2.13 CA$2.91

50.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.14

$1.66 CA$2.27

125.90%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.21

$3.28 CA$4.49

38.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.80 CA$17.54

$4.22 CA$5.79

203.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.09 CA$19.30

$9.61 CA$13.17

46.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 CA$21.74

$7.49 CA$10.26

111.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.73

$3.45 CA$4.73

21.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.10

$0.73 CA$1.00

109.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.34

$0.73 CA$1.00

434.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 CA$6.84

$2.18 CA$2.99

128.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.13

$1.69 CA$2.31

78.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.11

$1.36 CA$1.87

120.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 CA$3.71

$1.45 CA$1.99

86.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.47

$1.96 CA$2.69

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.30 CA$20.97

$12.26 CA$16.80

24.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 CA$21.07

$11.52 CA$15.78

33.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.24

$2.41 CA$3.30

28.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.13

$2.77 CA$3.80

35.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.26

$2.34 CA$3.20

1.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CA$117

$62.0 CA$84.9

38.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.13

$3.18 CA$4.35

17.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$1.97

$2.17 CA$2.97

-33.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.52 CA$37.70

$22.14 CA$30.33

24.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.78

$1.10 CA$1.51

18.18%

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

$25.7K CA$35.2K

$25.4K CA$34.8K

1.24%

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

$20.4K CA$28.0K

$20.2K CA$27.7K

1.10%

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

$90.1 CA$123

$172 CA$236

-47.77%

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

$40.47 CA$55.4

$33.54 CA$45.94

20.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 CA$82.7

$51.9 CA$71.1

16.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.45 CA$60.9

$42.27 CA$57.9

5.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.43 CA$21.13

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 CA$16.96

$13.15 CA$18.01

-5.86%

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

$1,153 CA$1,580

$990 CA$1,356

16.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$25.4K

$11.3K CA$15.5K

63.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 CA$87.0

$61.3 CA$83.9

3.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.83 CA$57.3

$44.37 CA$60.8

-5.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 CA$134

$96.7 CA$132

0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$159

$94.7 CA$130

22.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 CA$2,702

$1,151 CA$1,577

71.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 CA$2,218

$1,374 CA$1,882

17.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,531 CA$4,838

$2,009 CA$2,753

75.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,748 CA$3,765

$1,821 CA$2,495

50.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,040 CA$12.4K

$4,036 CA$5,529

124.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,298 CA$9,998

$3,829 CA$5,245

90.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,619 CA$4,959

$2,196 CA$3,008

64.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

12.20%

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

Last update for Vancouver: April 26, 2026

Last update for Parry Sound: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,972 in Vancouver versus $1,151 in Parry Sound. 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 65% 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 $44 in Parry Sound. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $261 – making Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 17% more than Parry Sound, 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 $4,310 per month in Vancouver and $3,676 in Parry Sound. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 38% less in Parry Sound. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,153 per month in Vancouver and $990 in Parry Sound. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Parry Sound, where all-in costs run around $2,451, than in Vancouver at $2,873. In Parry Sound it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Parry Sound – 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 Parry Sound. 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.