Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Port Coquitlam, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Port Coquitlam, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,873 in Vancouver versus $2,750 in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,180 in Vancouver versus $3,694 in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,486 in Vancouver versus $4,637 in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 4% more expensive than Port Coquitlam, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 115% above, Port Coquitlam, BC 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.57 CA$25.44

$18.22 CA$24.97

1.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 CA$108

$79.0 CA$108

-0.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.41

$9.56 CA$13.09

17.68%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.33

$4.03 CA$5.53

-3.47%

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

$2.16 CA$2.96

$1.98 CA$2.71

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.44

$1.36 CA$1.86

30.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.01

$5.97 CA$8.17

-2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.44 CA$10.20

$5.91 CA$8.09

25.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 CA$3.12

$2.13 CA$2.92

7.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 CA$4.40

$2.37 CA$3.25

35.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.14

$3.78 CA$5.17

-0.79%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.21

$3.15 CA$4.31

43.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.80 CA$17.54

$12.88 CA$17.65

-0.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.09 CA$19.30

$13.81 CA$18.91

2.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 CA$21.74

$15.01 CA$20.56

5.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.73

$3.20 CA$4.38

30.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 CA$2.10

$1.45 CA$1.99

5.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.34

$3.29 CA$4.51

18.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 CA$6.84

$4.02 CA$5.50

24.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.13

$2.54 CA$3.49

18.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.11

$3.11 CA$4.26

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 CA$3.71

$2.64 CA$3.62

2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 CA$2.47

$1.22 CA$1.67

47.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.30 CA$20.97

$14.62 CA$20.03

4.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 CA$21.07

$14.87 CA$20.38

3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.24

$2.14 CA$2.93

44.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.13

$2.28 CA$3.12

64.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.26

$1.78 CA$2.44

33.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.7 CA$117

$64.1 CA$87.7

33.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.13

$2.99 CA$4.09

25.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$1.97

$1.40 CA$1.92

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.52 CA$37.70

$27.26 CA$37.35

0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.78

$1.29 CA$1.77

0.78%

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

$25.7K CA$35.2K

$25.5K CA$35.0K

0.72%

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

$20.4K CA$28.0K

-0.04%

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

$90.1 CA$123

$90.0 CA$123

0.01%

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

$40.47 CA$55.4

$44.16 CA$60.5

-8.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 CA$82.7

$52.8 CA$72.3

14.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.45 CA$60.9

$14.96 CA$20.50

197.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.43 CA$21.13

Cinema Ticket

$12.38 CA$16.96

$12.34 CA$16.91

0.32%

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

$1,153 CA$1,580

$939 CA$1,286

22.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$25.4K

$11.2K CA$15.3K

66.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 CA$87.0

$50.4 CA$69.0

25.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.83 CA$57.3

$33.97 CA$46.54

23.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 CA$134

$94.9 CA$130

2.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$159

0.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 CA$2,702

$1,625 CA$2,226

21.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 CA$2,218

$1,631 CA$2,234

-0.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,531 CA$4,838

$2,183 CA$2,990

61.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,748 CA$3,765

$1,973 CA$2,703

39.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,040 CA$12.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,298 CA$9,998

$5,710 CA$7,823

27.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,619 CA$4,959

$2,923 CA$4,004

23.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

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

Last update for Vancouver: April 26, 2026

Last update for Port Coquitlam, BC: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,972 in Vancouver and $1,625 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Vancouver vs $79.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $416 vs $367, with Port Coquitlam, BC cheaper for home cooking.

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 Port Coquitlam, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Coquitlam, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Vancouver pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,972 in Vancouver versus $1,625 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,153 in Vancouver versus $939 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Port Coquitlam, BC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Vancouver and Port Coquitlam, BC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Port Coquitlam, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.