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: $2,735 in Vancouver versus $2,610 in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,984 in Vancouver versus $3,525 in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,234 in Vancouver versus $4,441 in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 5% more expensive than in Port Coquitlam, BC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 100% above, Port Coquitlam, BC 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.82 CA$24.93
$14.10 CA$19.73
26.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 CA$101
$70.6 CA$98.8
2.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.93 CA$15.30
$8.45 CA$11.83
29.35%
Cappuccino
$4.19 CA$5.86
$3.70 CA$5.17
13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.11
$2.13 CA$2.98
4.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.29
$1.65 CA$2.31
-0.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 CA$8.23
$5.61 CA$7.85
4.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.51 CA$9.11
$6.57 CA$9.18
-0.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 CA$2.96
$1.87 CA$2.61
13.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 CA$3.69
$2.69 CA$3.77
-1.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 CA$6.21
$3.63 CA$5.08
22.31%
Eggs
$4.21 CA$5.89
$3.30 CA$4.62
27.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 CA$16.85
$11.79 CA$16.49
2.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.91 CA$19.46
$12.78 CA$17.88
8.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.62 CA$28.85
$14.20 CA$19.86
45.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 CA$6.00
$4.19 CA$5.86
2.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.88
$1.34 CA$1.87
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 CA$5.43
$3.87 CA$5.42
0.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 CA$5.70
$3.91 CA$5.47
4.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.03
$2.86 CA$4.00
0.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 CA$4.09
$2.59 CA$3.62
13.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 CA$3.68
$2.56 CA$3.58
2.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 CA$2.38
$1.64 CA$2.29
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.66 CA$21.91
$15.72 CA$21.99
-0.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 CA$19.91
$14.41 CA$20.15
-1.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 CA$3.89
$2.73 CA$3.82
1.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 CA$4.27
$3.06 CA$4.28
-0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 CA$3.54
$2.00 CA$2.80
26.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.5 CA$120
$114 CA$159
-24.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 CA$3.73
$2.65 CA$3.71
0.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 CA$2.25
$1.68 CA$2.35
-4.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.34 CA$45.24
$31.96 CA$44.71
1.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 CA$1.96
$1.38 CA$1.93
1.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K CA$40.0K
$28.7K CA$40.2K
-0.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$27.7K
$19.9K CA$27.8K
-0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.8 CA$110
$78.7 CA$110
0.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.70 CA$49.94
$35.80 CA$50.1
-0.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 CA$71.5
$50.0 CA$70.0
2.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.37 CA$59.3
$21.97 CA$30.73
92.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.04 CA$18.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.68 CA$16.34
$10.67 CA$14.92
9.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,108 CA$1,549
$1,133 CA$1,585
-2.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K CA$27.8K
$19.9K CA$27.8K
0.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 CA$79.7
$57.7 CA$80.7
-1.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.01 CA$48.98
$34.58 CA$48.37
1.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.0 CA$123
$84.7 CA$118
3.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2 CA$128
$92.3 CA$129
-1.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,843 CA$2,579
$1,582 CA$2,213
16.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 CA$2,140
$1,469 CA$2,054
4.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,156 CA$4,415
$2,195 CA$3,071
43.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,476 CA$3,464
$1,976 CA$2,765
25.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,675 CA$12.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,528 CA$9,132
$5,708 CA$7,985
14.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Port Coquitlam, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,726 CA$5,213
$2,295 CA$3,210
62.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.21
4.21
-

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

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Last update for Port Coquitlam, BC: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,843 in Vancouver and $1,582 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 62% 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: $72.0 in Vancouver vs $71.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $371 per month, with Port Coquitlam, BC cheaper across the board.

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
Is Port Coquitlam, BC cheaper than Vancouver?
Port Coquitlam, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vancouver or Port Coquitlam, BC?
Average pay runs 62% higher in Vancouver, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Vancouver and Port Coquitlam, BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,843 in Vancouver versus $1,582 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,108 in Vancouver versus $1,133 in Port Coquitlam, BC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Vancouver and in Port Coquitlam, BC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Vancouver or in Port Coquitlam, BC?
At $2,610 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $2,735 in Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Port Coquitlam, BC but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Port Coquitlam, BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Vancouver or in Port Coquitlam, BC?
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 Port Coquitlam, BC?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Port Coquitlam, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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