Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Saanich Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Saanich

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver versus $2,557 in Saanich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,231 in Vancouver versus $3,595 in Saanich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,630 in Vancouver versus $4,633 in Saanich.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 11% more expensive than Saanich, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 111% above, Saanich 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.37

$14.59 CA$20.27

25.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$67.1 CA$93.2

15.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.08

$10.88 CA$15.12

-0.28%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.53

$3.87 CA$5.38

2.84%

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

$2.12 CA$2.94

$2.24 CA$3.11

-5.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.81 CA$2.52

-1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$5.30 CA$7.36

8.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.50

$6.66 CA$9.25

13.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$1.73 CA$2.40

34.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.30

$2.75 CA$3.82

12.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$5.29 CA$7.35

-26.47%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.29

$3.60 CA$5.01

25.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.95

$11.16 CA$15.51

15.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.65

$12.84 CA$17.85

10.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.87

$13.15 CA$18.27

19.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.91

$4.41 CA$6.13

-3.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.60 CA$2.23

-8.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$4.51 CA$6.27

-10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$4.88 CA$6.78

3.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$3.77 CA$5.24

-19.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.27 CA$4.54

-9.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$2.65 CA$3.68

-1.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.61

$2.51 CA$3.49

-25.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.12

$11.85 CA$16.47

28.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.86

$15.65 CA$21.74

-8.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$3.87 CA$5.38

-20.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.55 CA$6.33

-17.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$1.88 CA$2.61

29.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$80.7 CA$112

5.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.19

$2.70 CA$3.75

38.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.37 CA$1.91

9.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.11

$32.68 CA$45.40

-16.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.35 CA$1.88

-0.74%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.2K

-0.92%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$21.3K CA$29.5K

-2.45%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$136 CA$189

-32.60%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$21.17 CA$29.41

86.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$72.0 CA$100

-15.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$73.8 CA$103

-39.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.79

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.18

$11.65 CA$16.19

6.18%

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

$1,180 CA$1,640

$626 CA$870

88.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$14.2K CA$19.7K

32.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$58.3 CA$81.1

7.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$59.9

$36.36 CA$50.5

18.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$96.4 CA$134

-1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$112 CA$156

5.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,771

$1,480 CA$2,056

34.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,264

$1,359 CA$1,889

19.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,986

$2,129 CA$2,958

68.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,848

$1,919 CA$2,666

44.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.8K

$4,368 CA$6,069

111.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,845

$3,304 CA$4,590

114.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,827

$2,943 CA$4,089

18.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.18

-9.22%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Saanich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Vancouver and $1,480 in Saanich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 18% 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: $78.0 in Vancouver vs $67.0 in Saanich for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $410 per month, with Saanich 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 Saanich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saanich is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Vancouver pays 18% 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: $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,480 in Saanich. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saanich – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,831 per month in Vancouver versus $2,557 in Saanich – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Saanich 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.

Expats usually find Saanich gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.