Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Simcoe, ON Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Simcoe, ON

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $2,301 in Simcoe, ON, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $3,745 in Simcoe, ON, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $5,189 in Simcoe, ON, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 23% more than Simcoe, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Simcoe, ON sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Simcoe, ON by 72%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26 CA$25.39
$16.19 CA$22.51
12.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8 CA$108
$71.3 CA$99.2
9.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.85 CA$15.09
$11.56 CA$16.08
-6.14%
Cappuccino
$3.98 CA$5.54
$3.73 CA$5.19
6.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.95
$1.85 CA$2.58
14.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.47
$1.81 CA$2.51
-1.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 CA$8.02
$5.18 CA$7.21
11.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56 CA$10.51
$5.81 CA$8.08
30.12%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.23
$1.99 CA$2.77
16.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.10 CA$4.31
$2.41 CA$3.35
28.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.89 CA$5.40
$2.17 CA$3.02
79.26%
Eggs
$4.53 CA$6.30
$3.19 CA$4.43
42.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.92 CA$17.96
$8.80 CA$12.24
46.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.14 CA$19.67
$8.94 CA$12.43
58.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.74 CA$21.89
$21.98 CA$30.56
-28.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 CA$5.92
$3.96 CA$5.51
7.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 CA$2.04
$0.91 CA$1.27
61.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.59
$3.13 CA$4.35
28.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.06 CA$7.04
$2.21 CA$3.07
128.96%
Potato (1kg)
$3.02 CA$4.20
$2.17 CA$3.02
39.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 CA$4.10
$1.51 CA$2.10
95.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 CA$3.62
$2.24 CA$3.11
16.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 CA$2.62
$1.45 CA$2.01
29.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.20 CA$21.14
$11.07 CA$15.40
37.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.30 CA$19.88
$10.98 CA$15.27
30.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 CA$4.27
$2.72 CA$3.79
12.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 CA$5.20
$2.84 CA$3.95
31.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 CA$3.39
$2.38 CA$3.31
2.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.9 CA$118
$72.4 CA$101
17.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.74 CA$5.20
$2.34 CA$3.25
59.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 CA$2.09
$1.70 CA$2.36
-11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.43 CA$38.15
$33.39 CA$46.43
-17.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.86
$1.07 CA$1.48
25.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K CA$34.9K
$25.4K CA$35.3K
-1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$28.8K
$20.8K CA$28.9K
-0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 CA$128
$130 CA$181
-29.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.42 CA$54.8
$53.2 CA$74.0
-25.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1 CA$84.9
$62.5 CA$86.9
-2.30%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.89 CA$62.4
$44.99 CA$62.6
-0.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.68 CA$21.81
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.37 CA$17.20
$9.06 CA$12.60
36.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,180 CA$1,641
$939 CA$1,305
25.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K CA$26.1K
$11.2K CA$15.5K
67.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7 CA$87.2
$43.69 CA$60.8
43.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.13 CA$60.0
$39.22 CA$54.6
9.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 CA$132
$67.1 CA$93.3
41.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 CA$165
$129 CA$180
-8.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,995 CA$2,774
$1,287 CA$1,790
54.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 CA$2,266
$1,199 CA$1,667
35.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,589 CA$4,991
$2,245 CA$3,122
59.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,769 CA$3,851
$2,673 CA$3,718
3.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,246 CA$12.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,086 CA$9,854
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Simcoe, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,474 CA$4,831
$3,047 CA$4,237
14.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.61
6.55
-14.35%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Simcoe, ON: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,287 in Simcoe, ON. 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 14% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver versus $71.0 in Simcoe, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $328 – making Simcoe, ON 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 Simcoe, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vancouver or Simcoe, ON?
Vancouver costs about 23% more than Simcoe, ON, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Vancouver vs Simcoe, ON?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $3,452 in Simcoe, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vancouver or Simcoe, ON?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Simcoe, ON, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Vancouver and Simcoe, ON?
Kindergarten costs $1,180 per month in Vancouver and $939 in Simcoe, ON. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Vancouver or Simcoe, ON?
Groceries cost about 27% more in Vancouver, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vancouver or Simcoe, ON?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Simcoe, ON, where all-in costs run around $2,301, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Simcoe, ON it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Simcoe, ON – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Vancouver or Simcoe, ON?
If budget matters most, go with Simcoe, ON. 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.

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