Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Simpson Bay

For one person, living is cheaper in Vancouver: $2,684 a month against $3,851 in Simpson Bay, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Simpson Bay outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,684
/mo nomad
Simpson Bay
🇸🇽 Sint Maarten
$3,851
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in Simpson Bay

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vancouver and in Simpson Bay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,684 per month in Vancouver vs $3,851 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

  • Vancouver $2,684
  • Simpson Bay $3,851

A couple spends around $3,878 per month in Vancouver vs $6,504 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

  • Vancouver $3,878
  • Simpson Bay $6,504

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in Vancouver vs $9,157 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

  • Vancouver $5,072
  • Simpson Bay $9,157

Vancouver is about 30% cheaper than Simpson Bay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Vancouver and Simpson Bay sit above the global median – Vancouver by 100%, Simpson Bay by 187%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 CA$24.66
$19.11 ANG 34.22
-9.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0 CA$98.3
$131 ANG 234
-47.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.56 CA$15.05
$12.78 ANG 22.88
-17.37%
Cappuccino
$3.89 CA$5.54
$4.44 ANG 7.96
-12.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.93
$2.91 ANG 5.22
-29.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.31
$3.04 ANG 5.44
-46.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 CA$7.90
$5.43 ANG 9.73
2.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 CA$9.02
$4.11 ANG 7.36
54.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.30
$4.03 ANG 7.21
-42.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.50 CA$3.56
$2.81 ANG 5.02
-11.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 CA$6.33
$3.09 ANG 5.53
43.69%
Eggs
$4.07 CA$5.80
$4.49 ANG 8.04
-9.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.28 CA$16.08
$24.93 ANG 44.63
-54.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.42 CA$19.13
$13.40 ANG 23.98
0.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.10 CA$28.65
$16.98 ANG 30.39
18.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.78
$4.26 ANG 7.63
-4.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 CA$1.90
$3.55 ANG 6.35
-62.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 CA$5.57
$6.32 ANG 11.31
-38.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.05 CA$5.78
$5.06 ANG 9.05
-19.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 CA$3.88
$3.96 ANG 7.08
-31.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 CA$4.12
$3.44 ANG 6.16
-15.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 CA$3.61
$3.06 ANG 5.47
-17.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.31
$1.47 ANG 2.64
10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.57 CA$22.19
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.05 CA$20.03
$15.22 ANG 27.24
-7.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 CA$3.83
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 CA$4.26
$1.79 ANG 3.20
67.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 CA$3.48
$3.08 ANG 5.51
-20.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.4 CA$119
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 CA$3.87
$15.22 ANG 27.24
-82.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 CA$2.24
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.39 CA$44.75
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 CA$1.96
$1.27 ANG 2.27
8.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K CA$40.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.2 CA$116
$502 ANG 899
-83.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.45 CA$53.4
$35.56 ANG 63.7
5.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4 CA$73.2
$87.6 ANG 157
-41.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.47 CA$62.0
$74.8 ANG 134
-41.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.53 CA$17.86
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.54 CA$17.88
$8.18 ANG 14.65
53.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,094 CA$1,560
$761 ANG 1,362
43.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.9K CA$28.4K
$12.0K ANG 21.6K
65.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 CA$81.3
$50.6 ANG 90.6
12.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.73 CA$46.66
$39.59 ANG 70.9
-17.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 CA$132
$99.5 ANG 178
-6.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2 CA$134
$59.5 ANG 106
58.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,745 CA$2,488
$2,330 ANG 4,171
-25.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 CA$2,115
$2,273 ANG 4,069
-34.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,998 CA$4,273
$6,007 ANG 10.8K
-50.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,422 CA$3,453
$5,604 ANG 10.0K
-56.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,002 CA$11.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,457 CA$9,204
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Simpson Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,799 CA$5,416
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.28
0
-

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 3, 2026

Last update for Simpson Bay: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Simpson Bay
–
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$399
Simpson Bay
–
Eating Out
Vancouver
$272
Simpson Bay
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$170
Simpson Bay
–
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$124
Simpson Bay
–
Getting Around
Vancouver
$104
Simpson Bay
–
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$69
Simpson Bay
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,745 in Vancouver versus $2,330 in Simpson Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Vancouver versus $131 in Simpson Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $467 – making Vancouver the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇸🇽 Simpson Bay
🕒 Local time
01:24 1:24 AM
04:24 4:24 AM
3 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
6,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

ANG, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.498 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Simpson Bay 6,340 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Simpson Bay

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Simpson Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vancouver or Simpson Bay?
Simpson Bay costs about 43% more than Vancouver, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 and in Simpson Bay?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,026 per month in Vancouver and $5,776 in Simpson Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Vancouver or Simpson Bay?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vancouver, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Vancouver and in Simpson Bay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Vancouver and $131 in Simpson Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Vancouver or in Simpson Bay?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Simpson Bay, 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 $3,000/month in Vancouver or in Simpson Bay?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,684 in Vancouver and $3,851 in Simpson Bay. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Vancouver – 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 to Simpson Bay?
If budget matters most, go with Vancouver. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Simpson Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Vancouver vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?