Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Sydney, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Sydney, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,831 per month in Vancouver vs $1,863 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,231 per month in Vancouver vs $2,830 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,630 per month in Vancouver vs $3,796 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 52% more than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Sydney, NS sit above the global median – Vancouver by 111%, Sydney, NS by 39%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.39

$11.89 CA$16.53

53.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$62.6 CA$87.1

24.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.09

$7.10 CA$9.87

52.82%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.54

$2.98 CA$4.15

33.56%

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

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.20 CA$3.06

-3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$1.99 CA$2.77

-10.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$5.61 CA$7.81

2.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.51

$6.00 CA$8.35

26.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$2.37 CA$3.30

-2.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.31

$2.69 CA$3.74

15.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$2.63 CA$3.66

47.91%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.30

$3.54 CA$4.92

27.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.96

$6.67 CA$9.27

93.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.67

$8.32 CA$11.56

69.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.89

$13.39 CA$18.63

17.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.92

$7.52 CA$10.46

-43.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.23 CA$1.71

19.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$3.76 CA$5.23

6.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.04

$1.45 CA$2.02

248.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$0.90 CA$1.25

235.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.65 CA$3.69

11.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.62

$2.49 CA$3.46

4.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.79 CA$2.49

5.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.14

$18.53 CA$25.77

-17.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$2.80 CA$3.89

9.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.35 CA$6.05

-14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$1.12 CA$1.56

117.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$50.6 CA$70.4

67.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.40 CA$6.12

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.48 CA$2.06

1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.15

$25.32 CA$35.22

8.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.20 CA$1.67

11.67%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-0.54%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$20.5K CA$28.5K

1.03%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$91.9 CA$128

-0.12%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$46.94 CA$65.3

-16.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$74.9 CA$104

-18.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$50.4 CA$70.1

-10.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.81

$3.64 CA$5.07

330.77%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.20

$8.18 CA$11.38

51.22%

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

$1,180 CA$1,641

$748 CA$1,040

57.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$11.7K CA$16.3K

60.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.2

$72.3 CA$101

-13.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.0

$69.6 CA$96.8

-38.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$101 CA$141

-6.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$108 CA$151

9.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,774

$1,100 CA$1,530

81.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,266

$814 CA$1,131

100.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,991

$1,926 CA$2,679

86.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,851

$1,435 CA$1,996

93.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,854

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,831

$2,630 CA$3,657

32.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.85

-18.10%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,100 in Sydney, NS. 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 32% 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 $63.0 in Sydney, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $307 – making Sydney, NS 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 Sydney, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver costs about 52% more than Sydney, NS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,247 per month in Vancouver and $2,795 in Sydney, NS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sydney, NS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,831 in Vancouver and $1,863 in Sydney, NS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 68% less in Sydney, NS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sydney, NS, where all-in costs run around $1,863, than in Vancouver at $2,831. In Sydney, NS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sydney, NS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Sydney, NS. 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.