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 $2,731 per month in Vancouver vs $1,673 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,956 per month in Vancouver vs $2,593 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,181 per month in Vancouver vs $3,513 in Sydney, NS, rent included.

Vancouver costs about 63% more than Sydney, NS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vancouver and Sydney, NS sit above the global median – Vancouver by 99%, Sydney, NS by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.36 CA$25.41

$11.47 CA$15.87

60.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$101

$65.9 CA$91.2

10.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.05

$7.71 CA$10.67

41.12%

Cappuccino

$4.25 CA$5.88

$2.87 CA$3.97

48.08%

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

$2.12 CA$2.93

$2.31 CA$3.20

-8.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.34

$2.17 CA$3.01

-22.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.75 CA$7.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.21

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CA$2.97

$2.28 CA$3.16

-6.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 CA$3.53

$2.56 CA$3.54

-0.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 CA$6.11

$2.46 CA$3.40

79.27%

Eggs

$4.24 CA$5.87

$3.40 CA$4.70

24.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 CA$16.80

$6.37 CA$8.81

90.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.91

$8.42 CA$11.65

62.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.78 CA$28.76

$13.16 CA$18.21

57.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$5.96

$7.05 CA$9.76

-38.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.22 CA$1.69

13.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 CA$5.53

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.62

$1.40 CA$1.94

190.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$0.82 CA$1.13

243.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.08

$2.00 CA$2.77

47.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 CA$3.83

$6.35 CA$8.79

-56.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 CA$2.25

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.06 CA$22.22

$17.82 CA$24.66

-9.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.54 CA$20.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 CA$3.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.25

$4.29 CA$5.94

-28.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 CA$3.52

$1.10 CA$1.53

131.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.1 CA$118

$48.95 CA$67.7

73.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.75

$4.28 CA$5.92

-36.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 CA$2.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.75 CA$43.93

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$1.16 CA$1.60

23.28%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$26.9K CA$37.2K

7.50%

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

$19.7K CA$27.2K

$19.1K CA$26.4K

3.20%

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

$77.6 CA$107

$90.6 CA$125

-14.40%

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

$35.35 CA$48.91

$35.48 CA$49.10

-0.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.6 CA$71.5

$74.8 CA$104

-30.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.26 CA$64.0

$49.57 CA$68.6

-6.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.37 CA$18.51

$3.63 CA$5.03

268.32%

Cinema Ticket

$11.55 CA$15.98

$7.14 CA$9.87

61.76%

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

$1,137 CA$1,573

$721 CA$998

57.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K CA$29.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 CA$82.0

$69.1 CA$95.6

-14.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.02 CA$48.45

$68.5 CA$94.7

-48.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.1 CA$125

$102 CA$141

-11.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 CA$133

$108 CA$150

-10.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,845 CA$2,553

$920 CA$1,272

100.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 CA$2,206

$726 CA$1,005

119.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,271 CA$4,527

$1,829 CA$2,530

78.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,499 CA$3,458

$1,412 CA$1,954

77.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,039 CA$12.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,985 CA$9,665

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,659 CA$5,062

$2,568 CA$3,554

42.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

5.8

-27.07%

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

Last update for Vancouver: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sydney, NS: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,845 in Vancouver versus $920 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 42% 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 $73.0 in Vancouver versus $66.0 in Sydney, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $263 – 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 63% 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 $4,097 per month in Vancouver and $2,510 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 $2,731 in Vancouver and $1,673 in Sydney, NS. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 74% 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 $1,673, than in Vancouver at $2,731. 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.