πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,860 in Vancouver versus $2,130 in Thetford Mines.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,199 in Vancouver versus $2,665 in Thetford Mines.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,538 in Vancouver versus $3,199 in Thetford Mines.
πLiving in Vancouver is roughly 34% more expensive than Thetford Mines, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver113% above, Thetford Mines58% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.50CA$25.84
$11.97CA$16.71
54.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5CA$111
$70.8CA$98.9
12.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.11CA$15.52
$8.70CA$12.15
27.70%
Cappuccino
$4.11CA$5.74
$3.69CA$5.15
11.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21CA$3.08
$2.19CA$3.06
0.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75CA$2.45
$0.89CA$1.25
96.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77CA$8.06
$3.38CA$4.72
70.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45CA$10.40
$4.72CA$6.59
57.84%
π Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20CA$3.07
$1.72CA$2.41
27.91%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22CA$4.49
$2.59CA$3.62
24.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.68CA$5.14
$2.27CA$3.17
62.11%
Eggs
$4.39CA$6.13
$2.54CA$3.54
72.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.82CA$17.90
$10.19CA$14.23
25.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.20CA$19.82
$6.79CA$9.48
109.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.04CA$22.40
$14.69CA$20.52
9.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.38CA$6.12
$2.19CA$3.06
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53CA$2.13
$2.27CA$3.16
-32.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.07CA$5.68
$2.18CA$3.05
86.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.18CA$7.23
$2.18CA$3.05
137.61%
Potato(1kg)
$3.05CA$4.25
$2.26CA$3.16
34.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96CA$4.14
$2.63CA$3.67
12.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73CA$3.81
$0.67CA$0.94
307.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87CA$2.61
$1.20CA$1.68
55.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40CA$21.51
$10.87CA$15.18
41.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32CA$20.00
$10.81CA$15.10
32.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11CA$4.35
$1.44CA$2.01
115.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66CA$5.12
$2.51CA$3.51
45.82%
π Getting Around
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.41CA$3.37
$2.35CA$3.28
2.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.6CA$115
$64.1CA$89.5
28.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.65CA$5.10
$6.19CA$8.64
-41.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49CA$2.08
$2.74CA$3.83
-45.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.94CA$37.63
$25.75CA$35.97
4.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28CA$1.78
$1.11CA$1.55
15.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KCA$34.8K
$22.1KCA$30.9K
12.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KCA$29.3K
$20.1KCA$28.1K
4.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.2CA$129
$105CA$146
-12.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.43CA$56.5
$56.2CA$78.5
-28.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.0CA$86.6
$47.29CA$66.1
31.06%
π Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.57CA$62.2
$42.63CA$59.5
4.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.75CA$21.99
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.19CA$17.02
$11.03CA$15.40
10.52%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,164CA$1,625
$700CA$978
66.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1KCA$25.3K
$4,369CA$6,101
314.44%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9CA$87.9
$47.97CA$67.0
31.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.23CA$59.0
$25.46CA$35.56
65.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0CA$137
$63.3CA$88.5
54.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118CA$165
$70.9CA$99.0
66.35%
π Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,977CA$2,761
$1,328CA$1,854
48.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,665CA$2,325
$1,186CA$1,657
40.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,579CA$4,997
$892CA$1,245
301.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,798CA$3,907
$963CA$1,344
190.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,881CA$12.4K
$4,509CA$6,297
96.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,873CA$9,598
$3,856CA$5,384
78.26%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Thetford Mines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,432CA$4,792
$1,267CA$1,770
170.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.61
4.5
24.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vancouver: June 7, 2026
Last update for Thetford Mines: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,977 in Vancouver and $1,328 in Thetford Mines. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Vancouver pays 171% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $80.0 in Vancouver vs $71.0 in Thetford Mines for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $278 per month, with Thetford Mines 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 Thetford Mines: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vancouver and Thetford Mines?
Vancouver and Thetford Mines differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($2,860 vs $2,130 including rent). Thetford Mines is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Vancouver or Thetford Mines?
Vancouver pays 171% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Vancouver and Thetford Mines?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,977 in Vancouver versus $1,328 in Thetford Mines. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Vancouver. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Thetford Mines β a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $80.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,130 in Thetford Mines versus $2,860 in Vancouver, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Thetford Mines but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Thetford Mines the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vancouver and Thetford Mines?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Vancouver or Thetford Mines?
Expats usually find Thetford Mines gentler on the wallet β expenses run 34% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.