Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Vernon, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Vernon, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,818 in Vancouver versus $2,391 in Vernon, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,226 in Vancouver versus $3,208 in Vernon, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,634 in Vancouver versus $4,025 in Vernon, BC.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 18% more expensive than in Vernon, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 112% above, Vernon, BC 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.73 CA$26.24

$14.57 CA$20.42

28.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 CA$110

$69.2 CA$97.0

13.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.21

$10.88 CA$15.25

-0.28%

Cappuccino

$4.10 CA$5.75

$3.70 CA$5.18

10.81%

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

$2.13 CA$2.98

$1.90 CA$2.67

12.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CA$2.47

$1.50 CA$2.10

17.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.76 CA$8.08

$6.03 CA$8.45

-4.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.23 CA$10.13

$6.52 CA$9.13

10.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.20

$2.13 CA$2.99

7.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 CA$4.51

$2.70 CA$3.78

19.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.18

$3.25 CA$4.56

13.85%

Eggs

$4.36 CA$6.10

$3.89 CA$5.45

12.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 CA$18.02

$9.72 CA$13.63

32.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 CA$19.96

$10.25 CA$14.36

38.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$22.05

$13.32 CA$18.67

18.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.03

$3.98 CA$5.58

8.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.13

$1.78 CA$2.50

-14.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.59

$4.25 CA$5.96

-6.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 CA$7.19

$5.38 CA$7.54

-4.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 CA$4.29

$3.14 CA$4.40

-2.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 CA$4.27

$2.87 CA$4.02

6.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 CA$3.68

$3.00 CA$4.20

-12.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 CA$2.62

$1.81 CA$2.53

3.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.70 CA$22.00

$13.41 CA$18.79

17.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.59 CA$20.44

$16.82 CA$23.56

-13.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 CA$4.50

$3.47 CA$4.86

-7.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 CA$5.03

$3.93 CA$5.51

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.42

$1.93 CA$2.71

26.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 CA$117

$39.91 CA$55.9

108.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 CA$5.18

$2.42 CA$3.39

52.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 CA$2.08

$1.55 CA$2.17

-3.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.37 CA$38.36

$28.68 CA$40.19

-4.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CA$1.87

$1.21 CA$1.70

9.92%

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

$25.1K CA$35.2K

$24.5K CA$34.4K

2.48%

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

$20.7K CA$29.1K

$20.5K CA$28.7K

1.09%

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

$90.0 CA$126

$162 CA$227

-44.53%

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

$40.83 CA$57.2

$45.68 CA$64.0

-10.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$85.6

$61.6 CA$86.3

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.73 CA$64.1

$31.96 CA$44.78

43.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.45 CA$21.65

$15.51 CA$21.73

-0.39%

Cinema Ticket

$12.01 CA$16.83

$10.64 CA$14.91

12.88%

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

$1,162 CA$1,628

$447 CA$626

159.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K CA$25.3K

$5,774 CA$8,091

212.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 CA$89.1

$62.1 CA$87.0

2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.32 CA$59.3

$39.69 CA$55.6

6.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 CA$136

$88.0 CA$123

10.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$162

$78.5 CA$110

47.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,024 CA$2,836

$1,090 CA$1,527

85.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 CA$2,261

$1,205 CA$1,689

33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,464 CA$4,854

$1,570 CA$2,200

120.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,743 CA$3,843

$1,476 CA$2,068

85.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,872 CA$12.4K

$6,016 CA$8,430

47.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,046 CA$9,874

$4,807 CA$6,736

46.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,312 CA$4,641

$3,021 CA$4,233

9.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.36

-11.79%

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

Last update for Vancouver: July 25, 2026

Last update for Vernon, BC: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,024 in Vancouver and $1,090 in Vernon, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $78.0 in Vancouver vs $69.0 in Vernon, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $379 per month, with Vernon, BC 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 Vernon, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver and Vernon, BC differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,818 vs $2,391 including rent). Vernon, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Vancouver, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,024 in Vancouver versus $1,090 in Vernon, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Vernon, BC – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,818 per month in Vancouver versus $2,391 in Vernon, BC – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,391 in Vernon, BC versus $2,818 in Vancouver, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Vernon, BC but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Vernon, BC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Vernon, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.