Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Victoria Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Victoria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver versus $2,683 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,231 in Vancouver versus $4,048 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,630 in Vancouver versus $5,413 in Victoria.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 6% more expensive than Victoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 111% above, Victoria 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.37

$18.24 CA$25.34

0.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$108

$81.9 CA$114

-5.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.08

$11.15 CA$15.50

-2.69%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.53

$4.00 CA$5.56

-0.50%

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

$2.12 CA$2.94

$2.32 CA$3.22

-8.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.47

$2.05 CA$2.85

-13.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.02

$5.22 CA$7.26

10.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.50

$6.45 CA$8.97

17.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.23

$2.95 CA$4.09

-21.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.30

$3.20 CA$4.45

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.40

$5.26 CA$7.31

-26.05%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.29

$4.36 CA$6.06

3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$17.95

$13.22 CA$18.37

-2.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.65

$14.96 CA$20.78

-5.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.87

$15.32 CA$21.28

2.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.91

$4.56 CA$6.33

-6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.67 CA$2.32

-11.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$4.40 CA$6.11

-8.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.03

$4.81 CA$6.68

5.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.20

$3.78 CA$5.26

-20.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$3.25 CA$4.51

-9.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$2.78 CA$3.86

-6.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.61

$2.65 CA$3.69

-29.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.12

$15.68 CA$21.79

-3.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.86

$18.28 CA$25.39

-21.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.27

$3.94 CA$5.47

-22.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.20

$4.55 CA$6.32

-17.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$1.87 CA$2.60

30.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$63.7 CA$88.5

33.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.19

$2.70 CA$3.75

38.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.09

$1.34 CA$1.86

11.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.11

$33.20 CA$46.13

-17.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.36 CA$1.89

-1.47%

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

$25.1K CA$34.9K

$25.4K CA$35.3K

-1.15%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$21.2K CA$29.5K

-2.34%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$140 CA$194

-34.23%

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

$39.42 CA$54.8

$53.4 CA$74.1

-26.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$84.9

$71.3 CA$99.1

-14.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.4

$44.65 CA$62.0

0.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.79

$16.99 CA$23.60

-7.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.18

$11.82 CA$16.43

4.65%

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

$1,180 CA$1,640

$646 CA$897

82.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.1K

$14.0K CA$19.4K

34.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.1

$58.6 CA$81.5

6.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$59.9

$44.75 CA$62.2

-3.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$96.0 CA$133

-1.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$112 CA$156

5.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,771

$1,564 CA$2,173

27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,264

$1,375 CA$1,910

18.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$4,986

$2,740 CA$3,807

30.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,848

$2,402 CA$3,337

15.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.8K

$5,702 CA$7,922

62.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,845

$4,713 CA$6,548

50.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,827

$2,994 CA$4,160

16.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.38

-12.07%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Victoria: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Vancouver and $1,564 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 16% 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 $82.0 in Victoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $461 per month, with Vancouver 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 Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver and Victoria differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,831 vs $2,683 including rent). Victoria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Vancouver pays 16% more on average, 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: $1,995 in Vancouver versus $1,564 in Victoria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Victoria – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,831 per month in Vancouver versus $2,683 in Victoria – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Victoria is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.