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: $2,906 in Vancouver versus $2,695 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,209 in Vancouver versus $4,049 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,513 in Vancouver versus $5,403 in Victoria.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 8% more expensive than in Victoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 118% above, Victoria 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.62 CA$26.10

$18.14 CA$25.43

2.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.9 CA$109

$81.6 CA$114

-4.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$15.20

$10.97 CA$15.38

-1.19%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.51

$4.04 CA$5.66

-2.72%

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

$2.24 CA$3.15

$2.42 CA$3.40

-7.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.45

$2.05 CA$2.87

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.48

$5.05 CA$7.07

19.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.30 CA$10.23

$6.50 CA$9.12

12.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 CA$3.23

$3.06 CA$4.29

-24.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 CA$4.31

$3.14 CA$4.41

-2.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 CA$5.28

$5.08 CA$7.13

-25.79%

Eggs

$4.32 CA$6.06

$4.40 CA$6.16

-1.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 CA$17.63

$13.25 CA$18.58

-5.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.74 CA$19.27

$14.69 CA$20.60

-6.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 CA$22.41

$15.32 CA$21.48

4.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.98

$4.38 CA$6.14

-2.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CA$2.13

$1.67 CA$2.34

-8.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 CA$5.50

$4.38 CA$6.14

-10.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$7.13

$4.97 CA$6.97

2.21%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.48

$3.79 CA$5.31

-15.57%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 CA$4.33

$3.13 CA$4.39

-1.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.64

$2.64 CA$3.70

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$2.67 CA$3.74

-29.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.45 CA$21.66

$15.42 CA$21.62

0.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 CA$20.88

$17.95 CA$25.17

-17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.37

$3.79 CA$5.31

-17.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 CA$5.33

$4.35 CA$6.10

-12.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CA$3.39

$1.89 CA$2.65

28.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.0 CA$116

$63.6 CA$89.1

30.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.27

$2.68 CA$3.76

40.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.08

$1.39 CA$1.95

6.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.97 CA$37.81

$33.79 CA$47.38

-20.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.33 CA$1.87

-2.26%

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

$25.2K CA$35.3K

$24.6K CA$34.5K

2.41%

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

$20.6K CA$28.8K

$21.0K CA$29.5K

-2.22%

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

$91.8 CA$129

$137 CA$192

-32.99%

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

$39.34 CA$55.2

$53.2 CA$74.6

-26.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 CA$85.0

$71.0 CA$99.5

-14.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.58 CA$62.5

$44.61 CA$62.5

-0.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.88 CA$22.27

$16.67 CA$23.37

-4.74%

Cinema Ticket

$12.18 CA$17.07

$11.88 CA$16.66

2.53%

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

$1,185 CA$1,661

$630 CA$883

88.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.5K CA$26.0K

$14.2K CA$19.9K

30.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 CA$87.6

$58.2 CA$81.5

7.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.38 CA$59.4

$44.98 CA$63.1

-5.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.0 CA$133

$93.7 CA$131

1.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 CA$161

$112 CA$156

2.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,979 CA$2,775

$1,592 CA$2,232

24.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 CA$2,304

$1,378 CA$1,931

19.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,577 CA$5,015

$2,700 CA$3,785

32.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 CA$3,901

$2,446 CA$3,429

13.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,754 CA$12.3K

$5,539 CA$7,766

58.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 CA$9,936

$4,491 CA$6,296

57.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,380 CA$4,739

$3,060 CA$4,290

10.47%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Victoria: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,979 in Vancouver and $1,592 in Victoria. 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 $82.0 in Victoria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $414 vs $457 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 8% in total monthly costs ($2,906 vs $2,695 including rent). Victoria 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: $1,979 in Vancouver versus $1,592 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 $2,906 per month in Vancouver versus $2,695 in Victoria – a 8% 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 8% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.