Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Waterloo Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Waterloo

😐 Solo nomad: Vancouver is 22.5% more expensive than Waterloo without rent, and 19.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vancouver is 17% more expensive than Waterloo without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.3 CA$24.9
$14.98 CA$20.39
22.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5 CA$110
$66.9 CA$91
20.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 CA$15.14
$9.83 CA$13.38
13.12%
Cappuccino
$4.07 CA$5.54
$3.11 CA$4.24
30.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 CA$2.92
$1.57 CA$2.14
36.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 CA$2.46
$1.62 CA$2.21
11.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 CA$8.07
$5.55 CA$7.55
6.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 CA$9.74
$6.75 CA$9.18
6.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 CA$3.15
$2.16 CA$2.94
7.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.2 CA$4.35
$2.23 CA$3.04
43.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.08
$2.55 CA$3.47
46.27%
Eggs
$4.33 CA$5.89
$3.03 CA$4.12
42.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.92 CA$17.58
$8.23 CA$11.2
56.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.87 CA$18.89
$16.56 CA$22.54
-16.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.62 CA$21.26
$14.16 CA$19.27
10.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.17 CA$5.68
$4.15 CA$5.65
0.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 CA$2.07
$1.18 CA$1.61
28.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 CA$5.5
$3.22 CA$4.39
25.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.08 CA$6.92
$3.78 CA$5.14
34.39%
Potato (1kg)
$3.15 CA$4.28
$2.28 CA$3.1
38.16%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 CA$4.21
$2.84 CA$3.87
8.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 CA$3.65
$1.95 CA$2.65
37.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 CA$2.57
$1.61 CA$2.19
17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.4 CA$20.96
$14.19 CA$19.32
8.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$16 CA$21.78
$10.91 CA$14.85
46.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.2 CA$4.35
$2.49 CA$3.39
28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 CA$5.16
$3.33 CA$4.54
13.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 CA$3.3
$2.79 CA$3.8
-12.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.8 CA$113
$69.5 CA$94.6
19.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 CA$4.96
$2.64 CA$3.6
38.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 CA$1.94
$1.68 CA$2.29
-15.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.8 CA$36.48
$29.07 CA$39.57
-7.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 CA$1.8
$1.16 CA$1.58
13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$34.5K
$25.3K CA$34.4K
0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K CA$27.9K
$19.6K CA$26.7K
4.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 CA$121
$186 CA$254
-52.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.14 CA$54.6
$37.08 CA$50.5
8.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 CA$82
$54 CA$73.5
11.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.18 CA$61.5
$39.11 CA$53.2
15.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.77 CA$21.46
$15.74 CA$21.43
0.19%
Cinema Ticket
$12.37 CA$16.84
$12.04 CA$16.38
2.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,160 CA$1,579
$566 CA$770
105.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.5K CA$25.2K
$10.2K CA$13.9K
81.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 CA$86.3
$53.2 CA$72.5
19.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.97 CA$57.1
$25.85 CA$35.19
62.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 CA$129
$70.9 CA$96.5
33.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 CA$157
$87.2 CA$119
32.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 CA$2,735
$1,426 CA$1,941
40.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,618 CA$2,202
$1,251 CA$1,703
29.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,495 CA$4,758
$2,344 CA$3,191
49.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,772 CA$3,773
$2,068 CA$2,815
34.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,600 CA$13.1K
$5,623 CA$7,654
70.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,166 CA$9,755
$4,343 CA$5,912
64.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,337 CA$4,543
$3,028 CA$4,122
10.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.61
6.71
-16.39%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 26, 2025

Last update for Waterloo: October 28, 2025

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