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

😐 Solo nomad: Vancouver is 19.6% more expensive than Waterloo without rent, and 19.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vancouver is 16.5% more expensive than Waterloo without rent, and 16.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 CA$25.66
$14.92 CA$20.44
25.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5 CA$110
$67.5 CA$92.5
19.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.19 CA$15.34
$9.42 CA$12.90
18.79%
Cappuccino
$4.11 CA$5.64
$2.99 CA$4.09
37.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.91
$1.52 CA$2.08
39.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.40
$1.60 CA$2.19
9.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.02 CA$8.25
$5.45 CA$7.47
10.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 CA$9.83
$6.51 CA$8.92
10.29%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.16
$2.15 CA$2.94
7.44%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 CA$4.27
$2.32 CA$3.18
34.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.20
$2.56 CA$3.50
48.05%
Eggs
$4.39 CA$6.02
$3.07 CA$4.20
43.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 CA$17.83
$8.55 CA$11.71
52.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.20 CA$19.45
$16.71 CA$22.89
-15.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.03 CA$21.96
$14.13 CA$19.36
13.45%
Apples (1kg)
$4.22 CA$5.78
$3.95 CA$5.41
6.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 CA$2.03
$1.18 CA$1.62
25.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.86 CA$5.29
$3.38 CA$4.63
14.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.06 CA$6.93
$3.67 CA$5.02
37.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.17 CA$4.34
$2.31 CA$3.16
37.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.99 CA$4.09
$2.86 CA$3.92
4.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 CA$3.63
$1.96 CA$2.68
35.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 CA$2.60
$1.66 CA$2.28
14.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.43 CA$21.14
$13.77 CA$18.87
12.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.43 CA$21.14
$10.11 CA$13.85
52.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.35
$2.42 CA$3.32
31.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 CA$4.98
$3.15 CA$4.31
15.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.18
$2.73 CA$3.73
-15.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.2 CA$117
$68.9 CA$94.3
23.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 CA$4.98
$2.54 CA$3.48
43.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 CA$2.02
$1.75 CA$2.40
-16.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.66 CA$36.52
$29.18 CA$39.97
-8.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 CA$1.76
$1.17 CA$1.61
10.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$34.8K
$25.2K CA$34.6K
0.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K CA$28.3K
$20.1K CA$27.5K
2.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.5 CA$123
$186 CA$255
-51.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.76 CA$55.9
$37.08 CA$50.8
9.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.8 CA$83.3
$55.1 CA$75.4
10.37%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.63 CA$62.5
$38.67 CA$53.0
18.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56 CA$21.32
$15.24 CA$20.88
2.10%
Cinema Ticket
$12.01 CA$16.45
$12.01 CA$16.45
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,183 CA$1,621
$564 CA$773
109.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.5K CA$25.4K
$10.3K CA$14.1K
80.53%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 CA$87.8
$53.7 CA$73.5
19.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.22 CA$59.2
$25.39 CA$34.79
70.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.2 CA$133
$69.3 CA$95.0
40.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 CA$160
$89.6 CA$123
30.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 CA$2,693
$1,426 CA$1,954
37.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 CA$2,230
$1,268 CA$1,737
28.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,474 CA$4,760
$2,402 CA$3,290
44.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,718 CA$3,724
$2,119 CA$2,903
28.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,232 CA$12.6K
$5,457 CA$7,477
69.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,000 CA$9,590
$5,216 CA$7,146
34.20%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Waterloo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,646 CA$4,995
$3,101 CA$4,248
17.60%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Waterloo: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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