Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and West Lafayette, IN

For one person, living is cheaper in West Lafayette, IN: $2,355 a month against $2,684 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

128

Cost of Living Index in Vancouver
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Vancouver Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in West Lafayette, IN
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West Lafayette, IN Living Index

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Vancouver

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,684

/mo nomad

West Lafayette, IN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,355

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vancouver and in West Lafayette, IN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vancouver and in West Lafayette, IN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,684 in Vancouver versus $2,355 in West Lafayette, IN.

Vancouver $2,684
West Lafayette, IN $2,355

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,878 in Vancouver versus $3,398 in West Lafayette, IN.

Vancouver $3,878
West Lafayette, IN $3,398

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,072 in Vancouver versus $4,442 in West Lafayette, IN.

Vancouver $5,072
West Lafayette, IN $4,442

Living in Vancouver is roughly 14% more expensive than in West Lafayette, IN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 100% above, West Lafayette, IN 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 CA$24.67

$12.05 $12.05

43.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 CA$98.3

$65.2 $65.2

5.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.56 CA$15.06

$6.61 $6.61

59.76%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.55

$4.56 $4.56

-14.69%

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

$2.05 CA$2.93

$1.85 $1.85

10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 CA$2.31

$1.55 $1.55

4.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 CA$7.91

$5.27 $5.27

5.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.33 CA$9.02

$3.53 $3.53

79.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 CA$3.30

$0.63 $0.63

266.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 CA$3.57

$3.30 $3.30

-24.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 CA$6.34

$1.93 $1.93

130.05%

Eggs

$4.07 CA$5.80

$3.77 $3.77

7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.28 CA$16.08

$21.69 $21.69

-47.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 CA$19.13

$5.83 $5.83

130.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.10 CA$28.66

$27.50 $27.50

-26.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 CA$5.79

$4.47 $4.47

-9.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 CA$1.90

$1.27 $1.27

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.91 CA$5.57

$3.26 $3.26

19.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.78

$4.92 $4.92

-17.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.88

$3.25 $3.25

-16.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 CA$4.12

$3.24 $3.24

-10.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 CA$3.61

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 CA$2.31

$2.30 $2.30

-29.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.57 CA$22.20

$12.06 $12.06

29.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 CA$20.03

$11.09 $11.09

26.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 CA$3.83

$1.77 $1.77

51.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 CA$4.27

$5.14 $5.14

-41.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.48

$0.98 $0.98

148.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.4 CA$119

$28.45 $28.45

192.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 CA$3.87

$5.60 $5.60

-51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 CA$2.24

$0.96 $0.96

63.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.39 CA$44.76

$17.84 $17.84

75.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 CA$1.96

$0.92 $0.92

50.00%

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

$28.1K CA$40.0K

$36.6K $36.6K

-23.27%

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

$19.8K CA$28.3K

$27.0K $27.0K

-26.61%

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

$81.2 CA$116

$164 $164

-50.40%

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

$37.45 CA$53.4

$53.1 $53.1

-29.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$73.3

$64.6 $64.6

-20.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.47 CA$62.0

$29.75 $29.75

46.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.53 CA$17.86

$12.40 $12.40

1.05%

Cinema Ticket

$12.54 CA$17.88

$13.70 $13.70

-8.47%

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

$1,094 CA$1,560

$998 $998

9.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K CA$28.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 CA$81.3

$74.7 $74.7

-23.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.73 CA$46.67

$42.64 $42.64

-23.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 CA$132

$66.6 $66.6

39.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 CA$134

$89.8 $89.8

4.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,745 CA$2,489

$1,377 $1,377

26.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,484 CA$2,116

$1,266 $1,266

17.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,998 CA$4,275

$2,354 $2,354

27.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,422 CA$3,454

$1,937 $1,937

25.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,002 CA$11.4K

$1,746 $1,746

358.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,457 CA$9,207

$1,806 $1,806

257.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,799 CA$5,417

$8,733 $8,733

-56.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.28

6.49

-34.05%

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

Last update for Vancouver: October 3, 2026

Last update for West Lafayette, IN: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Vancouver

$1.5K 56.6%

West Lafayette, IN

$1.3K 53% 14.7% $217

Groceries & Markets

Vancouver

$399 15.2%

West Lafayette, IN

$400 16.7% 0.2% $0.9

Eating Out

Vancouver

$272 10.4%

West Lafayette, IN

$218 9.1% 19.8% $54

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Vancouver

$170 6.5%

West Lafayette, IN

$281 11.8% 65.5% $111

Clothing & Footwear

Vancouver

$124 4.8%

West Lafayette, IN

$123 5.2% 1% $1.3

Getting Around

Vancouver

$104 4%

West Lafayette, IN

$43 1.8% 58.8% $61

Sport & Entertainment

Vancouver

$69 2.6%

West Lafayette, IN

$57 2.4% 16.6% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,745 in Vancouver and $1,377 in West Lafayette, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Lafayette, IN pays 130% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Vancouver vs $65.0 in West Lafayette, IN. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $400, with Vancouver cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Vancouver

🇺🇸 West Lafayette, IN

🕒 Local time

12:12 12:12 PM

15:12 3:12 PM

3 h ahead of Vancouver

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

631,486

28,997

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.701 USD

1 CAD = 0.626 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.701 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Vancouver West Lafayette, IN 2,990 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Vancouver
West Lafayette, IN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 West Lafayette, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver and West Lafayette, IN differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,684 vs $2,355 including rent). West Lafayette, IN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 130% lower in West Lafayette, IN. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,745 in Vancouver versus $1,377 in West Lafayette, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in West Lafayette, IN – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $69.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,684 per month in Vancouver versus $2,355 in West Lafayette, IN – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,355 in West Lafayette, IN versus $2,684 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in West Lafayette, IN but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes West Lafayette, IN 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.

Safety-wise, Vancouver and West Lafayette, IN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find West Lafayette, IN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.