Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Williams Lake, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Williams Lake, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,831 in Vancouver versus $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,231 in Vancouver versus $3,036 in Williams Lake, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,630 in Vancouver versus $4,003 in Williams Lake, BC.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 37% more expensive than Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 111% above, Williams Lake, BC 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.46

$17.15 CA$23.91

6.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.8 CA$109

$68.6 CA$95.7

13.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.13

$11.12 CA$15.51

-2.43%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.55

$3.80 CA$5.30

4.74%

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

$2.12 CA$2.95

$2.04 CA$2.85

3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.48

$1.70 CA$2.36

4.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.77 CA$8.04

$5.65 CA$7.87

2.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.56 CA$10.54

$5.77 CA$8.05

31.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 CA$3.24

$2.47 CA$3.44

-6.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.10 CA$4.32

$2.61 CA$3.65

18.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 CA$5.42

$3.65 CA$5.09

6.58%

Eggs

$4.53 CA$6.32

$5.56 CA$7.75

-18.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 CA$18.01

$11.23 CA$15.65

15.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.14 CA$19.72

$11.69 CA$16.30

20.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.74 CA$21.95

$14.76 CA$20.59

6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.26 CA$5.93

$4.08 CA$5.69

4.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.04

$1.40 CA$1.95

5.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.61

$3.58 CA$4.99

12.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 CA$7.06

$3.70 CA$5.16

36.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 CA$4.21

$2.49 CA$3.47

21.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$2.51 CA$3.50

17.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 CA$3.63

$2.61 CA$3.64

-0.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.70 CA$2.37

10.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.20 CA$21.19

$13.92 CA$19.41

9.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.94

$11.88 CA$16.57

20.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CA$4.29

$2.92 CA$4.07

5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.05 CA$4.25

22.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 CA$3.40

$2.34 CA$3.26

4.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.9 CA$118

$63.4 CA$88.4

33.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 CA$5.21

$3.16 CA$4.40

18.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.44 CA$2.01

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.43 CA$38.25

$25.58 CA$35.67

7.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 CA$1.87

$1.20 CA$1.67

11.67%

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

$25.1K CA$35.0K

$25.3K CA$35.3K

-0.76%

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

$20.7K CA$28.9K

0.16%

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

$91.8 CA$128

$140 CA$196

-34.65%

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

$39.42 CA$55.0

$33.27 CA$46.39

18.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 CA$85.2

$86.6 CA$121

-29.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.89 CA$62.6

$41.72 CA$58.2

7.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.68 CA$21.87

Cinema Ticket

$12.37 CA$17.25

$11.36 CA$15.84

8.89%

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

$1,180 CA$1,646

$727 CA$1,014

62.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K CA$26.2K

$12.0K CA$16.7K

56.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 CA$87.4

$53.6 CA$74.8

16.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 CA$60.1

$39.46 CA$55.0

9.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.7 CA$132

$85.0 CA$119

11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$165

$109 CA$152

8.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,995 CA$2,782

$968 CA$1,350

106.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 CA$2,272

$918 CA$1,280

77.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,589 CA$5,005

$1,419 CA$1,979

152.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,769 CA$3,862

$1,298 CA$1,810

113.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,246 CA$12.9K

$4,449 CA$6,204

107.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,086 CA$9,881

$3,964 CA$5,528

78.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,474 CA$4,844

$3,279 CA$4,572

5.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

6.46

-13.16%

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

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Vancouver and $968 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 6% 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 $69.0 in Williams Lake, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $373 per month, with Williams Lake, BC 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 Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver and Williams Lake, BC differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($2,831 vs $2,070 including rent). Williams Lake, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Vancouver pays 6% 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 $968 in Williams Lake, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Williams Lake, BC – a meal for two runs $69.0 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 $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,070 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,831 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Williams Lake, BC but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Williams Lake, BC 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.

Expats usually find Williams Lake, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.