Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Windsor, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Windsor, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,845 in Vancouver versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,183 in Vancouver versus $3,293 in Windsor, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,520 in Vancouver versus $4,241 in Windsor, NS.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 21% more expensive than Windsor, NS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 111% above, Windsor, NS 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.26 CA$25.01

$14.66 CA$20.09

24.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 CA$108

$37.46 CA$51.3

110.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 CA$15.30

$8.95 CA$12.27

24.80%

Cappuccino

$3.92 CA$5.37

$3.64 CA$4.98

7.69%

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

$2.23 CA$3.05

$1.70 CA$2.33

31.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 CA$2.51

$1.33 CA$1.83

37.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 CA$8.02

$5.72 CA$7.83

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 CA$9.82

$5.87 CA$8.04

22.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.20 CA$3.02

$2.02 CA$2.76

8.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 CA$4.41

$2.90 CA$3.97

11.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 CA$5.13

$4.06 CA$5.57

-7.64%

Eggs

$4.36 CA$5.98

$3.97 CA$5.44

9.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.71 CA$17.41

$12.29 CA$16.84

3.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.90 CA$19.04

$14.66 CA$20.08

-5.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 CA$21.45

$16.77 CA$22.97

-6.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.81

$4.11 CA$5.63

3.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.11

$1.56 CA$2.14

-1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.87 CA$5.30

$3.84 CA$5.26

0.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 CA$6.96

$5.38 CA$7.37

-5.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 CA$4.38

$2.14 CA$2.93

49.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 CA$4.02

$2.20 CA$3.01

33.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.63 CA$3.60

$2.69 CA$3.68

-2.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.55

$1.93 CA$2.64

-3.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.36 CA$21.04

$18.53 CA$25.39

-17.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 CA$21.20

$11.58 CA$15.87

33.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 CA$4.25

$3.36 CA$4.60

-7.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 CA$5.12

$3.27 CA$4.48

14.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 CA$3.27

$2.34 CA$3.21

1.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.0 CA$115

$63.4 CA$86.8

32.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 CA$5.01

$7.71 CA$10.57

-52.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.03

$1.44 CA$1.98

2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.98 CA$36.96

$29.62 CA$40.57

-8.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 CA$1.76

$1.21 CA$1.65

5.79%

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

$25.6K CA$35.0K

$25.0K CA$34.3K

2.19%

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

$20.8K CA$28.6K

$20.6K CA$28.3K

1.06%

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

$91.0 CA$125

$131 CA$179

-30.51%

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

$40.15 CA$55.0

$33.19 CA$45.47

20.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.8 CA$83.3

$36.46 CA$49.95

66.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.05 CA$63.1

$42.45 CA$58.2

8.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.77 CA$21.61

Cinema Ticket

$12.25 CA$16.79

$11.14 CA$15.27

9.96%

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

$1,165 CA$1,596

$167 CA$228

598.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.2K

$11.7K CA$16.0K

57.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 CA$85.7

$40.75 CA$55.8

53.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.30 CA$58.0

$34.60 CA$47.40

22.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 CA$134

$84.9 CA$116

15.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$156

$137 CA$188

-16.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 CA$2,724

$1,299 CA$1,780

53.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,669 CA$2,287

$1,164 CA$1,595

43.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,580 CA$4,904

$1,996 CA$2,734

79.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 CA$3,738

$1,816 CA$2,487

50.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,014 CA$12.3K

$4,281 CA$5,865

110.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,085 CA$9,707

$3,174 CA$4,348

123.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,588 CA$4,916

$948 CA$1,299

278.50%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Windsor, NS: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,988 in Vancouver and $1,299 in Windsor, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 279% 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: $79 in Vancouver vs $37 in Windsor, NS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $405 per month, with Windsor, NS 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 Windsor, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver and Windsor, NS differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,845 vs $2,345 including rent). Windsor, NS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Vancouver pays 279% 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: $1,988 in Vancouver versus $1,299 in Windsor, NS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Windsor, NS – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $79.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,845 per month in Vancouver versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,345 in Windsor, NS versus $2,845 in Vancouver, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Windsor, NS but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Windsor, NS 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 Windsor, NS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.