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: $2,783 in Vancouver versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,030 in Vancouver versus $3,357 in Windsor, NS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,278 in Vancouver versus $4,369 in Windsor, NS.

Living in Vancouver is roughly 19% more expensive than in Windsor, NS, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vancouver 102% above, Windsor, NS 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.99 CA$24.95

$18.66 CA$25.88

-3.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.9 CA$101

$36.19 CA$50.2

101.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.76 CA$14.92

$10.87 CA$15.07

-1.01%

Cappuccino

$4.17 CA$5.79

$3.65 CA$5.07

14.25%

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

$2.20 CA$3.05

$2.01 CA$2.79

9.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.37

$1.95 CA$2.71

-12.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 CA$8.19

$4.43 CA$6.14

33.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.66 CA$9.24

$5.70 CA$7.91

16.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 CA$3.04

$3.09 CA$4.28

-29.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CA$3.69

$2.78 CA$3.86

-4.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 CA$6.14

$3.40 CA$4.72

30.29%

Eggs

$4.20 CA$5.83

$3.74 CA$5.19

12.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 CA$16.47

$13.60 CA$18.87

-12.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.66 CA$18.95

$11.12 CA$15.43

22.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 CA$28.18

$13.21 CA$18.32

53.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.24 CA$5.88

$5.77 CA$8.00

-26.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.92

$1.56 CA$2.17

-11.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.61

$4.88 CA$6.77

-17.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.58

$6.10 CA$8.46

-33.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 CA$3.97

$2.03 CA$2.82

41.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 CA$4.15

$2.13 CA$2.96

40.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.55 CA$3.53

3.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$2.14 CA$2.96

-22.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.92 CA$22.07

$14.50 CA$20.11

9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.63 CA$20.29

$14.49 CA$20.10

0.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 CA$3.86

$3.43 CA$4.75

-18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 CA$4.25

$4.20 CA$5.83

-27.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 CA$3.56

$2.37 CA$3.28

8.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 CA$115

$62.7 CA$86.9

32.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.91 CA$4.03

-7.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 CA$2.26

$1.36 CA$1.89

19.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.68 CA$45.33

$21.40 CA$29.68

52.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CA$2.00

$1.20 CA$1.66

20.00%

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

$28.4K CA$39.4K

$28.5K CA$39.5K

-0.18%

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

$19.5K CA$27.1K

$19.8K CA$27.5K

-1.49%

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

$79.2 CA$110

$127 CA$176

-37.57%

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

$36.21 CA$50.2

$32.32 CA$44.82

12.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.3 CA$71.2

$35.44 CA$49.16

44.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.58 CA$60.4

$41.78 CA$58.0

4.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 CA$18.25

$18.83 CA$26.11

-30.11%

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 CA$16.44

$13.02 CA$18.06

-8.99%

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

$1,131 CA$1,568

$378 CA$524

199.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K CA$27.3K

$13.6K CA$18.8K

45.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 CA$83.2

$61.9 CA$85.8

-3.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 CA$48.32

$35.69 CA$49.50

-2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 CA$125

$107 CA$148

-15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 CA$130

$118 CA$164

-20.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 CA$2,505

$1,286 CA$1,783

40.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 CA$2,193

$1,163 CA$1,612

35.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,182 CA$4,413

$2,001 CA$2,776

59.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 CA$3,418

$1,763 CA$2,445

39.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,841 CA$12.3K

$4,310 CA$5,978

105.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,963 CA$9,657

$3,741 CA$5,189

86.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,738 CA$5,184

$942 CA$1,306

296.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

4.6

-8.48%

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

Last update for Vancouver: September 7, 2026

Last update for Windsor, NS: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,806 in Vancouver and $1,286 in Windsor, NS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 297% 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: $73.0 in Vancouver vs $36.00 in Windsor, NS. Groceries flip the comparison at $408 vs $412, with Vancouver cheaper for home cooking.

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 19% in total monthly costs ($2,783 vs $2,345 including rent). Windsor, NS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 297% higher in Vancouver, 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: $1,806 in Vancouver versus $1,286 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 $36.00 versus $73.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,783 per month in Vancouver versus $2,345 in Windsor, NS – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,345 in Windsor, NS versus $2,783 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 19% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.