Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Brisbane Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Brisbane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,551 per month in Vaughan vs $2,285 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,782 per month in Vaughan vs $3,328 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,013 per month in Vaughan vs $4,372 in Brisbane, rent included.

Vaughan costs about 12% more than Brisbane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Vaughan and Brisbane sit above the global median – Vaughan by 90%, Brisbane by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.57 CA$20.26

$15.97 A$22.39

-8.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.7 CA$105

$70.8 A$99.3

6.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 CA$14.48

$9.50 A$13.32

9.58%

Cappuccino

$3.54 CA$4.92

$3.65 A$5.12

-3.01%

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

$2.10 CA$2.92

$2.67 A$3.74

-21.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.37

$2.13 A$2.98

-19.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.31 CA$8.77

$6.32 A$8.86

-0.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.16 CA$7.18

$8.02 A$11.25

-35.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 CA$2.44

$1.54 A$2.15

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 CA$3.13

$2.28 A$3.20

-1.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.80 CA$5.29

$1.86 A$2.61

104.30%

Eggs

$3.41 CA$4.74

$4.48 A$6.29

-23.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.66 CA$12.04

$8.24 A$11.55

5.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 CA$15.04

$8.09 A$11.35

33.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 CA$9.18

$13.33 A$18.68

-50.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 CA$4.14

$3.38 A$4.74

-11.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 CA$2.14

$2.73 A$3.83

-43.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 CA$3.88

$2.71 A$3.80

2.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.72

$4.29 A$6.02

-20.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 CA$2.70

$2.52 A$3.54

-23.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 CA$2.84

$2.30 A$3.23

-11.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 CA$2.50

$2.14 A$3.00

-16.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.36

$1.24 A$1.73

36.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.99 CA$18.07

$32.55 A$45.64

-60.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.00 CA$16.69

$12.85 A$18.01

-6.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$2.98

$4.66 A$6.54

-54.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 CA$2.97

$4.18 A$5.86

-48.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 CA$3.92

$0.31 A$0.44

809.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 CA$154

$27.52 A$38.58

301.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.40

$2.29 A$3.22

38.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.58 A$2.22

-13.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.62 CA$31.46

$34.11 A$47.82

-33.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 CA$1.60

$1.24 A$1.74

-7.26%

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

$24.8K CA$34.5K

$29.1K A$40.7K

-14.67%

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

$19.7K CA$27.4K

$22.6K A$31.6K

-12.59%

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

$132 CA$184

$146 A$205

-9.43%

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

$33.47 CA$46.55

$25.26 A$35.42

32.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 CA$71.0

$52.5 A$73.6

-2.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.59 CA$45.33

$49.65 A$69.6

-34.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.71 CA$30.19

$17.25 A$24.18

25.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.72 CA$14.91

$13.23 A$18.54

-18.97%

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

$815 CA$1,133

$1,591 A$2,231

-48.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.6K CA$25.8K

$8,689 A$12.2K

113.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.55 CA$60.6

$70.3 A$98.5

-38.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.06 CA$51.5

$44.49 A$62.4

-16.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 CA$83.5

$91.4 A$128

-34.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$146

$100 A$140

4.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 CA$2,380

$1,616 A$2,266

5.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 CA$2,104

$1,241 A$1,740

21.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,092 CA$4,300

$2,670 A$3,743

15.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,483 CA$3,453

$1,939 A$2,718

28.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,784 CA$12.2K

$8,525 A$12.0K

3.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,361 CA$8,846

$5,824 A$8,165

9.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,036 CA$4,222

$4,294 A$6,020

-29.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.73

6.24

7.85%

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

Last update for Vaughan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,712 in Vaughan versus $1,616 in Brisbane. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Brisbane, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Vaughan versus $71.0 in Brisbane. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Vaughan vs $327 in Brisbane – so Vaughan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Vaughan vs Brisbane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vaughan costs about 12% more than Brisbane, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,826 per month in Vaughan and $3,427 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brisbane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Vaughan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Vaughan and $71.0 in Brisbane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,551 in Vaughan and $2,285 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Brisbane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Brisbane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vaughan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.