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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,605 per month in Vaughan vs $2,613 in Brisbane, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,794 per month in Vaughan vs $3,966 in Brisbane, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,982 per month in Vaughan vs $5,318 in Brisbane, rent included.

Vaughan and Brisbane have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.52 CA$24.16

$17.77 A$24.66

-1.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 CA$94.3

$82.6 A$115

-17.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 CA$14.06

$11.42 A$15.86

-10.68%

Cappuccino

$3.76 CA$5.19

$4.43 A$6.15

-15.12%

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

$2.07 CA$2.85

$3.03 A$4.21

-31.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.29

$2.60 A$3.61

-36.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.38 CA$8.79

$8.55 A$11.86

-25.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.37 CA$8.78

$8.43 A$11.71

-24.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 CA$2.82

$1.72 A$2.38

18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 CA$3.05

$2.70 A$3.75

-18.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.76 CA$3.80

$2.41 A$3.35

14.52%

Eggs

$3.55 CA$4.89

$5.10 A$7.08

-30.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.59 CA$13.23

$9.30 A$12.90

3.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.12 CA$16.71

$9.11 A$12.64

33.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.82 CA$19.06

$14.13 A$19.62

-2.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 CA$4.76

$4.30 A$5.96

-19.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 CA$1.78

$3.11 A$4.31

-58.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 CA$4.99

$2.97 A$4.12

21.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 CA$4.80

$4.97 A$6.90

-29.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.30

$2.88 A$3.99

-42.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.58 CA$2.18

$2.44 A$3.38

-35.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 CA$3.15

$2.54 A$3.53

-9.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 CA$1.68

$1.22 A$1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.87 CA$17.75

$39.99 A$55.5

-67.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 CA$16.82

$12.69 A$17.61

-3.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 CA$2.79

$5.31 A$7.38

-61.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 CA$1.94

$5.11 A$7.09

-72.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.88

$0.35 A$0.48

702.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 CA$147

$21.53 A$29.89

394.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 CA$4.28

$3.07 A$4.26

1.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 CA$1.72

$1.84 A$2.55

-32.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 CA$30.36

$42.92 A$59.6

-48.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 CA$1.45

$1.43 A$1.98

-26.57%

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

$24.4K CA$33.7K

$27.7K A$38.5K

-11.98%

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

$19.3K CA$26.6K

$29.1K A$40.4K

-33.90%

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

$113 CA$156

$172 A$239

-34.55%

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

$29.25 CA$40.34

$27.89 A$38.72

4.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.3

$63.6 A$88.3

-18.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.54 CA$44.88

$63.6 A$88.3

-48.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.61 CA$29.80

$21.02 A$29.19

2.81%

Cinema Ticket

$10.33 CA$14.25

$16.39 A$22.76

-36.97%

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

$908 CA$1,252

$2,166 A$3,007

-58.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K CA$24.3K

$13.0K A$18.1K

34.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.43 CA$61.3

$85.6 A$119

-48.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.74 CA$52.0

$44.31 A$61.5

-14.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 CA$150

$116 A$161

-5.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$150

$109 A$152

-0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 CA$2,313

$1,995 A$2,769

-15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,490 CA$2,055

$1,406 A$1,952

5.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 CA$3,734

$3,433 A$4,766

-21.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,543 CA$3,507

$2,404 A$3,337

5.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,977 CA$12.4K

$8,276 A$11.5K

8.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,450 CA$8,895

$5,834 A$8,099

10.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 CA$4,186

$4,250 A$5,899

-28.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.85

-7.86%

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

Last update for Vaughan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Brisbane: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Vaughan versus $1,995 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 40% higher in Brisbane. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Vaughan versus $83.0 in Brisbane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $367 – making Vaughan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,908 per month in Vaughan and $3,919 in Brisbane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 13% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $908 per month in Vaughan and $2,166 in Brisbane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,605 in Vaughan and $2,613 in Brisbane. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Vaughan – 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 Vaughan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brisbane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.