Cost of Living Comparison Between Vernon, BC and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Vernon, BC and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,182 in Vernon, BC versus $2,735 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,167 in Vernon, BC versus $3,984 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,151 in Vernon, BC versus $5,234 in Vancouver.

Living in Vernon, BC costs roughly 20% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vernon, BC 59% above, Vancouver 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.66 CA$20.51

$17.82 CA$24.94

-17.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.4 CA$85.8

$72.4 CA$101

-15.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.66 CA$14.92

$10.93 CA$15.30

-2.47%

Cappuccino

$3.61 CA$5.04

$4.19 CA$5.86

-13.84%

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

$1.83 CA$2.56

$2.22 CA$3.11

-17.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.21

$1.64 CA$2.30

-3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.64 CA$7.90

$5.89 CA$8.23

-4.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.29 CA$8.80

$6.51 CA$9.11

-3.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.12 CA$2.96

27.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.09 CA$4.33

$2.64 CA$3.69

17.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 CA$4.46

$4.44 CA$6.21

-28.15%

Eggs

$3.84 CA$5.37

$4.21 CA$5.90

-8.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.70 CA$13.57

$12.04 CA$16.85

-19.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.49 CA$14.68

$13.91 CA$19.46

-24.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.18 CA$31.03

$20.62 CA$28.85

7.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 CA$5.50

$4.29 CA$6.00

-8.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.91

$1.34 CA$1.88

2.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.03 CA$8.43

$3.88 CA$5.43

55.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 CA$7.33

$4.08 CA$5.70

28.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 CA$3.72

$2.88 CA$4.03

-7.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 CA$3.99

$2.93 CA$4.09

-2.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.45

$2.63 CA$3.68

-6.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.96

$1.70 CA$2.38

-17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.34 CA$18.66

$15.66 CA$21.91

-14.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.22 CA$24.10

$14.23 CA$19.91

21.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$2.78 CA$3.89

14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 CA$6.00

$3.05 CA$4.27

40.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 CA$2.54

$2.53 CA$3.54

-28.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.34 CA$55.0

$85.5 CA$120

-54.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 CA$2.97

$2.67 CA$3.73

-20.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 CA$2.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.34 CA$45.25

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.40 CA$1.96

-7.14%

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

$25.6K CA$35.8K

$28.6K CA$40.0K

-10.44%

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

$19.2K CA$26.8K

$19.8K CA$27.7K

-3.37%

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

$134 CA$188

$78.8 CA$110

70.50%

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

$28.72 CA$40.18

$35.70 CA$49.95

-19.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 CA$80.1

$51.1 CA$71.5

11.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.21 CA$50.7

$42.37 CA$59.3

-14.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.24 CA$21.32

$13.04 CA$18.25

16.87%

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 CA$14.67

$11.68 CA$16.34

-10.19%

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

$144 CA$201

$1,108 CA$1,550

-87.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,957 CA$12.5K

$19.9K CA$27.8K

-54.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 CA$82.8

$57.0 CA$79.7

3.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 CA$54.8

$35.01 CA$48.99

11.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 CA$124

$88.0 CA$123

0.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 CA$107

$91.2 CA$128

-16.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,130 CA$1,581

$1,843 CA$2,579

-38.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 CA$1,559

$1,530 CA$2,141

-27.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,795 CA$2,512

$3,156 CA$4,415

-43.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 CA$2,380

$2,476 CA$3,465

-31.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,040 CA$8,451

$8,675 CA$12.1K

-30.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,948 CA$6,923

$6,528 CA$9,134

-24.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,068 CA$4,293

$3,726 CA$5,213

-17.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.58

4.21

8.79%

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

Last update for Vernon, BC: September 14, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,130 in Vernon, BC and $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 21% 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: $61.0 in Vernon, BC vs $72.0 in Vancouver. Groceries flip the comparison at $412 vs $409, 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

Vernon, BC vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vernon, BC and Vancouver differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,182 vs $2,735 including rent). Vernon, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Vancouver. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,130 in Vernon, BC versus $1,843 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Vernon, BC – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $72.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,182 per month in Vernon, BC versus $2,735 in Vancouver – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,182 in Vernon, BC versus $2,735 in Vancouver, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Vernon, BC but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Vernon, 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 Vernon, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.