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: $2,329 in Vernon, BC versus $2,860 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,131 in Vernon, BC versus $4,199 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,933 in Vernon, BC versus $5,538 in Vancouver.

Living in Vernon, BC costs roughly 19% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vernon, BC 73% above, Vancouver 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.83 CA$20.71

$18.50 CA$25.84

-19.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.8 CA$96.1

$79.5 CA$111

-13.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.27

$11.11 CA$15.52

-1.53%

Cappuccino

$3.66 CA$5.11

$4.11 CA$5.74

-10.95%

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

$1.92 CA$2.68

$2.21 CA$3.08

-13.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.20

$1.75 CA$2.45

-10.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 CA$8.20

$5.77 CA$8.06

1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$9.01

$7.45 CA$10.40

-13.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.10

$2.20 CA$3.07

0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 CA$3.92

$3.22 CA$4.49

-12.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 CA$4.63

$3.68 CA$5.14

-10.05%

Eggs

$3.73 CA$5.21

$4.39 CA$6.13

-15.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 CA$14.01

$12.82 CA$17.90

-21.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.40 CA$14.53

$14.20 CA$19.82

-26.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 CA$18.50

$16.04 CA$22.40

-17.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 CA$5.57

$4.38 CA$6.12

-8.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 CA$2.47

$1.53 CA$2.13

15.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.74

$4.07 CA$5.68

0.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.18 CA$7.23

2.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 CA$4.20

$3.05 CA$4.25

-1.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.19

$2.96 CA$4.14

1.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.92 CA$4.08

$2.73 CA$3.81

6.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 CA$2.54

$1.87 CA$2.61

-2.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.88 CA$19.38

$15.40 CA$21.51

-9.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.16 CA$23.97

$14.32 CA$20.00

19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.41 CA$4.77

$3.11 CA$4.35

9.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 CA$5.30

$3.66 CA$5.12

3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.86 CA$2.60

$2.41 CA$3.37

-22.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.83 CA$55.6

$82.6 CA$115

-51.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 CA$3.37

$3.65 CA$5.10

-33.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.49 CA$2.08

4.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.95 CA$40.43

$26.94 CA$37.63

7.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 CA$1.79

$1.28 CA$1.78

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

$24.8K CA$34.7K

$24.9K CA$34.8K

-0.36%

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

$19.8K CA$27.7K

$21.0K CA$29.3K

-5.46%

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

$159 CA$222

$92.2 CA$129

72.24%

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

$45.46 CA$63.5

$40.43 CA$56.5

12.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 CA$87.9

$62.0 CA$86.6

1.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.68 CA$44.25

$44.57 CA$62.2

-28.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.47 CA$21.60

$15.75 CA$21.99

-1.78%

Cinema Ticket

$10.51 CA$14.68

$12.19 CA$17.02

-13.78%

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

$440 CA$614

$1,164 CA$1,625

-62.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,874 CA$8,203

$18.1K CA$25.3K

-67.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 CA$84.3

$62.9 CA$87.9

-4.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.18 CA$56.1

$42.23 CA$59.0

-4.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 CA$124

$98.0 CA$137

-9.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 CA$111

$118 CA$165

-32.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,088 CA$1,520

$1,977 CA$2,761

-44.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 CA$1,692

$1,665 CA$2,325

-27.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 CA$2,199

$3,579 CA$4,997

-56.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 CA$2,023

$2,798 CA$3,907

-48.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,037 CA$9,827

$8,881 CA$12.4K

-20.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,836 CA$6,753

$6,873 CA$9,598

-29.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,061 CA$4,275

$3,432 CA$4,792

-10.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.61

13.37%

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

Last update for Vernon, BC: June 8, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,088 in Vernon, BC and $1,977 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 12% 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: $69.0 in Vernon, BC vs $80.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $417 per month, with Vernon, BC 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

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

Vernon, BC and Vancouver differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,329 vs $2,860 including rent). Vernon, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Vancouver earns 12% less. 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: $1,088 in Vernon, BC versus $1,977 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 $69.0 versus $80.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,329 per month in Vernon, BC versus $2,860 in Vancouver – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,329 in Vernon, BC versus $2,860 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 23% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.