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: $2,391 in Vernon, BC versus $2,818 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,208 in Vernon, BC versus $4,226 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,025 in Vernon, BC versus $5,634 in Vancouver.

Living in Vernon, BC costs roughly 15% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vernon, BC 80% above, Vancouver 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.57 CA$20.42

$18.73 CA$26.24

-22.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 CA$97.0

$78.5 CA$110

-11.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.25

$10.85 CA$15.21

0.28%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.18

$4.10 CA$5.75

-9.76%

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

$1.90 CA$2.67

$2.13 CA$2.98

-10.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 CA$2.10

$1.76 CA$2.47

-14.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 CA$8.45

$5.76 CA$8.08

4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 CA$9.13

$7.23 CA$10.13

-9.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 CA$2.99

$2.29 CA$3.20

-6.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 CA$3.78

$3.22 CA$4.51

-16.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.56

$3.70 CA$5.18

-12.16%

Eggs

$3.89 CA$5.45

$4.36 CA$6.10

-10.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 CA$13.63

$12.86 CA$18.02

-24.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 CA$14.36

$14.24 CA$19.96

-28.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 CA$18.67

$15.74 CA$22.05

-15.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$4.30 CA$6.03

-7.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CA$2.50

$1.52 CA$2.13

17.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.96

$3.99 CA$5.59

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.38 CA$7.54

$5.13 CA$7.19

4.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.40

$3.06 CA$4.29

2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 CA$4.02

$3.05 CA$4.27

-5.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 CA$4.20

$2.63 CA$3.68

14.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 CA$2.53

$1.87 CA$2.62

-3.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 CA$18.79

$15.70 CA$22.00

-14.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.82 CA$23.56

$14.59 CA$20.44

15.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 CA$4.86

$3.21 CA$4.50

8.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 CA$5.51

$3.59 CA$5.03

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 CA$2.71

$2.44 CA$3.42

-20.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.91 CA$55.9

$83.2 CA$117

-52.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 CA$3.39

$3.70 CA$5.18

-34.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 CA$2.17

$1.49 CA$2.08

4.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.68 CA$40.19

$27.37 CA$38.36

4.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.70

$1.33 CA$1.87

-9.02%

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

$24.5K CA$34.4K

$25.1K CA$35.2K

-2.42%

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

$20.5K CA$28.7K

$20.7K CA$29.1K

-1.08%

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

$162 CA$227

$90.0 CA$126

80.26%

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

$45.68 CA$64.0

$40.83 CA$57.2

11.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 CA$86.3

$61.1 CA$85.6

0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.96 CA$44.78

$45.73 CA$64.1

-30.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 CA$21.73

$15.45 CA$21.65

0.39%

Cinema Ticket

$10.64 CA$14.91

$12.01 CA$16.83

-11.41%

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

$447 CA$626

$1,162 CA$1,628

-61.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,774 CA$8,091

$18.1K CA$25.3K

-68.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 CA$87.0

$63.6 CA$89.1

-2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.69 CA$55.6

$42.32 CA$59.3

-6.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 CA$123

$96.8 CA$136

-9.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 CA$110

$116 CA$162

-32.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 CA$1,527

$2,024 CA$2,836

-46.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 CA$1,689

$1,614 CA$2,261

-25.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 CA$2,200

$3,464 CA$4,854

-54.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,476 CA$2,068

$2,743 CA$3,843

-46.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,016 CA$8,430

$8,872 CA$12.4K

-32.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,807 CA$6,736

$7,046 CA$9,874

-31.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,021 CA$4,233

$3,312 CA$4,641

-8.78%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,090 in Vernon, BC and $2,024 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 10% 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 $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 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 18% in total monthly costs ($2,391 vs $2,818 including rent). Vernon, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 10% 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: $1,090 in Vernon, BC versus $2,024 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 $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,391 per month in Vernon, BC versus $2,818 in Vancouver – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,391 in Vernon, BC versus $2,818 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 18% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.