Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Victoria and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,683 in Victoria versus $2,831 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,048 in Victoria versus $4,231 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,413 in Victoria versus $5,630 in Vancouver.

Living in Victoria costs roughly 5% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Victoria 100% above, Vancouver 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.24 CA$25.34

$18.26 CA$25.37

-0.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$77.8 CA$108

5.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 CA$15.50

$10.85 CA$15.08

2.76%

Cappuccino

$4.00 CA$5.56

$3.98 CA$5.53

0.50%

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

$2.32 CA$3.22

$2.12 CA$2.94

9.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CA$2.85

$1.78 CA$2.47

15.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.26

$5.77 CA$8.02

-9.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$8.97

$7.56 CA$10.50

-14.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$2.32 CA$3.23

27.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 CA$4.45

$3.10 CA$4.30

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.26 CA$7.31

$3.89 CA$5.40

35.22%

Eggs

$4.36 CA$6.06

$4.53 CA$6.29

-3.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 CA$18.37

$12.92 CA$17.95

2.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.96 CA$20.78

$14.14 CA$19.65

5.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 CA$21.28

$15.74 CA$21.87

-2.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 CA$6.33

$4.26 CA$5.91

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.32

$1.47 CA$2.04

13.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 CA$6.11

$4.02 CA$5.59

9.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 CA$6.68

$5.06 CA$7.03

-4.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.26

$3.02 CA$4.20

25.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$2.95 CA$4.10

10.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 CA$3.86

$2.60 CA$3.61

6.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 CA$3.69

$1.88 CA$2.61

40.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.68 CA$21.79

$15.20 CA$21.12

3.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.28 CA$25.39

$14.30 CA$19.86

27.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.94 CA$5.47

$3.07 CA$4.27

28.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 CA$6.32

$3.74 CA$5.20

21.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.87 CA$2.60

$2.44 CA$3.39

-23.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.7 CA$88.5

$84.9 CA$118

-24.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 CA$3.75

$3.74 CA$5.19

-27.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.50 CA$2.09

-10.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.20 CA$46.13

$27.43 CA$38.11

21.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 CA$1.89

$1.34 CA$1.86

1.49%

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

$25.4K CA$35.3K

$25.1K CA$34.9K

1.16%

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

$21.2K CA$29.5K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

2.40%

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

$140 CA$194

$91.8 CA$128

52.04%

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

$53.4 CA$74.1

$39.42 CA$54.8

35.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 CA$99.1

$61.1 CA$84.9

16.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.65 CA$62.0

$44.89 CA$62.4

-0.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 CA$23.60

$15.68 CA$21.79

8.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.82 CA$16.43

$12.37 CA$17.18

-4.45%

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

$646 CA$897

$1,180 CA$1,640

-45.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K CA$19.4K

$18.8K CA$26.1K

-25.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$81.5

$62.7 CA$87.1

-6.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.75 CA$62.2

$43.13 CA$59.9

3.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 CA$133

$94.7 CA$132

1.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 CA$156

$118 CA$164

-5.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 CA$2,173

$1,995 CA$2,771

-21.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 CA$1,910

$1,629 CA$2,264

-15.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,740 CA$3,807

$3,589 CA$4,986

-23.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,402 CA$3,337

$2,769 CA$3,848

-13.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,702 CA$7,922

$9,246 CA$12.8K

-38.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,713 CA$6,548

$7,086 CA$9,845

-33.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,994 CA$4,160

$3,474 CA$4,827

-13.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.61

13.73%

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

Last update for Victoria: June 1, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,564 in Victoria and $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 16% 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: $82.0 in Victoria vs $78.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $415 per month, with Vancouver 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

Victoria vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria and Vancouver differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($2,683 vs $2,831 including rent). Victoria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Vancouver earns 16% 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: $1,564 in Victoria versus $1,995 in Vancouver. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Victoria – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,683 per month in Victoria versus $2,831 in Vancouver – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Victoria is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.