Cost of Living Comparison Between Williams Lake, BC and Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Williams Lake, BC and Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,897 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,029 in Williams Lake, BC versus $4,277 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,986 in Williams Lake, BC versus $5,658 in Vancouver.

Living in Williams Lake, BC costs roughly 28% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Williams Lake, BC 55% above, Vancouver 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.81 CA$23.02

$18.60 CA$25.49

-9.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.7 CA$96.9

$77.8 CA$107

-9.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.22 CA$15.37

$10.98 CA$15.04

2.19%

Cappuccino

$3.71 CA$5.08

$3.90 CA$5.35

-4.87%

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

$2.05 CA$2.81

$2.23 CA$3.06

-8.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.35

$1.84 CA$2.52

-7.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.48 CA$7.51

$5.87 CA$8.04

-6.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 CA$8.18

$7.39 CA$10.12

-19.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.46 CA$3.37

$2.28 CA$3.12

7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.74 CA$3.75

$3.07 CA$4.21

-10.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.52 CA$4.82

$3.75 CA$5.14

-6.13%

Eggs

$5.59 CA$7.66

$4.45 CA$6.10

25.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 CA$15.11

$12.67 CA$17.36

-12.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.63 CA$15.93

$13.82 CA$18.93

-15.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.90 CA$20.41

$15.65 CA$21.44

-4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$4.31 CA$5.91

-7.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.95

$1.46 CA$2.00

-2.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.69 CA$5.05

$3.87 CA$5.31

-4.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 CA$5.01

$4.90 CA$6.71

-25.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.40

$3.20 CA$4.39

-22.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.39

$2.99 CA$4.10

-17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 CA$3.44

$2.64 CA$3.62

-4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.33

$1.84 CA$2.52

-7.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.75 CA$18.83

$15.22 CA$20.86

-9.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.25 CA$15.41

$15.26 CA$20.90

-26.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$3.99

$3.10 CA$4.24

-6.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 CA$4.19

$3.72 CA$5.09

-18.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 CA$3.33

$2.34 CA$3.21

3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.6 CA$87.1

$84.0 CA$115

-24.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 CA$4.40

$3.62 CA$4.96

-11.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.95

$1.44 CA$1.97

-0.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.34 CA$34.72

$27.09 CA$37.11

-6.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 CA$1.65

$1.32 CA$1.81

-8.33%

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

$24.5K CA$33.6K

$24.9K CA$34.1K

-1.49%

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

$20.3K CA$27.9K

$21.0K CA$28.8K

-3.20%

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

$140 CA$192

$90.2 CA$124

55.05%

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

$33.18 CA$45.45

$40.77 CA$55.9

-18.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 CA$118

$61.8 CA$84.6

39.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.92 CA$57.4

$46.05 CA$63.1

-8.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.54 CA$21.29

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 CA$15.59

$12.14 CA$16.63

-6.26%

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

$733 CA$1,004

$1,160 CA$1,589

-36.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.4K

$18.8K CA$25.7K

-36.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 CA$73.9

$64.0 CA$87.7

-15.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 CA$54.4

$43.36 CA$59.4

-8.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$119

$95.8 CA$131

-8.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$144

$115 CA$157

-8.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 CA$1,319

$1,977 CA$2,708

-51.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 CA$1,253

$1,663 CA$2,278

-44.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 CA$1,881

$3,490 CA$4,781

-60.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,310 CA$1,795

$2,708 CA$3,710

-51.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,983 CA$6,827

$9,024 CA$12.4K

-44.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,867 CA$5,298

$6,998 CA$9,588

-44.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,261 CA$4,468

$3,505 CA$4,802

-6.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.61

15.15%

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

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: April 20, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Williams Lake, BC and $1,977 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 7% 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: $71 in Williams Lake, BC vs $78 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $412 per month, with Williams Lake, 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

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

Williams Lake, BC and Vancouver differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,072 vs $2,897 including rent). Williams Lake, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Vancouver earns 7% 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: $963 in Williams Lake, 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 Williams Lake, BC – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $78.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,072 per month in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,897 in Vancouver – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,897 in Vancouver, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Williams Lake, BC but tight or insufficient in Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Williams Lake, 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 Williams Lake, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.