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: $2,127 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,854 in Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,044 in Williams Lake, BC versus $4,189 in Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,961 in Williams Lake, BC versus $5,523 in Vancouver.

Living in Williams Lake, BC costs roughly 25% less than in Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Williams Lake, BC 59% above, Vancouver 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.15 CA$24.16

$18.10 CA$25.50

-5.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.4 CA$97.7

$78.6 CA$111

-11.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 CA$15.35

$10.95 CA$15.43

-0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.68 CA$5.18

$4.11 CA$5.79

-10.46%

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

$2.05 CA$2.89

$2.15 CA$3.03

-4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.85 CA$2.61

-9.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.55 CA$7.82

$5.79 CA$8.16

-4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 CA$8.54

$7.25 CA$10.22

-16.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$2.25 CA$3.17

9.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.77

$3.06 CA$4.31

-12.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.57 CA$5.03

$3.85 CA$5.42

-7.27%

Eggs

$5.62 CA$7.92

$4.53 CA$6.38

24.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 CA$15.63

$12.68 CA$17.87

-12.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.69 CA$16.47

$14.29 CA$20.13

-18.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 CA$20.80

$15.53 CA$21.88

-4.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.61

$4.22 CA$5.95

-5.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.99

$1.47 CA$2.08

-3.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 CA$5.12

$4.01 CA$5.65

-9.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.22

$4.98 CA$7.02

-25.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 CA$3.35

$3.15 CA$4.44

-24.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.52

$3.07 CA$4.33

-18.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 CA$3.54

$2.72 CA$3.84

-7.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 CA$2.51

$1.80 CA$2.54

-1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.04 CA$19.78

$15.23 CA$21.46

-7.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.83 CA$18.08

$14.69 CA$20.70

-12.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 CA$3.97

$3.17 CA$4.46

-11.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 CA$4.31

$3.81 CA$5.36

-19.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.32 CA$3.27

$2.35 CA$3.31

-1.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.1 CA$87.4

$85.4 CA$120

-27.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 CA$4.44

$3.77 CA$5.32

-16.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 CA$2.03

$1.45 CA$2.04

-0.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.65 CA$36.14

$27.66 CA$38.96

-7.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$1.35 CA$1.90

-9.63%

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

$25.4K CA$35.8K

$25.5K CA$35.9K

-0.09%

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

$20.8K CA$29.3K

$21.0K CA$29.6K

-1.01%

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

$144 CA$203

$88.7 CA$125

62.31%

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

$32.66 CA$46.00

$39.79 CA$56.1

-17.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.3 CA$123

$60.4 CA$85.1

44.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.22 CA$58.1

$45.70 CA$64.4

-9.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.60 CA$21.98

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 CA$16.23

$12.28 CA$17.30

-6.11%

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

$740 CA$1,043

$1,193 CA$1,681

-37.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K CA$16.6K

$18.1K CA$25.5K

-35.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 CA$75.9

$62.3 CA$87.7

-13.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.18 CA$56.6

$43.22 CA$60.9

-7.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 CA$119

$96.3 CA$136

-12.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 CA$150

$117 CA$165

-9.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 CA$1,370

$2,005 CA$2,824

-51.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$937 CA$1,320

$1,612 CA$2,270

-41.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,394 CA$1,963

$3,457 CA$4,870

-59.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 CA$1,840

$2,796 CA$3,938

-53.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,779 CA$6,731

$9,119 CA$12.8K

-47.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,317 CA$4,672

$7,147 CA$10.1K

-53.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,405

$3,304 CA$4,654

-5.35%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Williams Lake, BC and $2,005 in Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vancouver pays 6% 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 Williams Lake, BC vs $79.0 in Vancouver for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $415 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 34% in total monthly costs ($2,127 vs $2,854 including rent). Williams Lake, BC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 6% 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: $973 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,005 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 $69.0 versus $79.0 in Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,127 per month in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,854 in Vancouver – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,127 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,854 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 34% less than in Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.