Cost of Living in Vancouver, Canada

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Vancouver costs approximately $2,180 per month for one person including rent. That is 35% above the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $2,512, Vancouver is cheaper than typical for United States & Canada. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,940 per month, or $1,621 outside the centre. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $18.25 and a monthly transit pass $86. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 256 Mbps and Vancouver scores 75/100 on safety (generally safe). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Vancouver is a city in Canada, where a single person can expect to spend about $2,180 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $1,940 per month, or $1,621 outside the centre. Internet is fast at around 256 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Vancouver scores 75/100 — generally safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 74°F and winter highs around 44°F, with roughly 159 sunny days a year.

Top for SkiTop for National ParkTop for WildlifeTop for RunningTop for BikeabilityTop for Green SpacesTop for HikingFamily friendlyMajor airport hub

Monthly Cost$2,180≈ $73/day

1BR Rent (Centre)$1,940

Internet256 Mbps

Safety75/100

Avg Temp59°F

Vancouver Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$18.25

Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$87.59

McDonald's Combo Meal$10.95

Cappuccino$4.13

Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$5.84

Bottled Water (Restaurant)$1.74

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$2.18

Bread (1 lb Loaf)$2.55

Eggs (12)$4.18

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$6.55

Apples (1 lb)$1.95

Bananas (1 lb)$0.63

Tomatoes (1 lb)$2.12

Potatoes (1 lb)$1.39

Water (1.5L Bottle)$1.82

Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$15.33

Cigarettes (Marlboro)$15.51

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$2.55

Monthly Transit Pass$85.55

Taxi Start$2.92

Taxi (1 Mile)$2.68

Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.20

VW Golf (New)$28,890.51

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$86.62

Mobile Phone Plan$38.60

Broadband Internet$50.88

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$42.62

Cinema Ticket$11.68

Preschool (Monthly)$1,218.88

Intl. Primary School (Annual)$21,826.64

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$62.92

Nike Running Shoes$90.85

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$1,940.20

Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$1,620.77

Rent 3BR (City Centre)$3,633.42

Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$2,664.23

Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$850.53

Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$659.23

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$3,585.97

Mortgage Interest Rate4.4%

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Vancouver

Internet256 Mbps

Safety75/100

Healthcare72/100

Public Transit74/100

Walkability80/100

Nightlife52/100

Food Scene80/100

Fine Dining42/100

Coffee Culture74/100

Air Quality81/100

Green Spaces45/100

Culture78/100

Beaches45/100

Hiking90/100

Surfing10/100

Coworking Spaces65

US Visa-Free180 days

How Vancouver Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Vancouver ranks in the top 8% for walkability, but costs more than 71% of them.

Metric	Vancouver	World rank	Rank in United States & Canada
Monthly cost	$2,180	#242 of 340	#19 of 80
Safety	75/100	#107 of 340	#13 of 80
Healthcare	72/100	#138 of 340	#63 of 80
Internet speed	256 Mbps	#88 of 340	#55 of 80
Walkability	80/100	#25 of 340	#5 of 80
Public transit	74/100	#52 of 340	#4 of 80
Food scene	80/100	#103 of 340	#25 of 80
Air quality	81/100	#178 of 340	#43 of 80

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Vancouver

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Vancouver.

St. John's, Canada — $1,680/mo, 23% cheaper, safety 84/100
Ottawa, Canada — $1,820/mo, 17% cheaper, safety 83/100
Quebec City, Canada — $1,609/mo, 26% cheaper, safety 85/100
Niagara Falls, Canada — $1,700/mo, 22% cheaper, safety 80/100

Neighborhoods in Vancouver

Gastown · Kitsilano · Yaletown · Commercial Drive

Vancouver FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Vancouver?

A single person should budget around $2,180 per month in Vancouver, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.

How much is rent in Vancouver?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Vancouver averages $1,940 per month, dropping to about $1,621 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $3,633.

Is Vancouver safe?

Vancouver scores 75/100 on safety, which is generally safe. Tourist safety is rated 78/100.

How fast is the internet in Vancouver?

Median download speeds in Vancouver are around 256 Mbps — fast for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 65 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Canada offer a digital nomad visa?

Canada does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 180 days visa-free.

What is the weather like in Vancouver?

Vancouver sees summer highs around 74°F and winter highs near 44°F, with about 159 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 137 days.