British Columbia · Updated June 2026
Cost of living in Vancouver
Canada's most expensive rental market — housing dominates every Vancouver budget, with groceries and transit running above the national average too.
What it costs each month in Vancouver
Typical figures for a one-person household. Your own number depends on your housing, habits, and income — that’s what the Cost of Living Score assessment works out.
Rent is the CMHC average in-place one-bedroom rent (what current tenants pay), via Statistics Canada (2025-12). New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
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How Vancouver compares
Common questions about living in Vancouver
How much does it cost to live in Vancouver?
A typical single-person household in Vancouver spends about $2,520 per month on the essentials: $1,806 rent, $420 groceries, $104 transit, and $190 utilities.
What is the average rent in Vancouver?
The CMHC in-place average for a one-bedroom in Vancouver is about $1,806 per month — what current tenants pay, via Statistics Canada. New-lease asking rents typically run higher.
How much are utilities in Vancouver?
Hydro, heating, and internet for a one-bedroom in Vancouver run about $190 per month.
Is Vancouver an affordable place to live?
Vancouver scores 27/100 on our Cost of Living Score, where higher means more affordable — that's "Pricey". Its typical monthly essentials run about 18% above the average Canadian city we track.
How this score is calculated
The Cost of Living Score adds up a city’s typical monthly essentials — rent, groceries, transit, and utilities — and compares that total to the average across the Canadian cities we track. A city at the average scores around 50; cheaper cities score higher, pricier ones lower. Higher always means more affordable.
Sources: Rent is the CMHC Rental Market Survey 1-bedroom average (2025, via Statistics Canada); groceries from Canada's Food Price Report 2025 adjusted for BC price levels; transit is the TransLink one-zone adult monthly pass; utilities blend BC Hydro and CRTC internet pricing. Figures are typical city-level estimates for a one-person household, not a personal budget, and shift over time. Last updated June 2026.