British Columbia · 2025
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.
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How Vancouver compares
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 from CMHC Fall 2024 + Rentals.ca one-bedroom averages; 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.