Vancouver and Toronto are the two most expensive cities in Canada. The city was ranked as the 109th, alongside Toronto, the costliest city in the world by Mercer. It should be noted that Mercer’s ranking is based on food, clothing, housing, and transportation in the city as compared to New York City. The cost of living in Vancouver is very similar to that of Toronto. If you are living alone, you could spend about $2,200 each month on groceries, rent, utilities, and transportation. You could spend an additional $300-$400 per month if you have a child. Here is a breakdown of the expenses.
Rent - In Vancouver city center, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1,450. The monthly cost for a three-bedroom apartment is up to $3,000 or more per month depending on your location in Vancouver.
Utilities - Utilities include electricity, water, natural gas, and even cell phones. In Vancouver, utility expenses can account for $100-150 each month.
Groceries - Vancouver residents spend about $40-50 each week for groceries; this adds up to $160-$200 in a month.
Transportation - Movinga surveyed 89 cities for monthly transit costs and ranked Vancouver as the 59th least expensive city. In Vancouver, a single-zone adult fare is $2.75; for two zones the cost is $4 and for three zones, the cost is $5.5. To learn more about Vancouver, click here.