Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Nanaimo, BC 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Nanaimo, BC is 5.9% lower than in Vancouver (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Nanaimo, BC is 16.7% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Rent Prices in Nanaimo, BC are 35.5% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Restaurant Prices in Nanaimo, BC are 5.7% lower than in Vancouver | |
| Groceries Prices in Nanaimo, BC are 0.8% higher than in Vancouver | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Nanaimo, BC is 5.8% lower than in Vancouver | |
Restaurants | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 30.00 C$ | 25.00 C$ | -16.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 100.00 C$ | 90.00 C$ | -10.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 C$ | 18.00 C$ | +20.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 C$ | 8.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 9.00 C$ | 8.00 C$ | -11.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.47 C$ | 5.60 C$ | +2.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.94 C$ | 3.37 C$ | +14.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.35 C$ | 2.70 C$ | +15.0 % |
Markets | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 2.88 C$ | 2.77 C$ | -4.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.76 C$ | 4.41 C$ | +17.1 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.34 C$ | 2.59 C$ | +10.7 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 5.78 C$ | 5.71 C$ | -1.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 8.05 C$ | 7.28 C$ | -9.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 8.80 C$ | 9.75 C$ | +10.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.01 C$ | 11.57 C$ | +15.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.72 C$ | 2.71 C$ | -0.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.92 C$ | 0.87 C$ | -5.7 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.66 C$ | 2.14 C$ | -19.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.97 C$ | 2.81 C$ | -5.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.99 C$ | 1.74 C$ | -12.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.82 C$ | 1.73 C$ | -4.4 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 3.63 C$ | 4.14 C$ | +13.9 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.51 C$ | 3.12 C$ | +24.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 22.00 C$ | 25.00 C$ | +13.6 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 4.38 C$ | 3.26 C$ | -25.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 5.17 C$ | 4.83 C$ | -6.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 21.00 C$ | 18.40 C$ | -12.4 % |
Transportation | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 3.50 C$ | 2.62 C$ | -25.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 122.50 C$ | 65.00 C$ | -46.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 5.00 C$ | 3.95 C$ | -21.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.51 C$ | 4.38 C$ | +24.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 36.97 C$ | 47.22 C$ | +27.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.71 C$ | 1.69 C$ | -1.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 33,978.00 C$ | 33,978.00 C$ | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 28,262.42 C$ | 27,382.58 C$ | -3.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 120.27 C$ | 169.67 C$ | +41.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 54.14 C$ | 68.62 C$ | +26.7 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 79.97 C$ | 94.17 C$ | +17.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 58.70 C$ | 36.00 C$ | -38.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 20.12 C$ | 27.00 C$ | +34.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 16.00 C$ | 15.00 C$ | -6.2 % |
Childcare | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,752.56 C$ | 1,066.67 C$ | -39.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 27,166.67 C$ | 16,333.33 C$ | -39.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 90.25 C$ | 50.00 C$ | -44.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 59.12 C$ | 46.67 C$ | -21.1 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 131.35 C$ | 135.00 C$ | +2.8 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 158.64 C$ | 137.50 C$ | -13.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,690.76 C$ | 1,778.00 C$ | -33.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,210.94 C$ | 1,590.00 C$ | -28.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 4,918.18 C$ | 2,775.00 C$ | -43.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,756.52 C$ | 2,612.50 C$ | -30.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,206.83 C$ | 500.00 C$ | -58.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 920.43 C$ | 460.00 C$ | -50.0 % |
Salaries And Financing | Vancouver Edit |
Nanaimo, BC Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,521.57 C$ | 3,548.75 C$ | -21.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.07 | 6.01 | +18.5 % |
| Last update: | 6 November 2025 | 6 September 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 317 | 36 |
Moving to Vancouver? Explore:
Moving to Nanaimo, BC? Explore:
Cities near Vancouver: | Cost of Living in Burnaby | 8.12 miles |
| Cost of Living in New Westminster | 12.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Coquitlam | 20.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Surrey | 25.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Abbotsford | 48.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Whistler | 77.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Penticton | 248.52 miles |
Cities near Nanaimo, BC: | Cost of Living in Saanich | 68.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Victoria | 69.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Comox, BC | 70.63 miles |