How much money you need to make to live alone in Vancouver

Budgeting might not be sexy, but it’s a necessary fiscal responsibility – especially if you’re trying to get by in Vancouver.

From the mild climate and easy access to nature to our diverse and inclusive culture, it’s easy to see why people worldwide want to call Vancouver home. But Vancouverites know they pay a premium for the privilege.

So let’s budget out how much moolah you need to make it in the city. According to Numbeo, a website that uses crowdsourced information to compare the cost of living in cities, the average monthly cost for a single person in the city is $1,532.60 – but that’s before rent is taken into account.

We broke down the realistic monthly costs that a person renting alone in Vancouver will face. Hold on to your wallets!

1. Housing costs in Vancouver

Numbeo puts the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Vancouver at $2,819 per month, and for apartments outside of the core, a bit lower at $2,338.

2. Utility costs in Vancouver

In rental agreements, utilities are sometimes included in the cost of rent, but sometimes they are not. The cost of basic utilities—think BC Hydro bills to cover your heating and electricity—averages $143 per month for a 900-square-foot apartment.

Internet costs have an average monthly price of $79.30

3. Phone costs in Vancouver

According to a telecom analyst report, prices in the Canadian wireless market are the highest in the world. Numbeo puts the mobile phone cost at $56 a month, but we know so many people pay way more than that.

4. Transportation costs in Vancouver

You can save money on your transportation costs by walking or taking your bike. However, those options aren’t always ideal, especially if commuting daily.

A monthly TransLink pass is between $104.90 and $189.45, depending on how many zones you travel. If you drive, the cost of gas in Vancouver ranges and is currently about $1.70 per litre. Since many Vancouverites can even walk to work, we will put in the price of a one-zone TransLink pass as a representation of monthly transit costs.

5. Grocery costs in Vancouver

Adding Numbeo’s average Vancouver prices for basic grocery items, if purchased once a week, comes to a monthly average of $207.68.

The grocery items include milk, rice, bread, bananas, cheese, and chicken – essentially just the basics.

6. Dining out costs in Vancouver

Since you’re probably going to get bored with your diet of rice, chicken, and bananas, you’ll want to eat out now and then. Especially because the restaurants in Vancouver are so damn good.

According to Numbeo, the cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant is $122.

So if you go on a date once per week and pick up the cheque, that’s $488 per month. Of course, the true monthly cost of eating out (and, let’s be real, ordering food delivery) will vary greatly depending on your taste and lifestyle.

7. Entertainment costs in Vancouver

In Vancouver, your average movie ticket costs $17.75, and a local beer costs $8.50.

So, if you go to the movies twice a month and have three beers a week, you’ll spend $137.50 a month on some leisurely drinking and cinema hopping.

Of course, if you love to do VIP cinemas and sip fancy cocktails, your monthly entertainment costs will look different than this conservative average.

8. Health and fitness costs in Vancouver

Fitness memberships vary greatly in Vancouver. A community centre gym costs $7.41 per drop-in, whereas other specialty fitness studios may cost more. Numbeo puts the monthly average for a fitness membership at $53.93.

9. Coffee costs in Vancouver

You can save money by drinking coffee at home. But will you have ever truly lived? Numbeo puts a regular cappuccino at $5.78 on average, so if you treat yourself to two a week, that’s $11.56 per week spent at your local cafe… and throw on a dollar each time for a tip for a total of $50.24 each month.

10. Cost of living extras in Vancouver

If you were to buy a pair of Nikes, that would set you back $133.89 in Vancouver, according to Numbeo.

To estimate the average cost of “extras” for a life in Vancouver, we’ll say people will spend the equivalent of one pair of Nikes per month on whatever various purchases they like to make in terms of clothing, plus adding in another $100 for things like makeup, video games, books, or home goods.

The Grand Total

1. Housing:$2,819
2. Utilities: $143
3. Phone and internet: $56 & $79.30
4. Transportation: 107.30
5. Groceries: $207.68
6. Dining Out: $488
7. Entertainment: $137.50
8. Health and Fitness: $53.93
9. Coffee: $50.24
10. Extras: $233.89

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$4,375.84 per month
$52,510.08 annually

You can imagine someone moving to Vancouver who:

• rents a one-bedroom apartment by themselves
• pays their own utilities, phone bill, and gym membership
• spends a scant $200 on meagre groceries a month
• takes the bus
• eats out once a week and goes to the movies twice a month
• drinks three beers a week
• grabs an occasional coffee and goes shopping once per month

And all that will cost them more than $50,000 annually. It’s not a luxury life, is it?

All this has us rethinking our budget so let us know in the comments, how do you save money in Vancouver?

This piece was first published in 2021 and has since been updated. 

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