Cost of Living in Vancouver for 2025

How much you should prepare for. You’ve probably heard but Vancouver is expensive! You should bring more than you think.

Visa applications say you need a minimum of $2500, which implies that’s all you need, but that’s not the case.

Is it expensive to live in Vancouver?

Yes. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

How much does it cost to live in Vancouver per month?

It varies, you can calculate it for your case with the information below.

Somewhere between $3,500 - $7,000 a month, depending on your lifestyle.

Cost of living in Vancouver breakdown

Housing

Cost per month:

• $900 - $1800 for living with a roommate
• $2300 - $3500 for a one bedroom

Deposit:

• First month’s rent + security deposit (half a month’s rent, normally)
• On average for a one-bedroom, it’s $4650 upfront.

You might have to show income, a bank statement, or a pay stub. You can read more on this on:

Groceries

Cost per month: $600 - $2000

When I asked people about what was important to them about moving to Vancouver, most people mentioned the surprise of how much groceries cost, so you should account for this.

I have started a grocery price comparison here, with tips:

Eating and drinking out

Cost per month: $0 - $1200. Going out once a week per month is around $240 a month.

Cost per meal: $20-$30

Cost per drink: $11-$20

Transit

Cost per month: $107.30 - $193.80

The lower end is for a 1-zone transit pass, the higher end is for 3-zone transit pass.

Housing costs

Cost per month: $1350 - $4650 per month

Phone plan

Cost per month: $50 - $120

Internet

Cost per month: Around $70

Total for monthly living costs:

• Low end: $1,727.30 CAD (shared housing, no eating out, 1-zone transit pass, cheapest phone plan)
• High end: $5,683.80 CAD (one-bedroom, eating out often, 3-zone transit pass, most expensive phone plan)

Moving to Vancouver expenses breakdown

Visa and Immigration Costs

Cost: Varies

If you need a visa or immigration permit, costs can vary depending on the type of visa. You might also consider legal consultation fees. This varies depending on where you are coming from and your current citizenship. A working Holiday Visa is CAD$357 (including $172 for processing fees, $100 for the open work permit holder fee and $85 for biometrics fees).

Moving and Shipping Costs

Cost: $100 - $6000

If you can move with just one suitcase, do that! Shipping is a pain, and a large cost to consider.

Flights

Cost: $700 to $1600 per person

Airfare costs depend on the time of year and how early you book and where you’re coming from. I use Google Flights to book.

Temporary stay

Cost: $0 (friends/family) - $4000

For when you first arrive

Housing costs for the first month

Cost: $1350 - $4650

Deposit:

• First month’s rent + security deposit (half a month's rent, normally)
• On average for a one-bedroom, it’s $4650 upfront.

Health Insurance

Cost: $20 - $2000

While Canada has a healthcare system, new arrivals aren’t eligible for 3 months. Consider travel health insurance or private health insurance until you qualify for provincial coverage.

I use Goether (Germany) and it’s around $20 a year, but for Ireland, you need health insurance to cover your entire duration to get your Visa which can be thousands.

Settling-In Costs

Cost: $2000 +

Include initial expenses such as furniture, household items, utility setup fees, and groceries.

Emergency Fund

Cost: Equivalent to 3-6 months of expenses

If you don’t have a job yet, I’d recommend saving for at least 6 months. It is currently very hard to find work in Vancouver, so you should account for that.

How much money should I save before moving to Vancouver?

The total becomes between $13,527 - $56,607 CAD depending on your situation, that’s quite the range, so I recommend calculating it yourself, I’ll add a calculator soon.

I recommend between $18k - $25k CAD.

Next steps

Get your Visa to live in Vancouver:

Find an apartment to rent in Vancouver:

Find a job in Vancouver: