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Vancouver vs San Francisco

Vancouver runs about 82% cheaper than San Francisco for this household, a difference of 2,901 USD a month.

Downtown Eastside, Vancouver during coronavirus pandemic
Vancouver
$3,541/month · Canada
GoToVan from Vancouver, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Aerial view of Chase Center at 2020
San Francisco
$6,441/month · United States
Christopher Michel · CC BY 2.0
Vancouver monthly
$3,541
Index 55 (NYC = 100)
San Francisco monthly
$6,441
Index 101 (NYC = 100)
Difference
+82%
San Francisco relative to Vancouver
Rent gap
$2,050
San Francisco costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

VancouverSan Francisco
  • Housing
    Housing: Vancouver $2,100, San Francisco $4,150. Cheaper in Vancouver.
  • Food
    Food: Vancouver $774, San Francisco $914. Cheaper in Vancouver.
  • Transport
    Transport: Vancouver $162, San Francisco $175. Cheaper in Vancouver.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Vancouver $221, San Francisco $256. Cheaper in Vancouver.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Vancouver $9.20, San Francisco $560. Cheaper in Vancouver.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Vancouver $168, San Francisco $217. Cheaper in Vancouver.
  • Other
    Other: Vancouver $107, San Francisco $170. Cheaper in Vancouver.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricVancouverSan Francisco
Cost
Total monthly cost3,541 USD✓6,441 USD
Cost index (New York = 100)55✓101
Housing2,100 USD✓4,150 USD
Utilities221 USD✓256 USD
Food774 USD✓914 USD
Transport162 USD✓175 USD
Healthcare9 USD✓560 USD
Lifestyle168 USD✓217 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr6,088 USD✓5,978 USD
Effective tax + social rate26.9%✓28.3%
Left over each month2,547 USD✓-463 USD
Average local net salary3,300 USD6,600 USD✓
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre2,100 USD✓4,150 USD
3-bed rent, city centre3,700 USD✓7,798 USD
Buy price per m², centre10,500 USD✓13,500 USD
Quality of life
Safety74/100✓45/100
Healthcare84/10088/100✓
Air quality84/100✓72/100
Public transport70/10072/100✓
Walkability76/10086/100✓
English proficiency96/100100/100✓
Nightlife72/10082/100✓
Family friendliness82/100✓60/100
Median broadband210 Mbps260 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature11°C✓14°C
Summer high23°C22°C✓
Winter low1°C8°C✓
Sunshine hours per year1,930 h3,060 h✓
Annual rainfall1190 mm600 mm✓
Practicalities
Remote-work visaNoNo
Beach access15 min✓20 min
CurrencyCADUSD
Time zoneAmerica/VancouverAmerica/Los_Angeles

Vancouver runs about 82% cheaper than San Francisco for this household, a difference of 2,901 USD a month.

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Cost of living in VancouverCost of living in San FranciscoConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
Vancouver vs TorontoVancouver vs SeattleVancouver vs Chicago
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Vancouver or San Francisco cheaper?

Vancouver runs about 82% cheaper than San Francisco for this household, a difference of 2,901 USD a month.

What salary do you need in San Francisco compared with Vancouver?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $6,088 a month in Vancouver and $5,978 in San Francisco, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Vancouver or San Francisco?

Vancouver scores 74/100 on safety and 84/100 on healthcare; San Francisco scores 45 and 88. Vancouver averages 11°C against 14°C in San Francisco.