Cost of Living in Canada: Vancouver vs. Tokyo Compared

According to NUMBEO, which provides statistical data, the cost of living in Vancouver is higher overall than in Tokyo.

Monthly living costs (excluding rent)	Vancouver	Tokyo
Family of four	¥572,667	¥525,258
Single person	¥156,168	¥147,280

The cost of living in Vancouver tends to be higher than in Tokyo, especially for rent, food, transportation and childcare. On the other hand, one difference is that utilities such as electricity and water are more expensive in Tokyo.

Let’s compare living costs in detail by category and look at the differences in each.

(1) Eating out at restaurants

Data shows that eating out in Vancouver costs about 1.5 to 2 times as much as in Tokyo.

	Vancouver	Tokyo
Meal (inexpensive restaurant)	¥2,576	¥1,000
McDonald’s combo meal	¥1,545	¥800
Beer (domestic)	¥824	¥500
Cappuccino	¥587	¥508
Water	¥263	¥118

Because eating out is expensive in Vancouver, you can keep living costs down by cooking for yourself.

(2) Groceries from the supermarket

Groceries bought at supermarkets are generally cheaper in Vancouver, except for eggs and some vegetables.

	Vancouver	Tokyo
White rice (450g)	¥258	¥317
Eggs (12)	¥590	¥314
Beef (450g)	¥1,049	¥1,455
Potatoes (450g)	¥204	¥200
Onions (450g)	¥185	¥204
Lettuce (1 head)	¥359	¥206
Apples (450g)	¥277	¥343
Bananas (450g)	¥98	¥163
Oranges (450g)	¥251	¥375

In Vancouver, dairy products, eggs and vegetables are relatively expensive, so if you want to save money, it’s a good idea to make use of local markets.

(3) Public transportation and related costs

	Vancouver	Tokyo
One-way ticket	¥332	¥200
Monthly pass	¥11,745	¥8,500
Taxi (starting fare)	¥515	¥525
Gasoline (3.785L)	¥736	¥673

In Tokyo, the price of a commuter pass depends on the distance you travel, while Vancouver uses a zone system that allows unlimited rides within the same zone, so the two cannot be compared directly.

(4) Monthly utilities

	Vancouver	Tokyo
Utilities (including electricity and water)	¥14,627	¥26,956
Smartphone plan	¥5,591	¥4,077
Internet	¥8,160	¥8,160

Utilities in Vancouver are much cheaper than in Tokyo. In particular, electricity, gas and water are often included in the rent.

(5) Sports and leisure

	Vancouver	Tokyo
Fitness club (monthly)	¥6,732	¥10,285
Movie ticket	¥1,648	¥1,900

Overall, leisure costs are lower in Vancouver than in Tokyo.

(6) Childcare

	Vancouver	Tokyo
Private daycare (monthly)	¥167,036	¥79,164

Childcare in Vancouver costs more than twice as much as in Tokyo! This is a heavy burden for families raising children.

(7) Clothing

	Vancouver	Tokyo
Jeans	¥9,430	¥8,144
Summer dress (Zara, H&M, etc.)	¥6,000	¥5,600
Nike running shoes	¥14,023	¥9,648
Men’s leather business shoes	¥18,259	¥13,166

(8) Monthly rent

	Vancouver	Tokyo
1-bedroom (city centre)	¥283,517	¥168,171
1-bedroom (outside centre)	¥240,015	¥92,875
3-bedroom (city centre)	¥495,349	¥400,625
3-bedroom (outside centre)	¥398,631	¥190,186

*Many people stay with a host family or in a shared house; in that case, it may be best to budget around CAD$1,000–1,200 per month (¥103,050–123,660).

Rent in Vancouver is considerably higher than in Tokyo, with rent for single-person units in particular about 1.5 to 2.5 times higher.

Generally speaking, living costs in Canada tend to follow the pattern that “luxuries are more expensive than in Japan,” such as eating out and clothing. Meanwhile, necessities such as utilities, medical care (free in Canada) and education (tuition is free through high school) are cheaper in Canada. However, when it comes to rent, Vancouver is the most expensive in Canada, and there is a considerable gap compared with Tokyo. While living alone is common in Japan, in Canada many people share accommodation due to soaring rents.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may receive social benefits such as child benefits, and depending on how resourceful you are, you may be able to keep costs down. However, to be prepared for any emergency, we recommend that you travel with sufficient funds.