Vancouver vs. Seattle: Cost Of Living Comparison

Vancouver and Seattle are two dynamic West Coast cities that draw people from around the world with their stunning landscapes, thriving job markets, and vibrant cultural scenes. While both offer unique lifestyles and opportunities, the cost of living can vary significantly between them. Let’s look at how the cost of living in Vancouver compares to Seattle. We’ll start by highlighting some key differences between the two cities. Then, we’ll dive into the most significant expense—rent—and see how much your dollar can stretch in each location using the latest liv.rent rental market data. Finally, we’ll provide a complete financial breakdown, showing how much you can expect to spend or save depending on which city you choose, along with essential insights about daily life in both. All prices are in Canadian dollars.

Note: At the time of writing, the Canadian Dollar was trading at 70 cents on the United States Dollar.

Vancouver vs. Seattle: Major differences

A quick overview of the cost of living in Vancouver vs. Seattle shows that it’s more affordable to call Vancouver home than Seattle.

In fact, according to Numbeo, the cost of living in Vancouver is 26.1% lower than in Seattle. That means if money is your number one concern, Vancouver is a better choice. However, choosing where to live can be about more than money.

Here are some fast facts about Vancouver vs. Seattle that are important to know if you’re deciding where to call home:

• Vancouver experiences milder winters with more rain, whereas Seattle has slightly drier but cooler winters.
• Vancouver relies on TransLink’s SkyTrain and buses, while Seattle has a more car-dependent culture with a growing light rail system.
• Seattle is famous for its coffee culture—it’s the birthplace of Starbucks and home to countless independent coffee shops. Meanwhile, Vancouver is known for having some of the best sushi in North America, thanks to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its large Japanese community.

Let’s take a look now at rent in each city and see what kind of place you can get and for how much:

Average rent in Vancouver vs. Seattle

In January 2025, the average rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment in Seattle was $2,861/month. In comparison, in Vancouver, it was $2,293/month.

Even if you compare Seattle’s most affordable neighbourhood, Bremerton to Vancouver’s most affordable neighbourhood, Sunset-Victoria Fraserview, the price difference is significant.

The average rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment:

• Vancouver: $2,293/month
• Seattle: $2,861/month

Regarding rental types, both cities have furnished or unfurnished rooms for rent, apartments for rent, and houses for rent available depending on your needs.

Cost of living comparison: Vancouver vs. Seattle

Population of Vancouver vs. Seattle

The City of Vancouver, British Columbia, has a population of approximately 662,248, while the larger Metro Vancouver area encompasses over 2.6 million residents.

In contrast, the City of Seattle, Washington, has a population of around 737,015, with the Seattle metropolitan area housing about 4 million people.

Not only does Seattle have a larger population than Vancouver, but it’s also more densely populated. Seattle has 8,750.4 people per square mile, while Vancouver has 4,045.4 people per square mile, meaning that it might feel slightly less crowded in Vancouver.

Traffic in Vancouver vs. Seattle

For those who rely on their car to get around in the city, traffic is a huge concern. According to TomTom’s Global Traffic Index, Vancouver ranks poorly for ease of traffic while Seattle ranks more favourably.

Vancouver ranks 69th in the world with the average time lost every year to traffic being eighty-six hours, Seattle ranks significantly better at 310th with an average of fifty-three hours lost to traffic each year.

Weather in Vancouver vs. Seattle

Vancouver and Seattle share a similar Pacific Northwest climate, but there are notable differences. Vancouver experiences milder winters due to its coastal location, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, while Seattle, though also mild, tends to be slightly cooler in the winter. Both cities see a significant amount of rainfall, but Vancouver generally receives more annual precipitation, especially during the winter months. Seattle has more cloudy days throughout the year. Summers in both cities are pleasant and warm, though Vancouver tends to stay a few degrees cooler, benefiting from ocean breezes. While both cities have distinct rainy reputations, Vancouver’s proximity to the mountains means it also sees occasional snowfall, whereas snow in Seattle is rarer and typically melts quickly.

Cost of living for students in Vancouver vs. Seattle

If you are planning to study in Canada, then Vancouver is an excellent place to live. It is home to some highly-ranked and desirable schools like UBC.

However, student life can often mean watching your living expenses closely. Here’s some more data relevant to students about the cost of living in each city:

Source: Numbeo

Which is better, Vancouver vs Seattle?

After comparing what it’s like in both cities, we can say that it’s slightly less expensive to call Vancouver home. That said, it’s more than just the cost of living or the cost of rent that goes into the decision-making. Both cities offer a variety of job opportunities, in addition to some great nightlife options and many great outdoor activities.

Join us at liv.rent and start your search today for listings in Vancouver and Seattle.

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