Tuesday, February 3, 2026
ADVT 
National

Vancouver ranks number 1 as the most expensive city to live in within Canada

Darpan News Desk Mercer, 23 Jun, 2021 11:46 AM
  • Vancouver ranks number 1 as the most expensive city to live in within Canada

Vancouver is at the number one spot for the most expensive city to live in within Canada according to a survey conducted by Mercer regarding the annual cost of living. 

Globally Vancouver ranks 93rd in the world. 

Toronto claimed the number 2 spot in Canada, standing 98th in the global rankings. 

The annual Cost of Living Survey looked at areas such as affordability around housing markets, inflation rates, and prices of goods and services to figure out the rankings. 

Apart from Vancouver, according to Mercer most Canadian cities stayed where they were from previous surveys. Toronto came in at 98 just like last year,  Montreal moved up 8 spots to 129, Calgary moved up to 145, and Ottawa came in as the least expensive city at 156th overall. 

The most expensive city in the world is Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It overthrew Hong Kong which was ranked by Mercer as the most expensive city in the world for 3 years in a row.

Globally the least expensive places to reside are Tbilisi, Lusaka, or Bishkek.

 

Top 5 most expensive cities in the world:

  1. Vancouver, BC
  2. Toronto, ON
  3. Montréal, QC
  4. Calgary, AB
  5. Ottawa, ON

Top 10 most expensive cities in the world:

  1. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
  2. Hong Kong
  3. Beirut, Lebanon
  4. Tokyo, Japan
  5. Zurich, Switzerland
  6. Shanghai, China
  7. Singapore
  8. Geneva, Switzerland
  9. Beijing, China
  10. Bern, Switzerland

Top 10 least expensive cities in the world

  1. Banjul, Gamia
  2. Karachi, Pakistan
  3. Gaborone, Botswana
  4. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
  5. Windhoek, Namibia
  6. Brasilia, Brazil
  7. Tunis, Tunisia
  8. Tbilisi, Georgia
  9. Lusaka, Zambia
  10. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (least expensive)

MORE National ARTICLES

Freeland disappointed at Air Canada exec bonuses

Freeland disappointed at Air Canada exec bonuses
Air Canada disclosed in its annual proxy circular to shareholders that it gave $10 million in bonuses to people the investor called instrumental to the airline's survival over the past year.    

Freeland disappointed at Air Canada exec bonuses

Elderly woman assaulted

Elderly woman assaulted
A VPD officer was already in the building on another matter and was alerted to the incident by building staff. While trying to arrest him, the suspect bit the officer’s arm and tried to wrestle him to the ground.

Elderly woman assaulted

Twin driver sisters found identically impaired within an hour and issued prohibition: Burnaby RCMP

Twin driver sisters found identically impaired within an hour and issued prohibition: Burnaby RCMP
Burnaby RCMP are reminding the public to not drink and drive after a pair of twin sisters was found impaired within an hour.

Twin driver sisters found identically impaired within an hour and issued prohibition: Burnaby RCMP

Vancouver Police investigates after motorcyclist killed in collision

Vancouver Police investigates after motorcyclist killed in collision
The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m., when the 27-year-old motorcyclist was heading south on Cambie Street, near 35th Avenue. VPD investigators believe he somehow lost control of the red Honda CRB, struck the curb, and was thrown from the bike.

Vancouver Police investigates after motorcyclist killed in collision

Canada doubles dollar commitment to COVAX

Canada doubles dollar commitment to COVAX
COVAX said last week it needed another $2 billion pledged by today to secure enough vaccines to vaccinate almost one-third of people living in low and middle-income countries.

Canada doubles dollar commitment to COVAX

Peer support needed for military trauma: report

Peer support needed for military trauma: report
Canada's veterans ombudsman says a recent investigation by her office has found victims of military sexual misconduct are being referred away from existing peer-support programs for service members with PTSD and other psychological trauma.

Peer support needed for military trauma: report