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

184 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

184 COVID19 cases for Tuesday
There are currently 2,800 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of the active cases, 254 individuals are currently hospitalized, 80 of whom are in ICU.

184 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

Kamloops discovery evidence of genocide: experts

Kamloops discovery evidence of genocide: experts
Ryerson University law professor Pamela Palmater says the United Nations' convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide applies to Canada's actions.    

Kamloops discovery evidence of genocide: experts

B.C. legislature apologizes for removing memorial

B.C. legislature apologizes for removing memorial
An apology has been issued after a memorial honouring the young victims of the Kamloops Indian Residential School was removed from the steps of the British Columbia legislature just hours after it was set up.

B.C. legislature apologizes for removing memorial

Vancouver sends decriminalization pitch to Ottawa

Vancouver sends decriminalization pitch to Ottawa
The city says in a statement the so-called "Vancouver Model" proposes personal possession threshold levels for 15 common substances and would lead to a dramatic reduction in seizure by police.

Vancouver sends decriminalization pitch to Ottawa

Did you accidentally donate a large amount of cash to Value Village? Coquitlam RCMP is asking the rightful owner to come forward.

Did you accidentally donate a large amount of cash to Value Village? Coquitlam RCMP is asking the rightful owner to come forward.
On May 28, 2021, a large amount of cash was found in a donation to Value Village located at 2739 Barnet Highway, Coquitlam. A customer service representative found the large sum of cash inside the donation and immediately called police, says Constable Deanna Law spokesperson for the Coquitlam RCMP.

Did you accidentally donate a large amount of cash to Value Village? Coquitlam RCMP is asking the rightful owner to come forward.

Economy grew at 5.6% rate in Q1, StatCan says

Economy grew at 5.6% rate in Q1, StatCan says
The figure for the first three months of the year is better than the contraction first forecast months ago, but still represents a slowdown from the 9.6 per cent annualized growth seen over the last three months of 2020.

Economy grew at 5.6% rate in Q1, StatCan says