Wednesday, February 4, 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

Feds: $314B preliminary deficit last fiscal year

Feds: $314B preliminary deficit last fiscal year
The early deficit figure for the 12-month period between April 2020 to March 2021 compares to a deficit of $21.8 billion over the preceding fiscal year.

Feds: $314B preliminary deficit last fiscal year

Trudeau to attend G7 in person, says British PM

Trudeau to attend G7 in person, says British PM
Trudeau has previously said he hopes to attend the meeting, which runs from June 11 to 13, but he has not yet confirmed and his office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trudeau to attend G7 in person, says British PM

Canada should roll out second doses 'asap': NACI

Canada should roll out second doses 'asap': NACI
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says those at highest risk of dying or becoming severely ill should be prioritized for second shots at the same time or after the remaining eligible population receives their first dose.

Canada should roll out second doses 'asap': NACI

Remains of 215 found at former residential school

Remains of 215 found at former residential school
The chief said work to identify the site was led by the First Nation's language and cultural department alongside ceremonial knowledge keepers, who made sure the work was done was in line with cultural protocols.

Remains of 215 found at former residential school

Stampede a calculated risk: Calgary mayor

Stampede a calculated risk: Calgary mayor
Naheed Nenshi says there would still be distancing rules and other changes to keep people healthy and safe at what could be the first major Canadian post-COVID-19 festival.

Stampede a calculated risk: Calgary mayor

Risk of mad cow in Canada officially 'negligible'

Risk of mad cow in Canada officially 'negligible'
Canadian beef producers are finally able to turn the page on the mad cow era, the federal agriculture minister said Thursday after an international animal-health watchdog gave the industry a long-awaited all-clear.

Risk of mad cow in Canada officially 'negligible'