City Comparison

Brooklyn vs Vancouver

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

Vancouver

Washington
122
Expensive
$525,000
Median Home
$1,650/mo
Median Rent
$79,300
Median Income

The Verdict

59.8%

Living in Vancouver costs 59.8% less than Brooklyn. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Brooklyn, you would need $46,923 in Vancouver.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
325
Brooklyn
163
Vancouver
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
104
Vancouver
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
87
Vancouver
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
112
Vancouver
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
103
Vancouver

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $46,923 in Vancouver.

Conversely, $75,000 in Vancouver equals $119,877 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs Vancouver

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Vancouver's 163, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $525,000. The $255,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,572 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,650/mo in Vancouver, a monthly difference of $1,250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 104 in Vancouver. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $494/month in Vancouver. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 87 in Vancouver. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $348 in Vancouver. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 103 in Vancouver. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $79,300 in Vancouver. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $65,000 respectively. Vancouver residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,850/month in Vancouver. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Vancouver, median rent of $1,650/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 162 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vancouver is 59.8% more affordable overall with an index of 122 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $46,923 in Vancouver, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while Vancouver's is 163 with median homes at $525,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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