Pollution Score
#15
of 124 cities
25.5/100
Current value (lower is better)
#35 of 124
North America
Vancouver
Canada
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Vancouver compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Vancouver is 29% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Vancouver compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$81,204
-$91K (-53%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 30%
Community Insights
NewVancouver offers a stark trade-off between lifestyle and financial optimization. While it is visually one of the most beautiful cities in the world with excellent access to nature and a mild climate, software engineers face a significant purchasing power disadvantage. Salaries are notably lower than in the US and slightly lower than Toronto, yet housing costs are among the highest globally relative to income.
For many, the 'Sunshine Tax' is worth it for the ability to ski and surf in the same day, but for those strictly focused on maximizing net worth or aggressive career climbing, the financial math is often difficult to justify compared to other tech hubs.
Resident Sentiment
Sentiment is deeply divided. Transplants from the US often express shock at the salary cut, frequently warning others that moving here is 'financial suicide' unless you have a specific lifestyle reason. Conversely, residents who prioritize work-life balance and nature often say they wouldn't live anywhere else, accepting the high costs as the price of admission to a world-class outdoor playground. There is a common thread of 'making it work' rather than 'thriving financially', with many noting that the quality of life outside of work is the primary retention factor.
Rankings
Top 12%
Purchasing Power
#35
of 124 cities
Community Events
#38
of 124 cities
10 events on luma
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Vancouver compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Vancouver to maintain the same standard of living.
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