Average and Median Income in Vancouver

Vancouver ranked ninth in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2026 Global Liveability Index, the only Canadian city in the top 10. This page sets Vancouver’s household income against its housing costs.

Household income data on this page is from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census, Focus on Geography Series, which reports median after-tax household income by Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) for the 2020 reference year, the most recent year Statistics Canada has published this figure at the city level. For individual (not household) income, see our Vancouver income percentile guide, and for the province-wide figure, see our BC income guide.

Median household income in Vancouver

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Focus on Geography Series, “Median after-tax income of households,” Vancouver (CMA), 2015 to 2020 (2020 constant dollars).

Vancouver’s median household income in 2020 was 16.1% higher than in 2015; the national median was 9.8% higher than in 2015. Vancouver’s 2020 median of $79,500 compares with the national figure of $73,000. Its MLS HPI benchmark home price was 62% above the national average home price ($668,219 in August 2026, per CREA). BC’s more recent (2024) province-wide median after-tax income was $75,800; see our BC income guide for that figure.

Income vs. housing affordability in Vancouver

Vancouver’s ratio is higher than Toronto’s, lower than Victoria’s (which is based on a sales-weighted average rather than a benchmark), higher than Calgary’s and higher than Edmonton’s, though this comparison mixes a 2020 income figure with a price from August 2026. Compare to Calgary at ~7.3× (CREB average price) or Edmonton at ~5.1× (RAE benchmark).

How Vancouver compares to other major cities

Board averages move with the mix of homes sold, while an MLS HPI benchmark tracks a typical home, so read ratios built on different measures as approximate. Vancouver’s benchmark price was $1,081,900, against a City of Toronto average of $979,684, and its median household income was $79,500, against $85,000 in Toronto. Some Vancouverites look to Victoria or other provinces when buying. Use our income to afford a home calculator for a personalized estimate.

Key industries driving Vancouver income

• Technology: Vancouver’s tech employers include gaming studios (EA, Activision), VFX and film-tech firms (Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG), and software companies.
• Film and television — “Hollywood North” brings significant annual production revenue to BC, with Vancouver as the primary hub.
• Natural resources — Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest, handling trade with Asia. LNG and mining company headquarters provide management and engineering jobs.
• Real estate and construction — Persistent housing demand drives a large construction and real estate services sector.
• Tourism — Vancouver attracts millions of visitors annually, supporting hospitality and retail employment.
• Life sciences — Growing biotech and pharmaceutical sector, anchored by UBC’s research facilities.

Vancouver’s cost considerations

• BC PST of 7%: Plus 5% GST for 12% total
• BC Property Transfer Tax — A significant additional cost on home purchases
• Speculation and vacancy tax — Targets empty homes in the Metro Vancouver area
• High childcare costs: In the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ August 2026 fee survey, BC cities had the highest infant fees in Canada (from $28 a day in Kelowna to $52 in Richmond), and 25% of Vancouver families still paid more than $46 a day for a full-time preschool space
• High rental costs — Among the highest in Canada, see below

Rental affordability in Vancouver

Per the CMHC Rental Market Survey (October 2025), the average purpose-built rent for a 1-bedroom in the Vancouver CMA was $1,809/month, and 2-bedroom units averaged $2,367. The vacancy rate was 3.7% in October 2025 (against 1.6% a year earlier). See our Vancouver rental market page for the full breakdown, and our rent affordability calculator for a personalized estimate.

Income trends in Vancouver

• 2015–2018: Tech sector growth supported incomes, and Vancouver became one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech hubs.
• 2016–2019: BC introduced a foreign buyer tax (August 2016) and a speculation and vacancy tax (2018) aimed at cooling the housing market, and income growth continued.
• 2020–2021 — Pandemic disproportionately hit Vancouver’s tourism, hospitality, and film industries. However, tech, resource management, and port operations continued.
• 2022–2025: Post-pandemic recovery in film/TV production, continued tech growth, and major energy-sector investment in the north.

For Vancouver, household income growth of +16.1% (2015–2020) still leaves the benchmark home at about 13.6 times the 2020 median after-tax household income. Estimate your tax burden with our income tax calculator.

Related tools and resources

• Vancouver Mortgage Rates — Find the best mortgage rates
• Vancouver Housing Market — Current home prices and trends
• Vancouver Rental Market — Current average rents and vacancy rates
• Income Percentile Calculator — See where your income ranks
• Mortgage Affordability Calculator — How much home can you afford
• Income Tax Calculator — Estimate your BC income tax
• Salary Calculator — Calculate your BC after-tax pay