What is the Cost of Raising a Child in Vancouver? Our Tips to Prepare your Monthly Expenses on your Financial Statement

Raising a child is expensive, but especially so in Vancouver, which along with Toronto, has the highest cost of living in Canada. Even so, many parents are not tracking their monthly spending. In the event of separation or divorce, each parent will have to detail their monthly expenses in their F8 Financial Statement. This could be the first time you really think about what you spend on yourself and your child in terms of an itemized, monthly budget.

While every parent and household has their own budget and unique priorities, this article is meant as a guide to assist single parents of young children detail their monthly expenses. It will also consider the set-up costs for newly single parents of infants and toddlers who find themselves setting up a new household.

What Housing Costs are Included?

A Statistics Canada study found that for single and two-parent families across Canada, housing was the largest, single expense in the family budget, taking up one quarter to one third of a household’s per-child spending.[1]

Housing is notoriously expensive in Vancouver. According to a Rentals.ca and Urbanation July 2025 rental report, the average monthly rent in Vancouver is $2,537 for a 1-bedroom apartment or condo, $3,469 for a 2-bedroom unit and $4,291 for a 3-bedroom unit.

Assuming average rent, a single person moving from a 1-bedroom to a 2-bedroom unit will have to spend an additional $932 per month in rent to house their child.

The increase in rental costs could be higher, around $1,300 - $1,700 per month, if a single parent who used to share housing costs with a spouse and finds themselves needing to rent a 2-bedroom unit on their own.

Monthly Rent: $2,537 - $4,291 per month

What are the Costs for Child Care?

For single, working parents with children under 5, child care may be a necessity. There are a range of child care options including licensed, registered licence-not-required, licence-not-required, or in-home child care. The Government of British Columbia website details the differences legal requirements of each category. [2]

While $10 a day child care is offered through ChildCareBC Centres, space is limited and in high demand. [3]

In 2024, licensed childcare in Vancouver for infants and toddlers ranged from $800 - $2,400 per month, with an average of about $1,550. [4] Child care becomes more affordable as children age. The average monthly price for pre-school age children is $1,397 and after-school care for ages 6-12 is about $1,170 per month.

Licensed Child care: $1,550 per month

How does Transportation Costs Factor in?

Transportation costs will vary from household to household, depending on the length of the parent’s commute, the distance to childcare and weekend activities, and whether the parent is biking, taking transit, or driving a gas or electric car.

For drivers, a newly single parent can anticipate spending more on gas. Additional driving can come from adding a few kilometers to a commute to account for child care pick ups and drop offs and extra weekend outings. For drivers, it’s reasonable to assume about one additional tank of gas per month. Set up costs may include buying a car seat.

For cyclists whose child is old enough to wear a helmet, a bike seat or bike trailer might be an additional expense in the first year of single parenthood.

Transit is an economical option as children under 12 ride free on Vancouver transit.

No matter your chosen mode of transportation, a stroller will be a necessary cost for infants.

Gas: $75 - $200 month

Potential set up costs:

Stroller: $300 - $1,000

Car seat: $350 - $600

Bike seat or bike trailer: $150 - $600

Child’s helmet: $40

Food and Grocery Bills?

Food costs will vary widely depending on the age of the child and their eating habits. According to a 2022 study, the monthly budget for nutritious food for a child ages 2-8 is about $200 - $225 in BC.[5]

Food: $200 - $225 per month

Personal Care Needs?

A child will need shampoo, soap, dental care products, sunscreen, and other personal care items. A parent should budget around $25-$50 per month.

For children in diapers, budget roughly an additional $75 per month.

Personal Care: $25 - $125 per month

Cost of Clothing?

Children need gear for sun, rain and snow. Seasonal outerwear, including raincoats, winter coats and boots can cost around $400 for the year. Adding daily clothing and extras like swimsuits and hats, the monthly costs for clothing a growing child 5 and under is roughly $50 - $100 per month.

Clothing: $50 - $100 per month

Furniture/Living Needs?

Setting up an infant’s or toddler’s room will require a crib and changing table, or bed, mattress, bed linens, curtains or blinds, and storage furniture for clothes and toys. Extras might include a rocking chair, lamp and rug. For the kitchen, parents of young children will need a highchair.

Furniture: $1,000 set-up

Additional Expenses?

Other expenses will come up such as seasonal or birthday gifts for your child or their friends. Vacations, summer camps, recreation, swimming lessons, joining sports teams or other activities. For school-aged children, there may be extra costs for field trips or school supplies.

Other Expenses: $10 - $100 per month

What to Consider While Saving for the Future?

Consider opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to save for your child’s post-secondary education. Contributions made to an RESP account will be met with government grant payments through the Canada Education Savings Grant. RESP contributions are matched to a maximum of $500 per year, per child.[6] The Government of Canada website details the rules and limits associated with an RESP.[7]

Ways to save?

Tax Credits
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment designed to help parents with the costs of raising minor children. Parents can apply online or by mail through the CRA.[8] Consult the Government of Canada website and a tax specialist to learn more about tax savings and benefits available.

Budget

Tracking your income and monthly spending is helpful for understanding your financial position. Once you know where your money is coming from and where it’s going, you can build a budget that suits your specific needs, goals and values.

Pool your resources

To save on child care, some parents pool resources and share the costs of a nanny. In-home child care when shared among multiple households can be more affordable than licensed child care.

Find other opportunities to share resources such as carpooling or organizing clothing or furniture swaps with family, friends and community members.

Take advantage of the City

A benefit of living in city like Vancouver is having access to a range of free and low-cost activities for kids. Enjoy the city’s beaches, parks, outdoor pools, festivals, and great neighbourhoods.

Conclusion

Parenthood, particularly single parenthood in Vancouver, is expensive. If you are planning for separation or divorce and need assistance with preparing your financial disclosure, contact our team of Family Lawyers for a consultation.

Also see our brief “How-To” guide for completing your Financial Statement, here.

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[1] “How much do Canadian families spend raising a child?” Statistics Canada, November 30, 2023, https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/5111-how-much-do-canadian-families-spend-raising-child.

[2] See https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/family-information/licensed-unlicensed-child-care.

[3] For more information and for participating centres, see https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/childcarebc-programs/10-a-day-childcarebc-centres.

[4] Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, 2024 Fee Surveys, https://www.wstcoast.org/choosing-child-care#fee%20surveys.

[5] Food Costing in BC 2022: Assessing the affordability of healthy eating, BC Centre for Disease Control http://www.bccdc.ca/Documents/Food_Costing_in_BC_2022_Report_FINAL.pdf

[6] See https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/education-savings/estimating-amounts.html.

[7] See https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/registered-education-savings-plans-resps.html.

[8] See https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview.html.