Toronto and Vancouver are Canada's two biggest tech markets. Posted pay for senior engineers is close. Rent and the kind of work differ more.
Salary comparison
A senior software engineer has a posted range of $139K to $185K, median $166K in Toronto and $144K to $209K, median $169K in Vancouver, base salary, 2026. Both come from public job postings.
| Level | Toronto, posted ranges | Vancouver, posted ranges |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate (2 to 4 years) | $106K to $154K, median $119K, n=51 | $109K to $139K, median $118K, n=14 |
| Senior (5 to 7 years) | $139K to $185K, median $166K, n=92 | $144K to $209K, median $169K, n=21 |
| Staff / Lead (8+ years) | $163K to $232K, median $196K, n=65 | $210K to $267K, median $227K, n=11 |
Cite: Phil Mosher, Canadian tech salary data, baselinetalent.xyz, data as of October 29, 2026. CC BY 4.0.
Vancouver has far fewer posted ranges than Toronto, so its numbers move more from month to month. Every other role is on the Toronto and Vancouver pages.
Cost of living
Vancouver costs more to rent in. Highest rents of the six cities: average 2-bedroom $2,363 in October 2025 (vacancy 3.7%). Average asking rent $2,741 in September 2026 (down 1.3% year over year).
In Toronto: Average 2-bedroom rent in purpose-built rentals was $2,046 in October 2025 (vacancy 3.0%). Average asking rent across all listings was $2,554 in September 2026, down 1.4% year over year.
What each city is known for
Toronto is the broader market. Vancouver is the more specific one.
Toronto
Banks and fintech, enterprise software, AI and the Canadian offices of a lot of U.S. companies. More employers means it's easier to switch jobs without moving.
Vancouver
Gaming, AI and U.S. companies with offices here. It's in the same time zone as Seattle and the Bay Area, which matters if you work with U.S. teams.
What I'd do
Pick the city for the life and the work you want. The pay difference shouldn't be the deciding factor, and the sample in Vancouver is too small to argue over a few thousand dollars.
If you're hiring in Vancouver, you're competing with Seattle and U.S. remote roles as well as Toronto. If you're hiring in Toronto, don't assume people will take less to be there.
Questions people ask
Which city pays more for tech jobs, Toronto or Vancouver?
For senior software engineers in 2026, posted ranges are $139K to $185K, median $166K in Toronto and $144K to $209K, median $169K in Vancouver, from public job postings. Vancouver's sample is smaller, so treat the gap as rough.
Is rent higher in Toronto or Vancouver?
Vancouver. Highest rents of the six cities: average 2-bedroom $2,363 in October 2025 (vacancy 3.7%). Average asking rent $2,741 in September 2026 (down 1.3% year over year).
What is each city's tech scene known for?
Toronto is the bigger, broader market: banks and fintech, enterprise software and a lot of AI. Vancouver is smaller and leans toward gaming, AI and U.S. companies with Canadian offices.
Sources
- Ontario: job posting pay transparency (Employment Standards Act, in force 2026-01-01) Government of Ontario, 2026-01-01
- B.C. guidance on wage or salary information on job postings Province of British Columbia, 2023-11-01 (in force)
- Public job postings that state a pay range, from employers' own job boards (909 postings from 123 employers). Every posting is listed in the data download. Phil Mosher, baselinetalent.xyz, as of 2026-10-29
- CMHC Rental Market Survey 2025 data tables (October 2025 survey), Table 1.0 CMHC, 2025-12
- Rentals.ca October 2026 National Rent Report: "Canadian Rents Have Fallen for Two Straight Years" (September 2026 data) Rentals.ca / Urbanation, 2026-10-07