Vancouver companies enjoy a significant cost advantage over their international competitors, while maintaining quality and productivity. According to KPMG's 2006 Competitive Alternatives Report, Vancouver's research and development companies can have up to a 20% cost advantage compared to operations in the US; software companies can have up to a 11.4% cost advantage, and manufacturing operations can have up to a 5.3% cost advantage. Much of the cost advantage can be attributed to lower labour costs, including wages, benefits and health care.

Click here to compare the cost of doing business in Vancouver with other cities around the world.

Vancouver has a competitive market for office space. Office vacancy rates are estimated to be about 13% for the Vancouver region, with an average lease rate of $14.00 per square foot. Strong economic growth is driving increased demand for office space, pushing vacancies down and putting upward pressure on lease rates.

Vancouver's economic expansion has impacted the industrial land market, with a number of businesses opting to buy land and build custom facilities for their operations. Vacancy rates for industrial buildings are hovering at 2.2% with lease rates ranging from $4.50 to $12.00 per square foot, depending on the location. Costs per acre start at $300,000 at the edge of the Vancouver region, and at $850,000 in the city of Vancouver.