Last Updated: March 2026
How Much Does an Infidelity Investigation Cost in BC?
The cost of an infidelity investigation in British Columbia typically ranges from approximately $500 for a focused half-day surveillance period to several thousand dollars for a multi-method investigation involving surveillance, background checks, OSINT, polygraph, or digital forensics. At Shadow Investigations, surveillance is billed at $75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre, which works out to approximately $500 for a half-day or $1,000 for a full day after tax. Polygraph examinations are $600 per session. Digital forensics is $1,200 per device.
No two infidelity cases cost the same because no two cases involve the same circumstances, the same amount of starting information, or the same number of investigative hours. This page breaks down what drives the cost, what each method adds to the total, and how clients can get the most value from their investment.
This guide is published by Shadow Investigations Ltd., a licensed private investigation firm based in Vancouver, BC, serving British Columbia since 1990.
On This Page
- What Are the Rates for Each Investigative Method?
- What Is the Biggest Cost Factor in an Infidelity Investigation?
- How Does the Quality of Starting Information Affect Cost?
- How Much Do Background Checks and OSINT Add?
- What Does a Polygraph Examination Cost in an Infidelity Case?
- What Does Digital Forensics Cost?
- How Does Travel and Location Affect the Price?
- What About Reporting and Evidence Preparation?
- What Does a Typical Infidelity Investigation Actually Cost?
- Is It Better to Start With a Focused First Step?
- Why a Cheaper Investigation Is Not Always a Better Investigation
What Are the Rates for Each Investigative Method?
The following rates apply to infidelity investigations at Shadow Investigations. These are the same rates published on our pricing page and are current as of 2026.
- Surveillance: $75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre. If an official report is requested once the case has concluded, a $100 office fee applies. A half-day surveillance period typically costs approximately $500 after tax. A full day runs approximately $1,000 after tax. Mileage covers both active monitoring and travel to and from the location. Out-of-pocket expenses such as parking are reimbursed at cost.
- Background checks: Specific searches start at $50 per search plus disbursements. Comprehensive background checks are billed at $125 per hour plus disbursements.
- OSINT (open-source intelligence): $125 per hour plus disbursements if subscription-based databases are accessed. A basic OSINT search typically takes 2–4 hours, putting most basic searches in the $250–$500 range.
- Polygraph examination: Flat rate of $600 per person per session. This includes the pre-test suitability assessment, the in-test examination, and the post-test results evaluation and disclosure.
- Digital forensics: Flat rate of $1,200 per device. Authorization from the device owner is required before any examination begins.
- Consultations: Free, with no obligation.
What Is the Biggest Cost Factor in an Infidelity Investigation?
Surveillance time is almost always the largest portion of the total cost. Surveillance is the primary method used in most infidelity cases, and it is billed hourly, so the total depends directly on how many hours of fieldwork the case requires.
A case where the client can point to a specific window of concern, such as every other Friday when the subject claims to be working late, may require only a single focused four-to-six-hour surveillance period to document what occurs, which would typically be estimated in the range of $400–$600 after mileage. A case with no clear pattern, where the investigator needs to cover multiple time windows across several days, could require multiple surveillance periods before useful activity is observed.
Costs may increase when:
- The subject has an irregular or unpredictable schedule
- The client cannot identify specific times of concern
- Multiple days or evenings need to be covered before a pattern emerges
- The subject travels long distances during a single period
- Extended observation over a longer period is needed to determine whether a meeting or visit is significant
How Does the Quality of Starting Information Affect Cost?
The amount and quality of information available at the start of the case is one of the strongest predictors of overall cost. Cases with clear, specific intake information are almost always more efficient and less expensive than cases built on general suspicion.
When a client can provide the subject’s vehicle details, daily schedule, specific dates of concern, and a clear description of the behaviour that prompted suspicion, the investigator can plan a targeted surveillance window and often get results in one to three periods of coverage. When a client has little more than a general feeling that something is wrong, the case may need preliminary research, broader surveillance windows, or multiple attempts before productive information surfaces.
The most useful information a client can provide at intake includes:
- The subject’s full name and a recent photograph
- Vehicle make, model, colour, and plate number
- Home and work addresses
- Regular daily schedule and known routine
- Specific dates, times, or events that triggered concern
- Names or descriptions of any suspected individuals
- Specific locations connected to the concern
Clients are not expected to have all of this, but each detail that is available makes planning more efficient and can meaningfully reduce the number of surveillance hours needed.
How Much Do Background Checks and OSINT Add to the Cost?
Background checks and OSINT are supporting methods that add relatively modest cost compared to surveillance, but they can significantly improve the efficiency of the overall investigation.
A targeted background check on a suspected third party might cost $50–$200 depending on the scope of the search. OSINT typically runs $250–$500 for a basic search covering public social media, digital footprint, and publicly accessible online information.
In some cases, spending $200–$500 on background research or OSINT before surveillance begins can save significantly more in surveillance hours by giving the investigator a clearer picture of who to watch, where to focus, and what patterns to look for. A background check that identifies a suspected third party’s address, for example, may allow the investigator to set up surveillance at that location rather than following the subject through an entire evening.
What Does a Polygraph Examination Cost in an Infidelity Case?
A polygraph examination costs a flat $600 per person per session at Shadow Investigations. This is an all-inclusive fee covering the pre-test suitability assessment, the in-test examination, and the post-test results evaluation and disclosure.
In some infidelity cases, a polygraph is the most cost-effective path to an answer. If the client’s primary question is straightforward, such as whether the subject has been involved in a sexual or romantic relationship with another person, a $600 polygraph may provide a direct answer that may otherwise require multiple surveillance periods.
A polygraph is not appropriate for every case, and it requires the subject’s voluntary participation. It also produces no photographic or video documentation and may not identify anyone the subject is involved. But for cases where the client wants a direct yes-or-no answer and the subject is willing to cooperate, it can be a practical and cost-efficient option.
What Does Digital Forensics Cost in an Infidelity Investigation?
Digital forensics is billed at a flat rate of $1,200 per device at Shadow Investigations. This covers the forensic examination, data recovery, and analysis of one phone, computer, tablet, or electronic device.
Authorization is required before any examination can proceed, either a court order or authorization from the device owner. A digital forensic specialist cannot examine a device that belongs solely to another person without their consent or a court order.
Digital forensics is often most cost-effective when the subject’s behaviour occurs primarily through digital communication rather than physical activity. If the client suspects their partner is using messaging apps, dating platforms, or other digital channels, and the client has ownership or authorized access to the device, a $1,200 forensic examination may reveal more than multiple surveillance periods. Conversely, if the concern is primarily about where the subject goes and who they meet, surveillance is usually the better investment.
How Does Travel and Location Affect the Price?
Because surveillance is billed hourly and per kilometre, cases that involve significant travel cost more than cases centred in a single area or within the lower mainland of BC. The $0.79 per kilometre rate applies to travel to and from the surveillance location as well as active mobile surveillance, so a case involving a subject who lives in one city and the suspected activity occurs in another region will accumulate higher mileage charges.
Location complexity also affects how efficiently surveillance can be conducted. A subject who moves between multiple locations in a single evening requires more active driving time. Dense urban areas may involve parking fees and more complex positioning. Suburban or rural locations may offer fewer places for an investigator to observe without being noticed and may require a second investigator.
Cases that involve out-of-town travel, multiple municipalities, or long-distance commutes may cost more not only in mileage but in total surveillance hours, since more time is spent in transit relative to the productive observation window.
What About Reporting and Evidence Preparation?
The investigation does not end when the surveillance period is over. Preparing a final report involves editing raw footage from multiple cameras into a chronological timeline, extracting key photographs, and writing a clear narrative from the investigator’s notes — with the most relevant images incorporated into the report as visual reference. At Shadow Investigations, report preparation is billed at a flat $100 when requested.
Reporting costs are a small portion of the overall total, but the quality of the report matters. A well-organized report with clear timestamps, documented observations, and organized photographic and video evidence is significantly more useful to the client, whether confronting the subject or if the matter proceeds to family court with legal counsel, than raw notes and unedited footage.
What Does a Typical Infidelity Investigation Actually Cost?
There is no single “typical” cost because cases vary so widely, but the following scenarios give a realistic sense of what clients can expect:
Focused, single-issue case: The client has a specific night of concern, knows the subject’s vehicle, and can identify a likely time window. One surveillance period of four to six hours, plus mileage and reporting. Approximate cost: $500–$800.
Moderate case with some supporting research: The client has general concerns, some schedule information, and suspects a specific individual. The investigation involves a background check on the suspected person, one to three surveillance periods, and a report. Approximate cost: $1,000–$2,000.
Multi-method case: The client has broader concerns, limited starting information, and the investigation requires OSINT, background research, two to eight surveillance periods, and possibly a polygraph or digital forensic examination. Approximate cost: $2,500–$5,000 or more depending on the methods used and the number of surveillance periods.
Polygraph-first case: The client’s primary question is whether the subject has been unfaithful, the subject is willing to take a polygraph, and no surveillance is needed. Cost: $600 flat.
Digital forensics case: The client owns the device, authorizes the examination, and the primary concern is digital communication. Cost: $1,200 per device, plus potentially additional fees for a background check or OSINT for additional context.
These are approximate ranges, not quotes. The actual cost for any case is determined during the intake process once the investigator understands the specific circumstances.
Is It Better to Start With a Focused First Step?
In most cases, yes. Rather than committing to a broad, open-ended investigation, starting with a focused first step is often the most practical and cost-effective approach. That might mean one carefully planned surveillance period targeting a specific window of concern, a background check to verify a suspicion before committing to fieldwork, or an OSINT search to identify leads that make subsequent surveillance more targeted.
A focused first step typically costs $100–$500 and gives both the client and the investigator a basis for deciding whether further work is warranted and where to direct it. This approach avoids spending several thousand dollars on broad surveillance before it is clear whether the concern is likely to produce results.
Starting small does not mean cutting corners. It means being strategic about where to invest investigative resources first, then expanding the scope based on what the initial findings reveal.
Why a Cheaper Investigation Is Not Always a Better Investigation
Price matters, but the lowest-cost option is not always the best value in an infidelity matter. These cases require discretion, careful planning, accurate documentation, and professional conduct. A poorly planned or hastily executed investigation can waste time, miss key opportunities, produce incomplete findings, or, in the worst case, alert the subject to the fact that they are being investigated, which compromises the entire effort.
The value of a professional investigation is not just the hours spent. It includes choosing the right method for the situation, planning productive surveillance windows based on the available information, documenting findings in a way that is clear and usable, and conducting the work in a manner that is defensible if the matter proceeds to a legal context.
When comparing private investigation firms, it is worth considering not just the hourly rate but the firm’s experience with infidelity matters, the quality of their reporting, and whether they take the time during intake to understand the case. A lower hourly rate with unfocused planning can cost more overall than a competitive rate applied efficiently.
Related Knowledge Pages
- Infidelity Investigations in BC — Main Page
- What Methods Are Used in Infidelity Investigations?
- What Are the Legal Considerations for Infidelity Investigations in BC?
- What Evidence Can Be Gathered in an Infidelity Investigation?
- Infidelity Investigations in BC — Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles
- Costs of Hiring a PI to Investigate a Cheating Spouse
- Why Fixed-Hour Surveillance Packages Don’t Work
Want to Understand the Likely Cost for Your Situation?
If you are considering an infidelity investigation in British Columbia and want a realistic estimate of what it may cost, contact Shadow Investigations by phone at 604-657-4499 or through our confidential inquiry form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will assess your situation, recommend the most practical starting point, and give you a clear cost estimate before any work begins.
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