Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abbotsford and Calgary

For one person, living costs are similar in Abbotsford and in Calgary: $2,276 and $2,255 a month, rent and utilities included.

Abbotsford
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,276
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abbotsford and in Calgary

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Abbotsford and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,276 per month in Abbotsford vs $2,255 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Abbotsford $2,276
  • Calgary $2,255

A couple spends around $3,324 per month in Abbotsford vs $3,361 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Abbotsford $3,324
  • Calgary $3,361

A family of three spends $4,371 per month in Abbotsford vs $4,468 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Abbotsford $4,371
  • Calgary $4,468

Abbotsford costs about 1% more than Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Abbotsford and Calgary sit above the global median – Abbotsford by 68%, Calgary by 66%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.97 CA$21.17
$17.58 CA$24.85
-14.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.86 CA$69.1
$69.1 CA$97.6
-29.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.18 CA$14.39
$10.59 CA$14.97
-3.87%
Cappuccino
$3.94 CA$5.57
$3.84 CA$5.42
2.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 CA$2.60
$1.93 CA$2.72
-4.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.22
$1.88 CA$2.66
-16.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.16 CA$8.72
$5.09 CA$7.20
21.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51 CA$7.80
$5.64 CA$7.97
-2.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 CA$2.62
$2.00 CA$2.82
-7.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 CA$2.98
$2.78 CA$3.93
-24.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 CA$6.30
$5.59 CA$7.90
-20.39%
Eggs
$3.20 CA$4.53
$3.70 CA$5.23
-13.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 CA$17.43
$11.48 CA$16.23
7.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.43 CA$26.06
$11.20 CA$15.84
64.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.98 CA$43.79
$18.59 CA$26.28
66.65%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 CA$8.56
$4.70 CA$6.64
28.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 CA$2.08
$1.45 CA$2.05
1.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.95 CA$6.99
$4.34 CA$6.13
14.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.67 CA$5.18
$3.79 CA$5.36
-3.17%
Potato (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.90
$2.69 CA$3.81
55.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.49 CA$3.52
$2.75 CA$3.88
-9.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.70
$2.56 CA$3.62
1.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 CA$2.59
$1.50 CA$2.12
22.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.68 CA$20.75
$14.39 CA$20.34
2.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 CA$15.07
$15.81 CA$22.35
-32.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.04 CA$5.71
$2.47 CA$3.49
63.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 CA$5.30
$3.10 CA$4.39
20.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.61 CA$3.69
$2.81 CA$3.97
-7.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.22 CA$63.9
$90.6 CA$128
-50.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 CA$5.03
$3.28 CA$4.64
8.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 CA$2.04
$1.40 CA$1.97
3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.28 CA$35.74
$26.49 CA$37.45
-4.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$1.22 CA$1.72
9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K CA$36.2K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
-9.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K CA$30.2K
$20.8K CA$29.5K
2.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 CA$159
$165 CA$233
-31.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.03 CA$60.8
$38.24 CA$54.1
12.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 CA$97.2
$50.1 CA$70.9
37.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.25 CA$42.77
$53.8 CA$76.1
-43.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.89 CA$22.47
$18.04 CA$25.51
-11.92%
Cinema Ticket
$11.33 CA$16.02
$14.04 CA$19.84
-19.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$370 CA$522
$797 CA$1,126
-53.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,503 CA$12.0K
$15.8K CA$22.3K
-46.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 CA$74.9
$59.1 CA$83.5
-10.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.82 CA$57.7
$40.20 CA$56.8
1.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.3 CA$115
$90.8 CA$128
-10.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.4 CA$138
$109 CA$155
-10.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 CA$1,776
$1,207 CA$1,707
4.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,088 CA$1,539
$1,011 CA$1,429
7.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,944 CA$2,748
$1,949 CA$2,756
-0.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,731 CA$2,447
$1,677 CA$2,371
3.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,713 CA$6,662
$3,532 CA$4,993
33.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,859 CA$4,042
$3,392 CA$4,795
-15.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abbotsford
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,041 CA$4,299
$3,152 CA$4,456
-3.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.72
4.51
4.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abbotsford: October 17, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Abbotsford
$1.1K
Calgary
$1K 7.1% $77
Groceries & Markets
Abbotsford
$469
Calgary
$392 16.4% $77
Eating Out
Abbotsford
$253
Calgary
$270 6.8% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abbotsford
$224
Calgary
$253 12.8% $29
Clothing & Footwear
Abbotsford
$123
Calgary
$135 9.9% $12
Getting Around
Abbotsford
$66
Calgary
$112 68.7% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Abbotsford
$53
Calgary
$82 54.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Abbotsford versus $1,207 in Calgary. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Calgary, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Abbotsford versus $69.0 in Calgary. Groceries tell a different story – $469 in Abbotsford vs $392 in Calgary – so Calgary wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Abbotsford
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
12:19 12:19 PM
13:19 1:19 PM
1 h ahead of Abbotsford
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
141,397
1,267,344
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Abbotsford Calgary 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Abbotsford
  • Calgary

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Abbotsford vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Abbotsford and in Calgary compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,276 in Abbotsford, $2,255 in Calgary – roughly 1% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Abbotsford compared to Calgary?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,415 per month in Abbotsford and $3,382 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Abbotsford and Calgary?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calgary, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Abbotsford and $69.0 in Calgary. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Abbotsford or Calgary?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,276 in Abbotsford and $2,255 in Calgary. That's a gap of about 1%.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calgary, where all-in costs run around $2,255, than in Abbotsford at $2,276. In Calgary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abbotsford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Abbotsford or Calgary?
Families tend to lean toward Calgary – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Abbotsford and Calgary?
If budget matters most, go with Calgary. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Abbotsford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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