Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Allentown, PA and Calgary

For one person, living is cheaper in Calgary: $2,223 a month against $2,691 in Allentown, PA, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Allentown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,691
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Allentown, PA 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 Allentown, PA and in Calgary actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,691 per month in Allentown, PA vs $2,223 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Allentown, PA $2,691
  • Calgary $2,223

A couple spends around $3,850 per month in Allentown, PA vs $3,301 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Allentown, PA $3,850
  • Calgary $3,301

A family of three spends $5,010 per month in Allentown, PA vs $4,379 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Allentown, PA $5,010
  • Calgary $4,379

Allentown, PA costs about 21% more than Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Allentown, PA and Calgary sit above the global median – Allentown, PA by 99%, Calgary by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84 $19.84
$17.22 CA$24.34
15.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.7 $88.7
$71.1 CA$100
24.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.81 $11.81
$10.53 CA$14.89
12.16%
Cappuccino
$5.74 $5.74
$3.66 CA$5.18
56.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.98 CA$2.80
33.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.94 CA$2.74
-18.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.10 $5.10
$4.95 CA$7.00
3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 $6.13
$5.57 CA$7.87
10.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.88 CA$2.65
-37.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.67 CA$3.78
-18.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$5.32 CA$7.52
-53.38%
Eggs
$3.75 $3.75
$3.79 CA$5.35
-1.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.65 $15.65
$11.09 CA$15.68
41.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.14 $8.14
$11.36 CA$16.05
-28.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.52 $18.52
$18.40 CA$26.01
0.65%
Apples (1kg)
$6.84 $6.84
$4.56 CA$6.45
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.44 CA$2.04
12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$4.08 CA$5.76
-28.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.51 $6.51
$3.89 CA$5.50
67.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.64 CA$3.73
-3.41%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.64 CA$3.73
23.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.50 CA$3.54
-10.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.50 CA$2.12
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.63 $11.63
$14.05 CA$19.86
-17.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.90 $14.90
$15.70 CA$22.20
-5.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.44 CA$3.45
-8.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.09 CA$4.37
-12.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.82 CA$3.99
-19.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$88.6 CA$125
-31.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.12 CA$4.41
-5.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.35 CA$1.91
59.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.76 $41.76
$27.02 CA$38.20
54.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.16 CA$1.64
-4.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$27.9K CA$39.5K
26.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$20.3K CA$28.8K
23.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$161 CA$227
19.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5 $52.5
$38.13 CA$53.9
37.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$50.0 CA$70.7
43.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.65 $31.65
$51.5 CA$72.8
-38.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.87 $24.87
$18.14 CA$25.64
37.10%
Cinema Ticket
$13.24 $13.24
$13.82 CA$19.54
-4.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,181 $1,181
$786 CA$1,111
50.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K $11.9K
$15.5K CA$21.8K
-23.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.32 $39.32
$58.3 CA$82.4
-32.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 $52.5
$39.27 CA$55.5
33.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.4 $88.4
$89.8 CA$127
-1.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$110 CA$155
9.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 $1,594
$1,229 CA$1,737
29.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 $1,391
$1,001 CA$1,415
38.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,269 $2,269
$1,921 CA$2,716
18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,044 $2,044
$1,621 CA$2,292
26.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,613 $2,613
$3,549 CA$5,018
-26.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,210 $2,210
$3,335 CA$4,715
-33.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Allentown, PA
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,888 $2,888
$3,165 CA$4,474
-8.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
4.51
42.57%

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

Last update for Allentown, PA: October 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Allentown, PA
$1.4K
Calgary
$1K 28% $390
Groceries & Markets
Allentown, PA
$389
Calgary
$385 1.1% $4.1
Eating Out
Allentown, PA
$318
Calgary
$265 16.7% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Allentown, PA
$316
Calgary
$249 21.2% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Allentown, PA
$135
Calgary
$134 1% $1.3
Getting Around
Allentown, PA
$83
Calgary
$110 32.2% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Allentown, PA
$58
Calgary
$79 36.1% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in Allentown, PA versus $1,229 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 10% 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 $89.0 in Allentown, PA versus $71.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $385 – making Calgary the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Allentown, PA
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
17:08 5:08 PM
15:08 3:08 PM
2 h behind Allentown, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,443
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Allentown, PA Calgary 3,160 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Allentown, PA
  • 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
Allentown, PA vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Allentown, PA or Calgary?
Allentown, PA costs about 21% more than Calgary, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Allentown, PA and in Calgary?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,036 per month in Allentown, PA and $3,335 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Allentown, PA or 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.
How expensive is transport in Allentown, PA compared to Calgary?
Public transport costs about 47% less in Calgary. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Allentown, PA and in Calgary?
Kindergarten costs $1,181 per month in Allentown, PA and $786 in Calgary. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Allentown, PA or in Calgary?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calgary, where all-in costs run around $2,223, than in Allentown, PA at $2,691. In Calgary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Allentown, PA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
Should I move to Allentown, PA or to Calgary?
If budget matters most, go with Calgary. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Allentown, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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