Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, GA and Calgary

For one person, living costs are similar in Athens, GA and in Calgary: $2,200 and $2,255 a month, rent and utilities included.

Athens, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,200
/mo nomad
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,200 per month in Athens, GA vs $2,255 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Athens, GA $2,200
  • Calgary $2,255

A couple spends around $3,313 per month in Athens, GA vs $3,361 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Athens, GA $3,313
  • Calgary $3,361

A family of three spends $4,426 per month in Athens, GA vs $4,468 in Calgary, rent included.

  • Athens, GA $4,426
  • Calgary $4,468

Athens, GA is about 2% cheaper than Calgary, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Athens, GA and Calgary sit above the global median – Athens, GA by 62%, Calgary by 66%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.19 $13.19
$17.58 CA$24.85
-24.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7 $63.7
$69.1 CA$97.6
-7.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.36 $10.36
$10.59 CA$14.97
-2.17%
Cappuccino
$5.70 $5.70
$3.84 CA$5.42
48.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.93 CA$2.72
51.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.88 CA$2.66
17.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.52 $7.52
$5.09 CA$7.20
47.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$5.64 CA$7.97
38.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$2.00 CA$2.82
-59.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.78 CA$3.93
5.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.57 $6.57
$5.59 CA$7.90
17.53%
Eggs
$3.27 $3.27
$3.70 CA$5.23
-11.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.81 $8.81
$11.48 CA$16.23
-23.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.55 $10.55
$11.20 CA$15.84
-5.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$18.59 CA$26.28
-21.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$4.70 CA$6.64
26.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.45 CA$2.05
-6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$4.34 CA$6.13
43.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$3.79 CA$5.36
24.80%
Potato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$2.69 CA$3.81
56.51%
Onion (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.75 CA$3.88
50.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.56 CA$3.62
2.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.50 CA$2.12
32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03 $9.03
$14.39 CA$20.34
-37.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.65 $18.65
$15.81 CA$22.35
17.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.47 CA$3.49
-27.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 $5.93
$3.10 CA$4.39
91.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.81 CA$3.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.58 $15.58
$90.6 CA$128
-82.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.28 CA$4.64
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.40 CA$1.97
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$26.49 CA$37.45
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.22 CA$1.72
-18.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
-0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$20.8K CA$29.5K
29.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$285 $285
$165 CA$233
72.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.91 $41.91
$38.24 CA$54.1
9.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.7 $79.7
$50.1 CA$70.9
58.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.05 $25.05
$53.8 CA$76.1
-53.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.80 $7.80
$18.04 CA$25.51
-56.76%
Cinema Ticket
$12.95 $12.95
$14.04 CA$19.84
-7.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$872 $872
$797 CA$1,126
9.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,396 $9,396
$15.8K CA$22.3K
-40.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 $54.8
$59.1 CA$83.5
-7.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 $31.97
$40.20 CA$56.8
-20.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 $64.6
$90.8 CA$128
-28.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5 $54.5
$109 CA$155
-50.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,340 $1,340
$1,207 CA$1,707
11.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$957 $957
$1,011 CA$1,429
-5.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,322 $2,322
$1,949 CA$2,756
19.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,860 $1,860
$1,677 CA$2,371
10.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,420 $2,420
$3,532 CA$4,993
-31.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 $2,230
$3,392 CA$4,795
-34.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens, GA
Calgary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,487 $3,487
$3,152 CA$4,456
10.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
4.51
49.00%

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

Last update for Athens, GA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens, GA
$957
Calgary
$1K 5.7% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, GA
$406
Calgary
$253 37.7% $153
Groceries & Markets
Athens, GA
$399
Calgary
$392 2% $7.8
Eating Out
Athens, GA
$279
Calgary
$270 3% $8.3
Clothing & Footwear
Athens, GA
$93
Calgary
$135 45.5% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Athens, GA
$51
Calgary
$82 60.7% $31
Getting Around
Athens, GA
$16 *
Calgary
$112 619% $97

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,340 in Athens, GA 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 11% higher in Athens, GA, 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 $64.0 in Athens, GA versus $69.0 in Calgary. Groceries tell a different story – $399 in Athens, GA vs $392 in Calgary – so Calgary wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Athens, GA
🇨🇦 Calgary
🕒 Local time
09:09 9:09 AM
07:09 7:09 AM
2 h behind Athens, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,452
1,267,344
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 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
  • Athens, GA Calgary 3,110 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens, GA
  • 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
Athens, GA vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calgary cheaper than Athens, GA?
Yes – Calgary is pricier by about 2%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,300 per month in Athens, GA and $3,382 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Athens, GA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Athens, GA and in Calgary?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Calgary – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Athens, GA or in Calgary?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Athens, GA and $69.0 in Calgary. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Athens, GA or in Calgary?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Athens, GA, where all-in costs run around $2,200, than in Calgary at $2,255. In Athens, GA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Athens, GA or Calgary more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Athens, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Athens, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Calgary makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Athens, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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