Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Bathurst and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,270 per month in Bathurst vs $2,462 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,231 per month in Bathurst vs $3,628 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,193 per month in Bathurst vs $4,795 in Calgary, rent included.

Bathurst is about 8% cheaper than Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bathurst and Calgary sit above the global median – Bathurst by 70%, Calgary by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.81 CA$20.84

$18.33 CA$25.79

-19.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.31 CA$60.9

$69.9 CA$98.3

-38.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 CA$12.52

$10.95 CA$15.41

-18.72%

Cappuccino

$3.54 CA$4.98

$3.74 CA$5.26

-5.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 CA$2.39

$2.04 CA$2.87

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 CA$1.80

$1.67 CA$2.35

-23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.25 CA$7.39

$5.20 CA$7.32

0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 CA$7.18

$6.71 CA$9.45

-23.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.75

$2.25 CA$3.16

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.66 CA$3.74

$2.75 CA$3.87

-3.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.21 CA$5.92

$3.23 CA$4.54

30.34%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.36

$3.45 CA$4.85

10.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.67 CA$17.83

$14.40 CA$20.26

-12.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.86 CA$13.87

$12.89 CA$18.13

-23.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.79 CA$9.56

$15.86 CA$22.32

-57.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 CA$5.60

$4.30 CA$6.05

-7.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 CA$2.24

$1.34 CA$1.89

18.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.32

$3.85 CA$5.42

-1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$4.25 CA$5.99

-55.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 CA$2.98

$2.55 CA$3.58

-16.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 CA$3.11

$2.62 CA$3.69

-15.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$2.80 CA$3.94

-3.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$1.95 CA$2.74

-1.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.51 CA$14.79

$14.97 CA$21.06

-29.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 CA$16.68

$13.90 CA$19.57

-14.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$2.92 CA$4.11

16.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.74

$3.91 CA$5.50

-13.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 CA$3.28

$2.74 CA$3.85

-14.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.9 CA$92.7

$87.8 CA$124

-24.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 CA$10.73

$3.60 CA$5.06

111.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 CA$2.45

$1.30 CA$1.83

33.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.42 CA$41.40

$28.70 CA$40.39

2.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.64

$1.12 CA$1.57

4.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K CA$34.7K

$25.5K CA$35.8K

-3.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K CA$29.5K

$21.7K CA$30.6K

-3.50%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$108 CA$152

$213 CA$300

-49.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$38.11 CA$53.6

$40.96 CA$57.6

-6.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CA$88.4

$57.9 CA$81.5

8.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.87 CA$61.7

$54.2 CA$76.2

-19.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.96 CA$46.38

$53.8 CA$75.6

-38.68%

Cinema Ticket

$11.09 CA$15.61

$12.63 CA$17.77

-12.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$167 CA$235

$874 CA$1,230

-80.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K CA$16.8K

$15.9K CA$22.3K

-24.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.93 CA$57.6

$58.6 CA$82.5

-30.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.29 CA$49.66

$47.01 CA$66.2

-24.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 CA$104

$85.1 CA$120

-12.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 CA$195

$108 CA$151

28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 CA$1,040

$1,380 CA$1,942

-46.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,174 CA$1,651

$1,159 CA$1,631

1.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,983 CA$2,790

$2,324 CA$3,270

-14.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,823 CA$2,566

$1,905 CA$2,680

-4.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,010 CA$2,829

$2,940 CA$4,136

-31.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

5.71

13.13%

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

Last update for Bathurst: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $739 in Bathurst versus $1,380 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 46% higher in Calgary, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Bathurst versus $70.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $396 – making Bathurst the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bathurst vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Calgary is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,405 per month in Bathurst and $3,693 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,270 in Bathurst and $2,462 in Calgary. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $2,270, than in Calgary at $2,462. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bathurst. 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.