Cost of Living Comparison Between Brandon, MB and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Brandon, MB and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,697 per month in Brandon, MB vs $2,344 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,677 per month in Brandon, MB vs $3,499 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,657 per month in Brandon, MB vs $4,655 in Calgary, rent included.

Brandon, MB is about 28% cheaper than Calgary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Brandon, MB and Calgary sit above the global median – Brandon, MB by 23%, Calgary by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.62 CA$20.28

$18.45 CA$25.59

-20.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 CA$89.9

$71.5 CA$99.2

-9.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 CA$14.97

$10.68 CA$14.81

1.03%

Cappuccino

$3.12 CA$4.33

$3.93 CA$5.46

-20.61%

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

$1.84 CA$2.56

$2.02 CA$2.80

-8.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 CA$2.37

$1.97 CA$2.73

-13.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 CA$6.05

$4.92 CA$6.82

-11.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 CA$7.57

$5.90 CA$8.19

-7.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$2.03 CA$2.82

-32.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$2.86 CA$3.97

-31.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.73

$5.72 CA$7.93

-40.38%

Eggs

$3.10 CA$4.30

$3.81 CA$5.29

-18.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 CA$13.68

$11.56 CA$16.04

-14.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.17 CA$15.49

$11.95 CA$16.57

-6.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.81 CA$24.71

$18.97 CA$26.30

-6.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 CA$4.60

$4.91 CA$6.82

-32.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.91

$1.42 CA$1.97

-2.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 CA$5.02

$4.36 CA$6.04

-16.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.40

$4.03 CA$5.59

-21.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.66

$2.72 CA$3.77

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.62

$2.88 CA$3.99

-9.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 CA$3.60

$2.57 CA$3.57

0.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 CA$2.23

$1.49 CA$2.07

8.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.85 CA$21.98

$14.71 CA$20.41

7.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 CA$17.29

$15.57 CA$21.60

-19.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 CA$3.39

$2.52 CA$3.50

-3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$3.27 CA$4.53

-31.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.94 CA$4.07

-52.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.7 CA$96.7

$89.8 CA$125

-22.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$3.30 CA$4.58

-11.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.94

$1.37 CA$1.90

2.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.19 CA$34.94

$27.07 CA$37.54

-6.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 CA$1.34

$1.22 CA$1.69

-20.49%

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

$28.9K CA$40.1K

$28.6K CA$39.6K

1.20%

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

$20.5K CA$28.4K

$20.9K CA$29.0K

-2.00%

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

$170 CA$236

$182 CA$253

-6.90%

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

$38.26 CA$53.1

$39.50 CA$54.8

-3.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.5 CA$76.9

$51.4 CA$71.3

7.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.60 CA$59.1

$54.8 CA$76.0

-22.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.54 CA$22.94

$18.79 CA$26.07

-11.97%

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 CA$16.16

$14.52 CA$20.14

-19.77%

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

$1,090 CA$1,512

$819 CA$1,136

33.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K CA$26.6K

$16.3K CA$22.7K

17.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.60 CA$60.5

$61.8 CA$85.8

-29.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 CA$62.7

$40.15 CA$55.7

12.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 CA$98.9

$94.3 CA$131

-24.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.0 CA$121

$114 CA$158

-23.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$804 CA$1,115

$1,256 CA$1,741

-35.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 CA$805

$1,089 CA$1,510

-46.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 CA$1,911

$1,994 CA$2,766

-30.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 CA$1,729

$1,706 CA$2,367

-26.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,284 CA$3,167

$3,627 CA$5,031

-37.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,314 CA$3,210

$3,403 CA$4,719

-31.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,528 CA$3,505

$3,246 CA$4,502

-22.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.48

-0.22%

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

Last update for Brandon, MB: September 7, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $804 in Brandon, MB versus $1,256 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 28% 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 $65.0 in Brandon, MB versus $71.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $401 – making Brandon, MB 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

Brandon, MB vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Calgary is pricier by about 38%, 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 $2,546 per month in Brandon, MB and $3,516 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 19% more in Calgary, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Brandon, MB and $71.0 in Calgary. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brandon, MB, where all-in costs run around $1,697, than in Calgary at $2,344. In Brandon, MB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brandon, MB – 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 Brandon, MB. 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.