Cost of Living Comparison Between Bridgewater, NS and Calgary Cost of Living Comparison Between Bridgewater, NS and Calgary

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,267 per month in Bridgewater, NS vs $2,523 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,286 per month in Bridgewater, NS vs $3,652 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,305 per month in Bridgewater, NS vs $4,780 in Calgary, rent included.

Bridgewater, NS is about 10% cheaper than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bridgewater, NS and Calgary sit above the global median – Bridgewater, NS by 69%, Calgary by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.17 CA$25.25

$18.59 CA$25.83

-2.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 CA$92.4

$70.0 CA$97.3

-5.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 CA$15.58

$10.96 CA$15.22

2.28%

Cappuccino

$3.32 CA$4.61

$3.73 CA$5.19

-10.99%

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

$1.87 CA$2.60

$1.99 CA$2.76

-6.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 CA$2.44

$1.72 CA$2.39

1.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 CA$5.02

$5.01 CA$6.97

-27.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 CA$5.99

$6.50 CA$9.04

-33.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 CA$3.15

$2.22 CA$3.09

2.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$2.67 CA$3.71

10.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.47 CA$4.83

$3.26 CA$4.53

6.44%

Eggs

$3.57 CA$4.95

$3.35 CA$4.66

6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 CA$13.92

$14.50 CA$20.14

-30.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.15 CA$15.49

$12.95 CA$17.99

-13.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 CA$14.74

$16.15 CA$22.44

-34.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.40 CA$7.50

$4.32 CA$6.00

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 CA$2.08

$1.35 CA$1.88

10.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.82 CA$5.31

$3.83 CA$5.32

-0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 CA$5.58

$4.18 CA$5.81

-4.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 CA$3.09

$2.65 CA$3.68

-15.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 CA$2.80

$2.74 CA$3.81

-26.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$2.76 CA$3.84

-15.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.05

$1.95 CA$2.71

12.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.85 CA$16.46

$14.98 CA$20.81

-20.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 CA$16.18

$14.67 CA$20.38

-20.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 CA$3.69

$2.84 CA$3.95

-6.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 CA$5.33

$4.02 CA$5.58

-4.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.32 CA$3.22

$2.80 CA$3.89

-17.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.13 CA$54.4

$86.2 CA$120

-54.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 CA$4.07

$3.60 CA$5.00

-18.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.86

$1.32 CA$1.83

1.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.99 CA$30.55

$29.01 CA$40.31

-24.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.61

$1.12 CA$1.56

3.57%

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

$25.5K CA$35.4K

$24.9K CA$34.5K

2.63%

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

$20.3K CA$28.2K

$22.0K CA$30.5K

-7.58%

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

$129 CA$179

$217 CA$302

-40.83%

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

$37.00 CA$51.4

$41.55 CA$57.7

-10.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.3 CA$86.5

$58.1 CA$80.7

7.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.93 CA$59.7

$54.7 CA$76.0

-21.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

Cinema Ticket

$11.17 CA$15.52

$12.77 CA$17.74

-12.53%

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

$147 CA$204

$874 CA$1,214

-83.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,438 CA$10.3K

$15.9K CA$22.1K

-53.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.52 CA$54.9

$58.8 CA$81.7

-32.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.53 CA$43.81

$46.47 CA$64.6

-32.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 CA$139

$87.2 CA$121

14.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 CA$146

$109 CA$151

-3.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 CA$1,840

$1,414 CA$1,964

-6.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,170 CA$1,626

$1,172 CA$1,629

-0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 CA$2,810

$2,319 CA$3,222

-12.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,869 CA$2,596

$1,886 CA$2,621

-0.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,588 CA$6,375

$3,892 CA$5,407

17.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,522 CA$4,894

$3,503 CA$4,867

0.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,402 CA$3,337

$3,149 CA$4,375

-23.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

5.71

15.06%

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

Last update for Bridgewater, NS: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,325 in Bridgewater, NS versus $1,414 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 31% 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 $67.0 in Bridgewater, NS versus $70.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $397 – making Bridgewater, NS 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

Bridgewater, NS vs Calgary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary costs about 11% more than Bridgewater, NS, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,400 per month in Bridgewater, NS and $3,785 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 120% less in Bridgewater, NS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $147 per month in Bridgewater, NS and $874 in Calgary. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bridgewater, NS, where all-in costs run around $2,267, than in Calgary at $2,523. In Bridgewater, NS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bridgewater, NS – 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 Bridgewater, NS. 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.