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 $3,752 per month in Bridgewater, NS vs $2,353 in Calgary, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,070 per month in Bridgewater, NS vs $3,488 in Calgary, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,388 per month in Bridgewater, NS vs $4,622 in Calgary, rent included.

Bridgewater, NS costs about 59% more than Calgary, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bridgewater, NS and Calgary sit above the global median – Bridgewater, NS by 173%, Calgary by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.16 CA$26.53

$17.94 CA$24.84

6.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.4 CA$93.3

$70.5 CA$97.7

-4.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 CA$15.28

$10.69 CA$14.80

3.27%

Cappuccino

$3.59 CA$4.96

$3.79 CA$5.24

-5.28%

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

$1.75 CA$2.42

$2.00 CA$2.77

-12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.98 CA$2.73

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.49 CA$6.21

$5.19 CA$7.19

-13.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 CA$8.21

$5.86 CA$8.11

1.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 CA$3.17

$1.95 CA$2.71

17.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 CA$3.88

$2.82 CA$3.91

-0.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.50 CA$4.84

$5.61 CA$7.77

-37.61%

Eggs

$3.79 CA$5.25

$3.75 CA$5.20

1.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.82 CA$13.60

$11.50 CA$15.93

-14.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.92 CA$15.12

$11.46 CA$15.87

-4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.41 CA$15.80

$18.95 CA$26.24

-39.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 CA$7.40

$4.83 CA$6.69

10.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.37 CA$1.90

13.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.66 CA$6.45

$4.25 CA$5.88

9.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.71

$4.15 CA$5.75

-0.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.70 CA$3.74

-25.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.74

$2.83 CA$3.92

-30.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.55

$2.64 CA$3.65

-2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.05

$1.51 CA$2.09

45.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.38 CA$15.75

$14.60 CA$20.22

-22.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 CA$20.24

$15.76 CA$21.82

-7.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.89

$2.60 CA$3.60

8.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 CA$5.13

$3.08 CA$4.27

20.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.30 CA$5.95

$2.93 CA$4.05

46.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.19 CA$52.9

$89.3 CA$124

-57.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 CA$4.09

$3.32 CA$4.60

-11.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.95

$1.43 CA$1.98

-1.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.58 CA$29.88

$27.71 CA$38.36

-22.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 CA$1.62

$1.26 CA$1.74

-7.14%

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

$28.5K CA$39.4K

$28.9K CA$40.1K

-1.55%

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

$19.3K CA$26.8K

$21.3K CA$29.6K

-9.47%

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

$124 CA$171

$183 CA$253

-32.40%

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

$42.52 CA$58.9

$38.31 CA$53.0

10.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 CA$90.2

$51.7 CA$71.6

26.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.83 CA$56.5

$54.9 CA$76.0

-25.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.84

Cinema Ticket

$10.96 CA$15.17

$14.26 CA$19.74

-23.14%

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

$142 CA$196

$828 CA$1,147

-82.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K CA$18.6K

$15.9K CA$22.0K

-15.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.64 CA$53.5

$59.6 CA$82.5

-35.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.66 CA$42.45

$39.47 CA$54.7

-22.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 CA$135

$94.3 CA$131

3.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$168

$113 CA$156

7.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,757 CA$2,433

$1,265 CA$1,751

38.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,569 CA$3,557

$1,051 CA$1,455

144.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,703 CA$5,127

$1,934 CA$2,678

91.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,775 CA$2,457

$1,700 CA$2,354

4.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,096

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,616

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,448 CA$3,390

$3,276 CA$4,536

-25.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

4.4

4.55%

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

Last update for Bridgewater, NS: August 31, 2026

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,757 in Bridgewater, NS versus $1,265 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 34% 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 $67.0 in Bridgewater, NS versus $71.0 in Calgary. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 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

Bridgewater, NS costs about 59% more than Calgary, 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 $5,628 per month in Bridgewater, NS and $3,530 in Calgary. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 134% less in Calgary. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $142 per month in Bridgewater, NS and $828 in Calgary. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calgary, where all-in costs run around $2,353, than in Bridgewater, NS at $3,752. In Calgary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bridgewater, NS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Calgary. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bridgewater, NS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.