Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Airdrie Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Airdrie

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,462 per month in Calgary vs $2,494 in Airdrie, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Calgary vs $3,531 in Airdrie, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,795 per month in Calgary vs $4,568 in Airdrie, rent included.

Calgary is about 1% cheaper than Airdrie, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Calgary and Airdrie sit above the global median – Calgary by 84%, Airdrie by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$18.34 CA$25.80

-0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$70.9 CA$99.8

-1.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$11.18 CA$15.73

-2.06%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.71 CA$5.23

0.81%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.97 CA$2.77

3.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.72 CA$2.42

-2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.81 CA$8.18

-10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$6.02 CA$8.48

11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.01 CA$2.83

11.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.72 CA$3.82

1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.08 CA$4.33

4.87%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.57 CA$5.02

-3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$12.06 CA$16.97

19.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$12.55 CA$17.66

2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$16.21 CA$22.81

-2.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$4.32 CA$6.08

-0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.28 CA$1.80

4.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.83 CA$5.38

0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.63 CA$5.11

17.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.41 CA$3.39

5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.20 CA$3.10

19.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.64 CA$3.72

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.94 CA$2.73

0.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.69 CA$20.67

1.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$12.12 CA$17.05

14.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.85 CA$4.01

2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.19 CA$4.49

22.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.38 CA$3.35

15.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$62.9 CA$88.5

39.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.14 CA$4.42

14.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.36 CA$1.92

-4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$23.50 CA$33.07

22.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.04 CA$1.47

7.69%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.2K CA$35.4K

1.19%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$21.5K CA$30.2K

1.32%

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

$213 CA$300

$209 CA$295

1.75%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$41.09 CA$57.8

-0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$58.8 CA$82.7

-1.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$89.8 CA$126

-39.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$59.1 CA$83.2

-9.07%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$13.42 CA$18.89

-5.89%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$701 CA$987

24.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.6K CA$16.4K

36.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$48.75 CA$68.6

20.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$42.08 CA$59.2

11.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$81.3 CA$114

4.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$105 CA$147

2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,304 CA$1,835

5.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,184 CA$1,666

-2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,844 CA$2,595

26.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,611 CA$2,267

18.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$6,078 CA$8,552

-37.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$6,141 CA$8,640

-42.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,900 CA$4,080

1.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.08

-6.09%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Airdrie: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,304 in Airdrie. 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 1% 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 $70.0 in Calgary versus $71.0 in Airdrie. Groceries tell a different story – $396 in Calgary vs $375 in Airdrie – so Airdrie wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Calgary vs Airdrie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,462 in Calgary, $2,494 in Airdrie – roughly 1% apart. Airdrie costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,693 per month in Calgary and $3,741 in Airdrie. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,462 in Calgary and $2,494 in Airdrie. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 40% less in Calgary. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calgary, where all-in costs run around $2,462, than in Airdrie at $2,494. In Calgary it covers expenses comfortably, while in Airdrie 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, Airdrie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.