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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,269 per month in Calgary vs $2,564 in Airdrie, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,418 per month in Calgary vs $3,737 in Airdrie, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,567 per month in Calgary vs $4,910 in Airdrie, rent included.

Calgary is about 11% cheaper than Airdrie, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Calgary and Airdrie sit above the global median – Calgary by 68%, Airdrie by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.17 CA$25.50

$19.43 CA$27.27

-6.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$98.6

$77.5 CA$109

-9.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 CA$15.22

$10.79 CA$15.15

0.46%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.34

$4.02 CA$5.64

-5.47%

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

$1.97 CA$2.76

$2.16 CA$3.03

-8.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.90 CA$2.66

-5.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 CA$7.20

$5.06 CA$7.09

1.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 CA$7.79

$5.64 CA$7.91

-1.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 CA$2.66

$1.90 CA$2.67

White Bread (500g)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.70 CA$3.79

-2.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 CA$7.62

$3.54 CA$4.97

53.39%

Eggs

$3.73 CA$5.23

$3.73 CA$5.24

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 CA$16.13

$11.24 CA$15.77

2.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.35 CA$15.92

$11.33 CA$15.91

0.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 CA$26.12

$17.96 CA$25.20

3.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 CA$6.88

$4.75 CA$6.67

3.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.99

$1.33 CA$1.87

6.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 CA$6.02

$4.44 CA$6.23

-3.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 CA$5.76

$4.00 CA$5.62

2.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.65 CA$3.72

-1.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.13

$2.81 CA$3.94

4.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.60

$2.61 CA$3.66

-1.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.20

$1.83 CA$2.56

-14.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.50 CA$20.35

$14.49 CA$20.34

0.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.39 CA$21.59

$11.53 CA$16.17

33.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 CA$3.50

$3.59 CA$5.04

-30.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 CA$4.47

$3.14 CA$4.40

1.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.79 CA$3.91

$2.10 CA$2.95

32.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$128

$175 CA$246

-47.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 CA$4.37

$3.13 CA$4.39

-0.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 CA$1.97

$1.35 CA$1.89

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.51 CA$38.60

$20.98 CA$29.44

31.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 CA$1.67

$1.12 CA$1.58

6.25%

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

$28.7K CA$40.3K

$27.8K CA$38.9K

3.44%

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

$20.6K CA$28.9K

$20.0K CA$28.1K

2.59%

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

$183 CA$257

$225 CA$316

-18.77%

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

$38.97 CA$54.7

$39.66 CA$55.7

-1.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$72.6

$55.5 CA$77.8

-6.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 CA$76.5

$86.1 CA$121

-36.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.18 CA$25.51

$35.13 CA$49.30

-48.25%

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 CA$19.75

$14.41 CA$20.23

-2.36%

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

$793 CA$1,113

$761 CA$1,068

4.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.9K

$9,547 CA$13.4K

70.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 CA$82.6

$44.57 CA$62.5

32.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.65 CA$57.1

$42.84 CA$60.1

-5.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 CA$129

$87.0 CA$122

5.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 CA$156

$109 CA$154

1.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 CA$1,723

$1,290 CA$1,810

-4.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 CA$1,458

$1,121 CA$1,573

-7.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 CA$2,705

$1,808 CA$2,537

6.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 CA$2,402

$1,672 CA$2,347

2.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,528 CA$4,951

$6,184 CA$8,677

-42.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,414 CA$4,791

$6,019 CA$8,446

-43.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,234 CA$4,538

$2,886 CA$4,050

12.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.32

3.70%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 20, 2026

Last update for Airdrie: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,228 in Calgary versus $1,290 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 12% 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 $77.0 in Airdrie. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Calgary vs $382 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: $2,269 in Calgary, $2,564 in Airdrie – roughly 13% apart. Airdrie costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,404 per month in Calgary and $3,845 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 $2,269 in Calgary and $2,564 in Airdrie. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 92% 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 $2,269, than in Airdrie at $2,564. 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.