Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Armstrong Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Armstrong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,410 in Armstrong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $3,489 in Armstrong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $4,569 in Armstrong.

Living in Calgary is roughly 3% more expensive than Armstrong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Armstrong 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.67

$21.76 CA$30.45

-15.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$99.4

$68.7 CA$96.1

3.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.75

$11.24 CA$15.73

0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.35

$3.86 CA$5.40

-0.78%

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

$1.96 CA$2.74

$2.61 CA$3.66

-24.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.31

$2.00 CA$2.80

-17.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.40

$5.82 CA$8.15

-9.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.50

$6.57 CA$9.20

3.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.14

$2.72 CA$3.80

-17.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$2.54 CA$3.56

7.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.73

$3.38 CA$4.74

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.61

$3.75 CA$5.25

-12.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.66

$9.77 CA$13.67

51.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.77

$10.45 CA$14.62

21.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.32

$15.41 CA$21.56

3.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.03

$3.99 CA$5.59

8.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.74 CA$2.43

-22.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.29

$4.16 CA$5.82

-9.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$4.04 CA$5.65

4.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.67 CA$3.73

-3.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.22 CA$3.11

21.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.83

$2.84 CA$3.98

-3.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.71

$1.83 CA$2.55

6.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.64

$13.68 CA$19.15

7.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.71

$12.98 CA$18.16

8.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.93

$3.59 CA$5.02

-21.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.54

$3.74 CA$5.24

5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$2.31 CA$3.23

21.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$121

$63.4 CA$88.7

36.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.78

$2.39 CA$3.34

42.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.90

$1.60 CA$2.23

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$40.64

$12.98 CA$18.16

123.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.50

$1.26 CA$1.76

-15.08%

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

$25.0K CA$35.0K

$24.9K CA$34.8K

0.64%

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

$22.1K CA$30.9K

$20.1K CA$28.1K

9.94%

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

$215 CA$300

$159 CA$222

35.08%

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

$40.33 CA$56.5

$46.07 CA$64.5

-12.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.1

$61.7 CA$86.3

-6.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.7

$42.39 CA$59.3

29.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.0

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.71

$10.60 CA$14.84

19.43%

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

$872 CA$1,221

$445 CA$623

96.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.6K

$4,097 CA$5,734

294.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$80.9

$61.7 CA$86.4

-6.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.3

$39.30 CA$55.0

20.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$122

$81.0 CA$113

7.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$152

$76.8 CA$108

41.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,979

$1,320 CA$1,847

7.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,614

$1,194 CA$1,671

-3.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,234

$1,984 CA$2,777

16.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,626

$1,825 CA$2,554

2.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,365

$4,417 CA$6,182

-13.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,747

$3,719 CA$5,205

-8.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,377

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.36

-10.22%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 13, 2026

Last update for Armstrong: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,320 in Armstrong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $69.0 in Armstrong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $373 per month, with Armstrong cheaper across the board.

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 Armstrong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Armstrong is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,728 in Calgary and $3,615 in Armstrong to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,320 in Armstrong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Armstrong runs roughly 37% less than in Calgary. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $872 in Calgary versus $445 in Armstrong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,410 in Armstrong versus $2,485 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Armstrong but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Armstrong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Armstrong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.