Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Bathurst Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Bathurst

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,433 per month in Calgary vs $2,192 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,642 per month in Calgary vs $3,136 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,850 per month in Calgary vs $4,080 in Bathurst, rent included.

Calgary costs about 11% more than Bathurst, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calgary and Bathurst sit above the global median – Calgary by 81%, Bathurst by 63%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.20 CA$24.93

$14.57 CA$19.96

24.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$95.9

$43.72 CA$59.9

60.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.09

$8.61 CA$11.80

27.87%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.42 CA$4.69

9.06%

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

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.69 CA$2.32

17.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$1.26 CA$1.73

30.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 CA$7.22

$5.01 CA$6.87

5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.11

$5.10 CA$6.98

30.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CA$2.94

$1.96 CA$2.69

9.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.75 CA$3.77

-2.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.66

$4.19 CA$5.74

-18.85%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$3.67 CA$5.03

-10.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.07

$12.42 CA$17.01

17.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 CA$17.28

$9.63 CA$13.19

30.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$22.10

$6.83 CA$9.35

136.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$4.02 CA$5.51

10.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.56 CA$2.13

-14.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.75 CA$5.13

-0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$1.89 CA$2.58

126.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.65

$2.15 CA$2.94

24.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$2.13 CA$2.92

22.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$2.76 CA$3.78

-0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.60

$1.94 CA$2.66

-2.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.52

$10.29 CA$14.09

45.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.59

$11.44 CA$15.67

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$3.42 CA$4.69

-15.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$3.25 CA$4.46

22.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.29 CA$3.14

17.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 CA$120

$66.3 CA$90.9

32.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.88

$7.97 CA$10.91

-55.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.78 CA$2.44

-24.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.30 CA$40.15

$29.56 CA$40.49

-0.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$1.22 CA$1.68

-7.38%

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$25.1K CA$34.3K

0.20%

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

$22.2K CA$30.4K

$20.9K CA$28.6K

6.42%

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

$218 CA$299

$107 CA$146

104.65%

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

$41.44 CA$56.8

$38.46 CA$52.7

7.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CA$79.7

$63.7 CA$87.3

-8.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 CA$73.6

$44.86 CA$61.5

19.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.4 CA$71.8

$33.27 CA$45.58

57.44%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.34

$11.19 CA$15.33

13.14%

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

$885 CA$1,212

$167 CA$228

430.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.0K

$11.6K CA$15.9K

38.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$79.6

$41.17 CA$56.4

41.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 CA$66.1

$35.10 CA$48.08

37.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$74.6 CA$102

18.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$146

$138 CA$189

-23.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 CA$1,913

$748 CA$1,025

86.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,625

$1,198 CA$1,641

-1.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 CA$3,142

$1,994 CA$2,731

15.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CA$2,547

$1,810 CA$2,479

2.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 CA$5,178

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,509 CA$4,808

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,117 CA$4,271

$2,129 CA$2,917

46.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 14, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,396 in Calgary versus $748 in Bathurst. 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 46% 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 $70 in Calgary versus $44 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $330 – making Bathurst 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

Calgary vs Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Calgary is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,650 per month in Calgary and $3,288 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, 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 $2,433 in Calgary and $2,192 in Bathurst. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Bathurst. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bathurst, where all-in costs run around $2,192, than in Calgary at $2,433. In Bathurst it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bathurst – 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 Bathurst. 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.