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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,344 per month in Calgary vs $1,778 in Bathurst, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,499 per month in Calgary vs $2,054 in Bathurst, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,655 per month in Calgary vs $2,329 in Bathurst, rent included.

Calgary costs about 32% more than Bathurst, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calgary and Bathurst sit above the global median – Calgary by 70%, Bathurst by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$16.49 CA$22.87

11.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$43.40 CA$60.2

64.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$11.82 CA$16.39

-9.64%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$3.52 CA$4.88

11.65%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.03 CA$2.82

-0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.66 CA$2.30

18.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$4.99 CA$6.93

-1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$5.03 CA$6.97

17.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.74 CA$2.41

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.61 CA$3.62

9.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$2.51 CA$3.49

127.89%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.58 CA$4.96

6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$11.29 CA$15.65

2.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$9.59 CA$13.30

24.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$6.59 CA$9.14

187.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$4.66 CA$6.47

5.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.64 CA$2.27

-13.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$4.85 CA$6.73

-10.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$1.95 CA$2.70

106.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.68 CA$3.71

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$1.60 CA$2.22

80.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.27 CA$3.15

13.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.62 CA$2.25

-8.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$10.21 CA$14.16

44.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$12.09 CA$16.77

28.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$3.24 CA$4.49

-22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$4.61 CA$6.39

-29.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$3.70 CA$5.13

-20.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$64.8 CA$89.9

38.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$2.97 CA$4.12

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.35 CA$1.88

1.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$21.58 CA$29.93

25.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.18 CA$1.63

3.39%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$28.7K CA$39.8K

-0.44%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$19.2K CA$26.7K

8.49%

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

$182 CA$253

$105 CA$145

74.23%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$71.8 CA$99.6

-44.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$60.9 CA$84.5

-15.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$44.44 CA$61.6

23.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$32.01 CA$44.39

-41.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$9.65 CA$13.38

50.47%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$585 CA$811

39.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$1,728 CA$2,397

845.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$51.3 CA$71.1

20.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$41.21 CA$57.2

-2.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$79.3 CA$110

18.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$81.7 CA$113

39.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$770 CA$1,067

63.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$713 CA$988

52.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$2,061 CA$2,858

57.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.77

-6.08%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,256 in Calgary versus $770 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 58% 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 $71.0 in Calgary versus $43.00 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $321 – 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 32%, 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 $3,516 per month in Calgary and $2,668 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 $2,344 in Calgary and $1,778 in Bathurst. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% 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 $1,778, than in Calgary at $2,344. 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.