Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Brandon, MB Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Brandon, MB

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,523 per month in Calgary vs $1,702 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,652 per month in Calgary vs $2,695 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,780 per month in Calgary vs $3,687 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

Calgary costs about 48% more than Brandon, MB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calgary and Brandon, MB sit above the global median – Calgary by 88%, Brandon, MB by 27%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$16.23 CA$22.54

14.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$66.3 CA$92.1

5.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$7.95 CA$11.04

37.86%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.58 CA$4.97

4.19%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.66 CA$2.30

19.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.62 CA$2.25

6.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.46 CA$7.59

-8.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$6.56 CA$9.11

-0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$1.60 CA$2.23

38.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.28 CA$3.17

17.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$3.49 CA$4.84

-6.59%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.06 CA$4.25

9.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$10.86 CA$15.09

33.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$9.75 CA$13.55

32.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$14.90 CA$20.70

8.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$3.74 CA$5.20

15.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.32 CA$1.83

2.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.11 CA$4.31

23.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.55 CA$4.94

17.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.77 CA$3.85

-4.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.51 CA$3.48

9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.52 CA$3.51

9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.50 CA$2.09

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$15.33 CA$21.30

-2.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$12.95 CA$17.99

13.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.01 CA$4.18

-5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$3.53 CA$4.90

13.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.26 CA$1.75

122.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$71.9 CA$99.9

19.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$3.19 CA$4.44

12.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.31 CA$1.81

0.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$26.37 CA$36.63

10.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.03 CA$1.43

8.74%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$23.5K CA$32.6K

5.93%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$22.0K CA$30.6K

-0.30%

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

$217 CA$302

$157 CA$218

38.21%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$42.22 CA$58.7

-1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$60.6 CA$84.1

-4.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$41.24 CA$57.3

32.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$16.76 CA$23.29

215.16%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$12.27 CA$17.04

4.07%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$964 CA$1,339

-9.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$12.2K CA$17.0K

30.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$47.07 CA$65.4

24.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$41.21 CA$57.3

12.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$79.0 CA$110

10.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$86.8 CA$121

25.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$820 CA$1,139

72.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$595 CA$827

96.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$1,303 CA$1,810

78.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$1,269 CA$1,763

48.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

$2,359 CA$3,278

64.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

$2,359 CA$3,278

48.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$2,472 CA$3,435

27.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.02

-5.15%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Brandon, MB: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,414 in Calgary versus $820 in Brandon, MB. 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 27% 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 $70.0 in Calgary versus $66.0 in Brandon, MB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $337 – making Brandon, MB 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 Brandon, MB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Calgary is pricier by about 48%, 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 $3,785 per month in Calgary and $2,553 in Brandon, MB. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brandon, MB, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Calgary, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Calgary and $66.0 in Brandon, MB. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brandon, MB, where all-in costs run around $1,702, than in Calgary at $2,523. In Brandon, MB it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brandon, MB – 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 Brandon, MB. 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.