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 $2,344 per month in Calgary vs $1,697 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,499 per month in Calgary vs $2,677 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,655 per month in Calgary vs $3,657 in Brandon, MB, rent included.

Calgary costs about 38% more than Brandon, MB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calgary and Brandon, MB sit above the global median – Calgary by 70%, Brandon, MB by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$14.62 CA$20.28

26.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$64.8 CA$89.9

10.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$10.79 CA$14.97

-1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$3.12 CA$4.33

25.96%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$1.84 CA$2.56

9.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.71 CA$2.37

15.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$4.36 CA$6.05

12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$5.46 CA$7.57

8.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.37 CA$1.90

48.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$1.97 CA$2.73

45.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$3.41 CA$4.73

67.74%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.10 CA$4.30

22.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$9.87 CA$13.68

17.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$11.17 CA$15.49

6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$17.81 CA$24.70

6.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.81

$3.31 CA$4.60

48.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.38 CA$1.91

2.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$3.62 CA$5.02

20.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$3.18 CA$4.40

26.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.64 CA$3.66

3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$2.61 CA$3.62

10.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.59 CA$3.60

-0.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.61 CA$2.23

-7.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.40

$15.85 CA$21.98

-7.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.59

$12.47 CA$17.29

24.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.44 CA$3.39

3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$2.23 CA$3.09

46.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$1.39 CA$1.93

111.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$69.7 CA$96.7

28.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$2.92 CA$4.05

13.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.40 CA$1.94

-2.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$25.19 CA$34.94

7.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$0.97 CA$1.34

25.77%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$28.9K CA$40.1K

-1.18%

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

$20.9K CA$28.9K

$20.5K CA$28.4K

2.04%

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

$182 CA$253

$170 CA$236

7.41%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$38.26 CA$53.1

3.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.2

$55.5 CA$76.9

-7.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$75.9

$42.60 CA$59.1

28.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.06

$16.54 CA$22.93

13.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$11.65 CA$16.16

24.64%

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

$819 CA$1,135

$1,090 CA$1,512

-24.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$19.2K CA$26.6K

-14.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$43.60 CA$60.5

41.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$45.22 CA$62.7

-11.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$71.3 CA$98.9

32.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$87.0 CA$121

30.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$804 CA$1,115

56.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$580 CA$805

87.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$1,378 CA$1,911

44.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,366

$1,246 CA$1,729

36.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$2,284 CA$3,167

58.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$2,314 CA$3,209

47.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$2,528 CA$3,505

28.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.47

0.22%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Brandon, MB: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,256 in Calgary versus $804 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 28% 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 $65.0 in Brandon, MB. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $338 – 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 38%, 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 $2,546 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 19% 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 $71.0 in Calgary and $65.0 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 $1,697, than in Calgary at $2,344. 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.