Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Bridgewater, NS Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Bridgewater, NS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,523 per month in Calgary vs $2,267 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,652 per month in Calgary vs $3,286 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,780 per month in Calgary vs $4,305 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

Calgary costs about 11% more than Bridgewater, NS, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Calgary and Bridgewater, NS sit above the global median – Calgary by 88%, Bridgewater, NS by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$18.17 CA$25.25

2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$66.5 CA$92.4

5.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$11.21 CA$15.58

-2.23%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.32 CA$4.61

12.35%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.87 CA$2.60

6.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.75 CA$2.44

-1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$3.61 CA$5.02

38.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$4.31 CA$5.99

50.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.27 CA$3.15

-2.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.95 CA$4.10

-9.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$3.47 CA$4.83

-6.05%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.57 CA$4.95

-6.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$10.02 CA$13.92

44.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$11.15 CA$15.49

16.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$10.61 CA$14.74

52.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$5.40 CA$7.50

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.49 CA$2.08

-9.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.82 CA$5.31

0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$4.01 CA$5.58

4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.23 CA$3.09

18.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.01 CA$2.80

36.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.32 CA$3.22

18.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$2.20 CA$3.05

-11.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$11.85 CA$16.46

26.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$11.64 CA$16.18

26.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.66 CA$3.69

6.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$3.83 CA$5.33

4.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.32 CA$3.22

20.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$39.13 CA$54.4

120.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$2.93 CA$4.07

22.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.34 CA$1.86

-1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$21.99 CA$30.55

31.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.16 CA$1.61

-3.45%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.5K CA$35.4K

-2.56%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$20.3K CA$28.2K

8.21%

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

$217 CA$302

$129 CA$179

69.01%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$37.00 CA$51.4

12.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$62.3 CA$86.5

-6.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$42.93 CA$59.7

27.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$11.17 CA$15.52

14.32%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$147 CA$204

496.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$7,438 CA$10.3K

114.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$39.52 CA$54.9

48.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$31.53 CA$43.81

47.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$99.7 CA$139

-12.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$105 CA$146

3.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,325 CA$1,840

6.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,170 CA$1,626

0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$2,023 CA$2,810

14.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$1,869 CA$2,596

0.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

$4,588 CA$6,375

-15.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

$3,522 CA$4,894

-0.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$2,402 CA$3,337

31.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.57

-13.09%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bridgewater, NS: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,325 in Bridgewater, NS. 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 31% 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 $67.0 in Bridgewater, NS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $360 – making Bridgewater, NS 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 Bridgewater, NS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary costs about 11% more than Bridgewater, NS, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,785 per month in Calgary and $3,400 in Bridgewater, NS. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 120% less in Bridgewater, NS. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $874 per month in Calgary and $147 in Bridgewater, NS. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bridgewater, NS, where all-in costs run around $2,267, than in Calgary at $2,523. In Bridgewater, NS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calgary it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bridgewater, NS – 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 Bridgewater, NS. 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.