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 $2,462 per month in Calgary vs $2,293 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,628 per month in Calgary vs $3,308 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,795 per month in Calgary vs $4,323 in Bridgewater, NS, rent included.

Calgary costs about 7% more than Bridgewater, NS, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Calgary and Bridgewater, NS sit above the global median – Calgary by 84%, Bridgewater, NS by 72%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$18.44 CA$25.95

-0.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$67.0 CA$94.3

4.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$11.20 CA$15.77

-2.23%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.38 CA$4.76

10.65%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.88 CA$2.65

8.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.81 CA$2.55

-7.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$3.73 CA$5.25

39.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$4.47 CA$6.28

50.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.25 CA$3.17

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$3.03 CA$4.27

-9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.47 CA$4.89

-6.92%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.69 CA$5.19

-6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$10.18 CA$14.33

41.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$11.37 CA$16.00

13.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$10.55 CA$14.84

50.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$5.43 CA$7.65

-20.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.54 CA$2.16

-12.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.78 CA$5.32

1.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$4.14 CA$5.82

2.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.27 CA$3.19

12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.05 CA$2.89

27.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.40 CA$3.38

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$2.25 CA$3.17

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$11.58 CA$16.29

29.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$14.35 CA$20.19

-3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.68 CA$3.78

8.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.92 CA$5.51

-0.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.31 CA$3.25

18.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$39.13 CA$55.1

124.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$2.88 CA$4.05

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.34 CA$1.89

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$22.12 CA$31.13

29.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.16 CA$1.64

-3.45%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.7K CA$34.8K

2.95%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.4K CA$28.7K

6.78%

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

$213 CA$300

$129 CA$182

64.53%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$37.05 CA$52.1

10.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$62.3 CA$87.7

-7.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$42.76 CA$60.2

26.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$10.87 CA$15.30

16.19%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$146 CA$205

499.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$7,481 CA$10.5K

112.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$39.81 CA$56.0

47.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$30.73 CA$43.24

52.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$100 CA$141

-15.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$107 CA$150

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,328 CA$1,869

3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,183 CA$1,664

-1.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$2,032 CA$2,859

14.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,811 CA$2,549

5.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,366 CA$3,329

24.25%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bridgewater, NS: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,328 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 24% 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: $396 vs $370 – 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 7% 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 $3,693 per month in Calgary and $3,439 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 124% 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 $146 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 $2,293, than in Calgary at $2,462. 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.