Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Campbell River Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Campbell River

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,616 in Campbell River.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,770 in Campbell River.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,924 in Campbell River.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 4% less than in Campbell River, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Campbell River 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$18.75 CA$26.05

-0.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$73.9 CA$103

-5.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$11.05 CA$15.36

-0.81%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.97 CA$5.52

-6.05%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$2.38 CA$3.31

-16.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.09 CA$1.51

57.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.09 CA$7.07

-1.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$6.43 CA$8.94

1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$3.02 CA$4.19

-26.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$3.23 CA$4.48

-17.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$5.18 CA$7.20

-37.07%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$4.32 CA$6.01

-22.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$8.46 CA$11.76

71.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$9.77 CA$13.57

32.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$15.63 CA$21.71

3.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$3.30 CA$4.58

30.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.59 CA$2.21

-15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.59 CA$4.98

6.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.74 CA$5.20

11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$3.84 CA$5.34

-30.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$3.01 CA$4.19

-8.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.78 CA$3.86

-0.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$2.74 CA$3.81

-28.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$15.40 CA$21.40

-2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$17.85 CA$24.80

-17.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.94 CA$5.47

-27.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$4.45 CA$6.18

-9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.45 CA$2.02

93.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$61.9 CA$86.0

39.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$2.83 CA$3.93

27.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.39 CA$1.93

-5.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$33.26 CA$46.21

-12.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.35 CA$1.88

-17.04%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.4K CA$35.3K

-2.11%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$21.3K CA$29.6K

3.26%

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

$217 CA$302

$54.4 CA$75.6

299.03%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$53.5 CA$74.3

-22.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$73.7 CA$102

-21.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$48.56 CA$67.5

12.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$10.91 CA$15.16

17.05%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$634 CA$881

37.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$14.0K CA$19.5K

13.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$45.58 CA$63.3

29.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$44.85 CA$62.3

3.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$75.3 CA$105

15.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$94.2 CA$131

15.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,552 CA$2,157

-8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,507 CA$2,094

-22.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$2,511 CA$3,489

-7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$2,289 CA$3,181

-17.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$2,365 CA$3,286

33.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.38

-10.50%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Campbell River: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,552 in Campbell River. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $74.0 in Campbell River for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $406 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

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 Campbell River: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 33% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,552 in Campbell River. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $74.0 in Campbell River. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,616 in Campbell River – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Campbell River. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.