Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Canberra Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Canberra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,980 in Canberra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $4,172 in Canberra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $5,364 in Canberra.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 21% less than in Canberra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Canberra 116% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$20.20 A$28.16

-8.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$94.6 A$132

-24.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$11.03 A$15.38

-3.17%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$4.24 A$5.91

-7.31%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$3.31 A$4.62

-38.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$2.82 A$3.94

-30.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$8.72 A$12.16

-43.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$10.09 A$14.07

-41.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.66 A$2.32

22.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$3.46 A$4.83

-17.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$2.64 A$3.69

116.67%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$5.63 A$7.84

-32.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$14.40 A$20.08

-19.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$11.15 A$15.55

7.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$16.29 A$22.72

16.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$4.08 A$5.69

20.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$3.25 A$4.53

-56.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$3.70 A$5.15

17.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$5.10 A$7.11

-20.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$3.18 A$4.43

-14.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$2.89 A$4.03

-0.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.73 A$3.80

-5.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.45 A$2.02

2.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$46.77 A$65.2

-68.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$15.02 A$20.94

3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$4.80 A$6.69

-47.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$5.80 A$8.08

-43.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$3.51 A$4.90

-16.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$95.0 A$132

-5.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$4.12 A$5.75

-19.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.63 A$2.27

-15.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$44.00 A$61.4

-38.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.31 A$1.83

-6.87%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$28.1K A$39.2K

1.57%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$31.0K A$43.3K

-32.71%

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

$182 CA$253

$189 A$264

-3.52%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$28.38 A$39.57

39.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$58.6 A$81.6

-12.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$89.6 A$125

-38.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$28.52 A$39.77

-34.12%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$16.91 A$23.58

-14.13%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$2,492 A$3,475

-67.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$20.8K A$29.0K

-21.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$78.2 A$109

-20.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$57.9 A$80.7

-30.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$122 A$170

-22.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$138 A$192

-17.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$1,845 A$2,572

-31.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$1,576 A$2,197

-30.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$3,365 A$4,691

-40.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

$2,122 A$2,958

-19.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$11.5K A$16.1K

-68.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$7,639 A$10.7K

-55.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$4,447 A$6,201

-27.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

5.95

-24.71%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Canberra: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $1,845 in Canberra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Canberra pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $95.0 in Canberra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $422 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 Canberra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Canberra. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,256 in Calgary versus $1,845 in Canberra. 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 $71.0 versus $95.0 in Canberra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,980 in Canberra – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,980 in Canberra, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Canberra. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Calgary and Canberra are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Canberra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.