Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Canmore Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Canmore

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $3,031 in Canmore.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $4,684 in Canmore.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $6,337 in Canmore.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 23% less than in Canmore, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Canmore 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$17.92 CA$24.86

2.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$68.2 CA$94.6

4.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$12.37 CA$17.16

-13.66%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$4.19 CA$5.81

-6.21%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$1.79 CA$2.49

12.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$2.12 CA$2.94

-7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$7.07 CA$9.80

-30.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$5.87 CA$8.14

0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$2.15 CA$2.98

-5.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.49 CA$3.45

14.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$4.50 CA$6.24

27.11%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.40 CA$4.71

12.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$10.50 CA$14.56

10.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$12.50 CA$17.33

-4.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$13.32 CA$18.48

42.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$3.51 CA$4.87

39.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.37 CA$1.89

3.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$2.71 CA$3.76

60.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$4.63 CA$6.42

-12.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$3.58 CA$4.97

-24.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$3.05 CA$4.23

-5.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.95 CA$4.10

-12.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.78 CA$2.47

-16.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$11.90 CA$16.50

23.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$14.67 CA$20.35

6.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$3.19 CA$4.43

-21.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$3.83 CA$5.32

-14.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$2.19 CA$3.04

34.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$31.29 CA$43.39

187.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$3.59 CA$4.98

-8.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$2.83 CA$3.92

-51.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$44.24 CA$61.4

-38.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.04 CA$1.44

17.31%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$28.7K CA$39.8K

-0.46%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$23.0K CA$31.9K

-9.21%

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

$182 CA$253

$279 CA$388

-34.72%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$53.0 CA$73.5

-25.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$70.4 CA$97.6

-26.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$51.5 CA$71.5

6.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$10.93 CA$15.16

71.91%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$14.30 CA$19.84

1.54%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$907 CA$1,259

-9.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$3,621 CA$5,021

351.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$47.87 CA$66.4

29.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$45.71 CA$63.4

-12.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$77.8 CA$108

21.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$89.4 CA$124

27.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$1,578 CA$2,189

-20.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$1,665 CA$2,309

-34.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$3,442 CA$4,774

-42.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

$3,635 CA$5,042

-53.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$6,578 CA$9,123

-44.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$6,037 CA$8,373

-43.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$3,273 CA$4,539

-0.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.85

-7.63%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Canmore: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $1,578 in Canmore. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Canmore pays 1% 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 $68.0 in Canmore for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $375 per month, with Canmore 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 Canmore: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Canmore. 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 $1,578 in Canmore. 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 $68.0 in Canmore. 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 $3,031 in Canmore – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,344 in Calgary versus $3,031 in Canmore, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Canmore. 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.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Canmore. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.