Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Cedar Rapids, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Cedar Rapids, IA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $1,999 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,042 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,086 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Living in Calgary is roughly 23% more expensive than in Cedar Rapids, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Cedar Rapids, IA 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$15.05 $15.05

21.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$68.6 $68.6

1.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.60 $10.60

3.30%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$5.27 $5.27

-29.03%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.96 $1.96

4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.48 $1.48

12.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$4.48 $4.48

16.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$6.17 $6.17

8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$0.82 $0.82

174.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.92 $2.92

-5.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$4.54 $4.54

-28.85%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.09 $3.09

11.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$14.04 $14.04

2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$10.97 $10.97

17.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$16.19 $16.19

-2.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$4.53 $4.53

-5.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.21 $1.21

10.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$5.26 $5.26

-26.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$4.75 $4.75

-10.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.63 $2.63

-3.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.34 $2.34

11.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.04 $2.04

37.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.96 $1.96

-0.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$9.10 $9.10

64.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$11.11 $11.11

25.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.16 $2.16

35.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.25 $3.25

20.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$1.72 $1.72

59.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$30.48 $30.48

188.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.41 $3.41

5.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.91 $1.91

-31.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$42.71 $42.71

-32.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$0.83 $0.83

34.94%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.8K $24.8K

2.85%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$25.5K $25.5K

-14.61%

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

$213 CA$300

$209 $209

2.03%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$51.4 $51.4

-20.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$70.9 $70.9

-18.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$99.4 $99.4

-45.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$12.61 $12.61

0.16%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$962 $962

-9.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$24.2K $24.2K

-34.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$61.5 $61.5

-4.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$48.68 $48.68

-3.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$103 $103

-17.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$134 $134

-19.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,112 $1,112

24.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$730 $730

58.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,760 $1,760

32.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,216 $1,216

56.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$1,533 $1,533

147.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$1,533 $1,533

129.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$3,726 $3,726

-21.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.49

-12.02%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,112 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cedar Rapids, IA pays 27% 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 $69.0 in Cedar Rapids, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $372 per month, with Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Cedar Rapids, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cedar Rapids, IA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,112 in Cedar Rapids, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $1,999 in Cedar Rapids, IA – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,999 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cedar Rapids, IA but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Cedar Rapids, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.