Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Charlottetown Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Charlottetown

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,023 in Charlottetown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,039 in Charlottetown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $4,055 in Charlottetown.

Living in Calgary is roughly 24% more expensive than Charlottetown, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Charlottetown 51% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$14.68 CA$20.50

25.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$59.7 CA$83.3

16.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$8.97 CA$12.53

21.29%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.85 CA$5.38

-4.16%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$1.75 CA$2.44

16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.32 CA$1.84

31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.75 CA$8.03

-7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$6.02 CA$8.40

11.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$1.98 CA$2.76

12.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.85 CA$3.98

-5.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$4.12 CA$5.75

-18.69%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$4.07 CA$5.68

-18.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$12.79 CA$17.86

12.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$14.50 CA$20.25

-13.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$16.21 CA$22.64

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$4.09 CA$5.71

4.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.63 CA$2.28

-17.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.77 CA$5.26

-0.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$5.57 CA$7.77

-25.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.10 CA$2.94

21.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.11 CA$2.95

27.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.68 CA$3.74

-0.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.89 CA$2.63

-0.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$18.63 CA$26.01

-21.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$14.02 CA$19.58

1.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$3.23 CA$4.52

-8.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$3.30 CA$4.61

17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$1.48 CA$2.07

83.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$14.52 CA$20.28

503.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$8.04 CA$11.23

-56.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$2.09 CA$2.92

-37.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$28.95 CA$40.42

-2.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.25 CA$1.74

-12.80%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-1.18%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$20.9K CA$29.2K

6.36%

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

$211 CA$295

$131 CA$183

61.02%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$37.89 CA$52.9

6.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$83.3 CA$116

-29.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$54.7 CA$76.4

-1.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

$14.83 CA$20.71

262.91%

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$10.99 CA$15.35

15.01%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$163 CA$228

429.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$11.8K CA$16.5K

35.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$41.79 CA$58.4

38.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$34.77 CA$48.55

35.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$86.9 CA$121

-1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$135 CA$189

-21.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,123 CA$1,568

26.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$890 CA$1,243

29.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,720 CA$2,402

37.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,450 CA$2,025

28.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$3,275 CA$4,574

17.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$2,007 CA$2,803

71.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$2,502 CA$3,495

24.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for Charlottetown: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,123 in Charlottetown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 24% 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $60.0 in Charlottetown. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $408, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

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 Charlottetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charlottetown is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 24% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,123 in Charlottetown. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Charlottetown – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,023 in Charlottetown – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,023 in Charlottetown versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Charlottetown but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Charlottetown 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 Charlottetown gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.