Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Coquitlam Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Coquitlam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,989 in Coquitlam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Calgary versus $4,072 in Coquitlam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,850 in Calgary versus $5,155 in Coquitlam.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 19% less than in Coquitlam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 81% above, Coquitlam 122% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.20 CA$24.93

$14.90 CA$20.42

22.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$95.9

$52.5 CA$71.9

33.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.09

$10.11 CA$13.85

8.90%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.85 CA$5.27

-3.12%

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

$1.98 CA$2.71

$1.93 CA$2.64

2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$2.08 CA$2.85

-20.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 CA$7.22

$5.05 CA$6.92

4.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.11

$5.80 CA$7.95

14.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CA$2.94

$1.50 CA$2.06

43.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$3.13 CA$4.29

-14.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.66

$2.27 CA$3.10

49.78%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$4.09 CA$5.60

-19.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.07

$10.22 CA$14.00

43.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 CA$17.28

$16.21 CA$22.20

-22.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$22.10

$14.82 CA$20.31

8.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$4.37 CA$5.99

2.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.38 CA$1.90

-2.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$5.02 CA$6.88

-25.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$4.38 CA$6.01

-2.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.65

$1.60 CA$2.20

66.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$1.67 CA$2.29

56.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$3.14 CA$4.30

-12.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.60

$1.09 CA$1.49

74.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.52

$14.19 CA$19.44

5.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.59

$13.66 CA$18.71

4.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$3.85 CA$5.27

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$2.33 CA$3.19

70.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.28 CA$3.12

17.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 CA$120

$75.8 CA$104

16.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.88

$2.64 CA$3.62

35.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.51 CA$2.07

-11.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.30 CA$40.15

$25.11 CA$34.40

16.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$1.30 CA$1.78

-13.08%

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$25.0K CA$34.3K

0.33%

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

$22.2K CA$30.4K

$19.9K CA$27.3K

11.54%

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

$218 CA$299

$134 CA$183

62.96%

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

$41.44 CA$56.8

$37.41 CA$51.3

10.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CA$79.7

$59.5 CA$81.5

-2.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 CA$73.6

$27.83 CA$38.12

93.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.4 CA$71.8

$10.88 CA$14.90

381.43%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.34

$10.90 CA$14.94

16.15%

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

$885 CA$1,212

$1,245 CA$1,706

-28.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.0K

$12.3K CA$16.8K

30.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$79.6

$70.6 CA$96.7

-17.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 CA$66.1

$45.41 CA$62.2

6.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$97.1 CA$133

-8.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$146

$117 CA$160

-8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 CA$1,913

$2,017 CA$2,763

-30.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,625

$1,799 CA$2,465

-34.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 CA$3,142

$3,729 CA$5,109

-38.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CA$2,547

$2,697 CA$3,695

-31.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 CA$5,178

$6,134 CA$8,404

-38.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,509 CA$4,808

$5,149 CA$7,054

-31.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,117 CA$4,271

$3,177 CA$4,352

-1.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.61

-13.62%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 14, 2026

Last update for Coquitlam: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Calgary and $2,017 in Coquitlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coquitlam pays 2% 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 in Calgary vs $52 in Coquitlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $385 per month, with Coquitlam 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 Coquitlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Coquitlam earns 2% less. 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: $1,396 in Calgary versus $2,017 in Coquitlam. 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 $52.0 in Coquitlam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,433 per month in Calgary versus $2,989 in Coquitlam – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,989 in Coquitlam, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Coquitlam. 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 23% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.