Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Delta, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Delta, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,677 in Delta, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $4,056 in Delta, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $5,435 in Delta, BC.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 12% less than in Delta, BC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Delta, BC 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.76

$20.11 CA$27.76

-10.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.4

$70.8 CA$97.8

-0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.75

$9.11 CA$12.58

17.34%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.23

$4.59 CA$6.34

-17.43%

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

$2.00 CA$2.76

$2.44 CA$3.37

-18.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$1.79 CA$2.47

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.17

$5.84 CA$8.06

-11.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.09

$6.44 CA$8.89

-9.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.84 CA$2.54

5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.90

$2.35 CA$3.24

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.75

$3.02 CA$4.17

85.76%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.18

$4.04 CA$5.58

-7.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.88

$14.06 CA$19.41

-18.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.83

$14.27 CA$19.70

-19.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.16

$25.06 CA$34.60

-24.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.67

$4.00 CA$5.52

20.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.23 CA$1.69

11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.86

$4.32 CA$5.96

-1.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.73

$4.67 CA$6.44

-11.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.73

$2.93 CA$4.05

-7.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.90

$3.51 CA$4.85

-19.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.64

$2.38 CA$3.29

10.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$2.19 CA$3.02

-31.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.16

$14.49 CA$20.00

0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.75

$12.87 CA$17.77

22.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.59

$2.06 CA$2.85

26.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.25

$2.49 CA$3.44

23.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.04

$2.89 CA$3.99

1.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$123

$84.9 CA$117

5.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.58

$3.01 CA$4.15

10.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.97

$1.50 CA$2.08

-4.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.25

$26.51 CA$36.60

4.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.29 CA$1.78

-2.33%

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

$28.9K CA$39.9K

$28.0K CA$38.7K

3.31%

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

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$20.1K CA$27.8K

6.01%

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

$183 CA$253

$124 CA$172

47.14%

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

$38.31 CA$52.9

$37.66 CA$52.0

1.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.3

$53.6 CA$74.0

-3.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.7

$28.84 CA$39.80

90.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.76

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.68

$12.48 CA$17.23

14.26%

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

$828 CA$1,144

$663 CA$915

25.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.0K

$10.8K CA$15.0K

46.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.2

$64.4 CA$88.9

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.5

$53.9 CA$74.3

-26.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$130

$83.0 CA$115

13.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$79.5 CA$110

41.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,746

$1,681 CA$2,320

-24.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,451

$1,486 CA$2,052

-29.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,670

$3,494 CA$4,823

-44.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,347

$2,483 CA$3,428

-31.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,080

$3,809 CA$5,258

-3.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,602

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,523

$3,138 CA$4,332

4.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

4.76

-7.56%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Delta, BC: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $1,681 in Delta, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $71.0 in Delta, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $419 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 Delta, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Calgary, 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,681 in Delta, BC. 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 $71.0 in Delta, BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $2,677 in Delta, BC – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,677 in Delta, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Delta, BC. 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 14% less than in Delta, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.