Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Fairfield, CT

For one person, living is cheaper in Calgary: $2,255 a month against $2,624 in Fairfield, CT, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Fairfield, CT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,624
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Fairfield, CT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Calgary and in Fairfield, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,255 in Calgary versus $2,624 in Fairfield, CT.

  • Calgary $2,255
  • Fairfield, CT $2,624

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Calgary versus $3,865 in Fairfield, CT.

  • Calgary $3,361
  • Fairfield, CT $3,865

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,468 in Calgary versus $5,106 in Fairfield, CT.

  • Calgary $4,468
  • Fairfield, CT $5,106

Living in Calgary costs roughly 14% less than in Fairfield, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 66% above, Fairfield, CT 94% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 CA$24.85
$19.72 $19.72
-10.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 CA$97.6
$73.7 $73.7
-6.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 CA$14.97
$11.48 $11.48
-7.75%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.42
$5.63 $5.63
-31.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$2.45 $2.45
-21.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 CA$2.66
$1.79 $1.79
5.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 CA$7.20
$5.88 $5.88
-13.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 CA$7.97
$7.04 $7.04
-19.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 CA$2.82
$1.01 $1.01
98.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 CA$3.93
$3.55 $3.55
-21.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.59 CA$7.90
$4.38 $4.38
27.63%
Eggs
$3.70 CA$5.23
$4.25 $4.25
-12.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.48 CA$16.23
$12.61 $12.61
-8.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.20 CA$15.84
$11.70 $11.70
-4.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.59 CA$26.28
$17.14 $17.14
8.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 CA$6.64
$4.32 $4.32
8.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.54 $1.54
-5.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 CA$6.13
$3.85 $3.85
12.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.36
$4.37 $4.37
-13.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.81
$2.91 $2.91
-7.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 CA$3.88
$2.70 $2.70
1.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CA$3.62
$2.12 $2.12
20.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$2.35 $2.35
-36.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.39 CA$20.34
$8.85 $8.85
62.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.81 CA$22.35
$15.52 $15.52
1.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 CA$3.49
$1.97 $1.97
25.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 CA$4.39
$3.14 $3.14
-1.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 CA$3.97
$2.03 $2.03
38.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.6 CA$128
$70.0 $70.0
29.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 CA$4.64
$3.28 $3.28
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 CA$1.97
$1.71 $1.71
-18.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.49 CA$37.45
$30.28 $30.28
-12.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$1.14 $1.14
7.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K CA$40.1K
$30.4K $30.4K
-6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K CA$29.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-20.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 CA$233
$197 $197
-16.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.24 CA$54.1
$58.0 $58.0
-34.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 CA$70.9
$70.6 $70.6
-28.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.8 CA$76.1
$42.03 $42.03
28.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.04 CA$25.51
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.04 CA$19.84
$14.29 $14.29
-1.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 CA$1,126
$1,424 $1,424
-44.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K CA$22.3K
$23.3K $23.3K
-32.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 CA$83.5
$52.6 $52.6
12.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.20 CA$56.8
$40.95 $40.95
-1.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 CA$128
$88.4 $88.4
2.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$155
$115 $115
-4.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 CA$1,707
$1,567 $1,567
-22.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,011 CA$1,429
$1,290 $1,290
-21.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,949 CA$2,756
$2,545 $2,545
-23.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 CA$2,371
$2,184 $2,184
-23.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,532 CA$4,993
$2,337 $2,337
51.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,392 CA$4,795
$2,221 $2,221
52.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Fairfield, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,152 CA$4,456
$4,993 $4,993
-36.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
6
-24.83%

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

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Last update for Fairfield, CT: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1K
Fairfield, CT
$1.3K 27.6% $279
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$392
Fairfield, CT
$394 0.6% $2.3
Eating Out
Calgary
$270
Fairfield, CT
$320 18.4% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$253
Fairfield, CT
$326 28.7% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$135
Fairfield, CT
$134 0.9% $1.2
Getting Around
Calgary
$112
Fairfield, CT
$90 19.8% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$82
Fairfield, CT
$71 13.8% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,207 in Calgary and $1,567 in Fairfield, CT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fairfield, CT pays 58% 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: $69.0 in Calgary vs $74.0 in Fairfield, CT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $394 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇺🇸 Fairfield, CT
🕒 Local time
14:40 2:40 PM
16:40 4:40 PM
2 h ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
117,133
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary Fairfield, CT 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Fairfield, CT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Fairfield, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairfield, CT cheaper than Calgary?
Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Fairfield, CT?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Fairfield, CT. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Fairfield, CT?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,207 in Calgary versus $1,567 in Fairfield, CT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Fairfield, CT?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $74.0 in Fairfield, CT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Calgary and in Fairfield, CT?
All in, you'll spend $2,255 per month in Calgary versus $2,624 in Fairfield, CT – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Fairfield, CT?
At $2,255 in Calgary versus $2,624 in Fairfield, CT, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Fairfield, CT. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Fairfield, CT?
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.
Which city is safer, Calgary or Fairfield, CT?
Safety-wise, Calgary and Fairfield, CT are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Fairfield, CT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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