Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Fort Frances, Ontario Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Fort Frances, Ontario

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,265 in Fort Frances, Ontario.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,436 in Fort Frances, Ontario.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,607 in Fort Frances, Ontario.

Living in Calgary is roughly 11% more expensive than Fort Frances, Ontario, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Fort Frances, Ontario 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.86

$18.49 CA$25.71

0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.4

$58.5 CA$81.3

19.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

$12.48 CA$17.35

-12.18%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.60 CA$5.01

3.61%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$1.80 CA$2.51

10.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.48 CA$2.06

16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.19 CA$7.22

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.05

$5.18 CA$7.20

25.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.46 CA$3.43

-9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.48 CA$3.45

7.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.54

$3.41 CA$4.74

-4.40%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.72 CA$5.17

-9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.16

$17.70 CA$24.61

-18.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.01

$13.06 CA$18.16

-0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.46

$11.45 CA$15.93

41.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.01

$3.47 CA$4.82

24.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.32 CA$1.84

2.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.95 CA$5.49

-3.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.64 CA$5.06

14.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.71 CA$3.77

-2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.14 CA$2.97

28.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$3.08 CA$4.29

-10.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.45 CA$2.02

34.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$10.89 CA$15.15

37.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

$11.94 CA$16.61

22.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.13 CA$2.97

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$2.23 CA$3.10

80.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.43 CA$3.39

15.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$63.1 CA$87.8

36.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$3.40 CA$4.73

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.44 CA$2.01

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$26.26 CA$36.52

10.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$24.7K CA$34.3K

0.84%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$20.3K CA$28.2K

8.48%

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

$217 CA$302

$107 CA$148

103.86%

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

$41.55 CA$57.8

$17.66 CA$24.56

135.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.8

$55.7 CA$77.4

4.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$41.64 CA$57.9

31.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.75

$13.29 CA$18.48

-3.91%

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

$874 CA$1,215

$747 CA$1,039

16.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$11.9K CA$16.5K

33.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.8

$59.3 CA$82.4

-0.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$36.26 CA$50.4

28.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$74.9 CA$104

16.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$140 CA$194

-22.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,966

$800 CA$1,113

76.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,630

$1,189 CA$1,653

-1.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,225

$1,713 CA$2,382

35.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,623

$2,159 CA$3,003

-12.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

$5,043 CA$7,014

-22.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

$4,375 CA$6,084

-19.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,380

$3,656 CA$5,084

-13.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

42.75%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Fort Frances, Ontario: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $800 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Frances, Ontario pays 16% 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 $58.0 in Fort Frances, Ontario for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $371 per month, with Fort Frances, Ontario 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 Fort Frances, Ontario: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Frances, Ontario is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Fort Frances, Ontario earns 16% 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $800 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Fort Frances, Ontario – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,265 in Fort Frances, Ontario – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,265 in Fort Frances, Ontario versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Fort Frances, Ontario but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Frances, Ontario 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 Fort Frances, Ontario gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.