Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Fredericton Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Fredericton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $1,957 in Fredericton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $2,944 in Fredericton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $3,931 in Fredericton.

Living in Calgary is roughly 29% more expensive than Fredericton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Fredericton 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$14.75 CA$20.43

26.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$55.4 CA$76.7

26.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$10.83 CA$14.99

1.20%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$3.93 CA$5.44

-5.09%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$2.59 CA$3.59

-23.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$2.05 CA$2.84

-16.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$5.02 CA$6.94

-0.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$5.43 CA$7.51

19.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$1.89 CA$2.61

17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.94 CA$4.07

-9.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$2.97 CA$4.11

9.76%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.65 CA$5.06

-8.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$11.68 CA$16.17

24.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$9.45 CA$13.08

37.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$8.77 CA$12.14

84.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$4.90 CA$6.79

-11.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.61 CA$2.22

-16.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$3.97 CA$5.50

-3.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$5.39 CA$7.47

-22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$1.87 CA$2.59

41.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$1.62 CA$2.25

69.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.52 CA$3.49

9.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.58 CA$2.19

23.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$11.96 CA$16.56

25.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$12.46 CA$17.25

17.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$3.28 CA$4.55

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$4.83 CA$6.69

-16.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.26 CA$3.13

23.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$59.9 CA$83.0

43.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$6.04 CA$8.36

-40.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.70 CA$2.35

-22.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$43.45 CA$60.2

-33.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.25 CA$1.74

-10.40%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

0.97%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$20.2K CA$28.0K

8.60%

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

$217 CA$301

$133 CA$183

63.90%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$56.4 CA$78.1

-26.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$78.6 CA$109

-26.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$41.17 CA$57.0

32.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

$26.90 CA$37.25

96.36%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$11.09 CA$15.35

15.15%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$611 CA$846

42.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$1,786 CA$2,473

792.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$51.8 CA$71.7

13.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$40.90 CA$56.6

13.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$82.8 CA$115

5.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$86.0 CA$119

26.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,086 CA$1,503

30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$809 CA$1,120

44.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$1,783 CA$2,469

30.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,508 CA$2,088

25.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$1,945 CA$2,693

100.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$1,950 CA$2,701

79.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$2,426 CA$3,359

29.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.44

-11.34%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Fredericton: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,086 in Fredericton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 30% 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 $55.0 in Fredericton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $349 per month, with Fredericton 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 Fredericton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fredericton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 30% 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,086 in Fredericton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Fredericton – a meal for two runs $55.0 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 $1,957 in Fredericton – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,957 in Fredericton versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Fredericton but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Fredericton 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 Fredericton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.