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: $2,462 in Calgary versus $1,899 in Fredericton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $2,913 in Fredericton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,926 in Fredericton.

Living in Calgary is roughly 30% more expensive than in Fredericton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Fredericton 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$14.98 CA$21.00

22.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$54.3 CA$76.2

28.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$11.16 CA$15.65

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$4.03 CA$5.65

-7.20%

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

$2.04 CA$2.86

$2.59 CA$3.63

-21.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$2.12 CA$2.97

-21.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$5.13 CA$7.19

1.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$5.42 CA$7.60

23.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$1.96 CA$2.75

14.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$2.88 CA$4.03

-4.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$2.98 CA$4.18

8.39%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.62 CA$5.08

-4.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$11.54 CA$16.18

24.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$9.63 CA$13.51

33.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$8.64 CA$12.12

83.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$4.92 CA$6.89

-12.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.59 CA$2.23

-15.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$3.95 CA$5.54

-2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$5.64 CA$7.91

-24.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$1.85 CA$2.59

37.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$1.56 CA$2.19

67.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.53 CA$3.55

10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.57 CA$2.21

24.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$11.87 CA$16.64

26.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$11.98 CA$16.79

16.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$3.25 CA$4.56

-10.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$4.68 CA$6.56

-16.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$2.15 CA$3.01

27.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$58.2 CA$81.5

50.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$5.76 CA$8.07

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.77 CA$2.49

-26.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$44.76 CA$62.8

-35.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.27 CA$1.78

-11.81%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$24.9K CA$34.9K

2.41%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$20.1K CA$28.1K

8.41%

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

$213 CA$299

$136 CA$190

57.07%

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

$40.96 CA$57.4

$56.5 CA$79.2

-27.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$77.6 CA$109

-25.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$41.11 CA$57.6

31.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

$26.18 CA$36.70

105.31%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$11.06 CA$15.51

14.20%

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

$874 CA$1,226

$596 CA$836

46.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$1,758 CA$2,465

803.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$52.7 CA$73.8

11.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$41.44 CA$58.1

13.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$81.3 CA$114

4.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$85.7 CA$120

25.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$1,110 CA$1,556

24.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$797 CA$1,117

45.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$1,799 CA$2,522

29.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$1,520 CA$2,131

25.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$1,885 CA$2,642

100.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$1,887 CA$2,646

86.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

$2,383 CA$3,341

23.35%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Fredericton: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,110 in Fredericton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 23% 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 $54.0 in Fredericton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 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 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 23% 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,110 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 $54.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $1,899 in Fredericton – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,899 in Fredericton versus $2,462 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 30% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.