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: $2,344 in Calgary versus $1,996 in Fredericton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $3,037 in Fredericton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $4,078 in Fredericton.

Living in Calgary is roughly 17% more expensive than in Fredericton, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Fredericton 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$16.27 CA$22.57

13.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$65.1 CA$90.3

9.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$12.87 CA$17.85

-17.02%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$4.24 CA$5.88

-7.31%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.67 CA$3.70

-24.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$2.19 CA$3.04

-10.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$5.62 CA$7.80

-12.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$5.15 CA$7.14

14.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.76 CA$2.44

15.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.88 CA$3.99

-0.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$2.54 CA$3.52

125.20%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.80 CA$5.27

0.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$11.52 CA$15.98

0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$9.71 CA$13.47

23.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$10.55 CA$14.64

79.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$4.74 CA$6.58

3.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.58 CA$2.20

-10.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$4.75 CA$6.59

-8.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$5.32 CA$7.38

-24.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.67 CA$3.70

1.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$1.53 CA$2.12

88.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.24 CA$3.11

14.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.63 CA$2.26

-8.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$11.48 CA$15.92

28.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$12.15 CA$16.85

28.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$3.11 CA$4.32

-18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$4.49 CA$6.23

-27.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$2.11 CA$2.92

39.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$58.8 CA$81.6

52.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$2.94 CA$4.08

12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.40 CA$1.94

-2.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$21.65 CA$30.02

25.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.24 CA$1.71

-1.61%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$28.5K CA$39.6K

0.10%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$19.5K CA$27.1K

6.90%

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

$182 CA$253

$130 CA$180

40.29%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$73.1 CA$101

-45.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$73.5 CA$102

-30.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$40.46 CA$56.1

35.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$26.10 CA$36.20

-28.01%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$10.98 CA$15.23

32.24%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$589 CA$817

38.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$1,750 CA$2,427

833.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$51.1 CA$70.8

21.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$40.80 CA$56.6

-1.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$77.7 CA$108

21.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$83.2 CA$115

36.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$1,144 CA$1,586

9.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$884 CA$1,226

23.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$1,855 CA$2,572

7.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

$1,475 CA$2,045

15.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$1,902 CA$2,638

90.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$1,942 CA$2,694

75.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$2,388 CA$3,313

35.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.77

-6.08%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Fredericton: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $1,144 in Fredericton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 36% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $65.0 in Fredericton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $354 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 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 36% 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: $1,256 in Calgary versus $1,144 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 $65.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $1,996 in Fredericton – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,996 in Fredericton versus $2,344 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 17% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.