Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Gatineau Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Gatineau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,074 in Gatineau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $3,119 in Gatineau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $4,164 in Gatineau.

Living in Calgary is roughly 13% more expensive than in Gatineau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Gatineau 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$12.81 CA$17.76

44.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$87.6 CA$122

-18.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$11.01 CA$15.27

-3.00%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$3.22 CA$4.47

22.05%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$1.39 CA$1.93

45.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.34 CA$1.86

47.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$4.37 CA$6.06

12.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$6.69 CA$9.27

-11.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.94 CA$2.69

4.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.91 CA$4.04

-1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$5.28 CA$7.32

8.33%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$3.28 CA$4.55

16.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$11.92 CA$16.53

-3.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$10.27 CA$14.25

16.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$11.05 CA$15.33

71.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$4.09 CA$5.67

20.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.91 CA$2.65

-25.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$4.95 CA$6.86

-11.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$4.77 CA$6.62

-15.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.11 CA$2.92

28.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$2.50 CA$3.47

15.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.20 CA$3.05

16.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$2.70 CA$3.75

-44.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$12.52 CA$17.37

17.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$12.50 CA$17.33

24.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.87 CA$3.98

-12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$3.45 CA$4.78

-5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$3.32 CA$4.60

-11.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$83.4 CA$116

7.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$5.10 CA$7.08

-35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$2.40 CA$3.33

-42.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$33.14 CA$45.96

-18.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.19 CA$1.65

2.52%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

0.08%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$19.6K CA$27.2K

6.32%

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

$182 CA$253

$117 CA$162

56.02%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$36.76 CA$51.0

7.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$49.45 CA$68.6

3.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$47.78 CA$66.3

14.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$30.11 CA$41.75

-37.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$10.93 CA$15.16

32.85%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$563 CA$780

45.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$70.5 CA$97.7

-12.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$43.89 CA$60.9

-8.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$89.7 CA$124

5.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$123 CA$171

-7.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$1,122 CA$1,556

11.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$953 CA$1,321

14.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$1,845 CA$2,559

8.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

$1,503 CA$2,085

13.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$5,174 CA$7,176

-29.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$6,244 CA$8,659

-45.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$2,692 CA$3,733

20.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.64

-3.45%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Gatineau: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $1,122 in Gatineau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 21% 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 $88.0 in Gatineau. Groceries flip the comparison at $401 vs $377, with Gatineau cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gatineau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gatineau is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 21% 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 $1,122 in Gatineau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gatineau – a meal for two runs $88.0 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 $2,074 in Gatineau – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,074 in Gatineau versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gatineau but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Gatineau 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 Gatineau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.