Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Golden, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Golden, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $1,796 in Golden, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $2,916 in Golden, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,037 in Golden, BC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 41% more expensive than Golden, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Golden, BC 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$18.43 CA$25.52

0.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$66.0 CA$91.3

6.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$11.25 CA$15.57

-2.58%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$4.38 CA$6.07

-14.84%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$2.25 CA$3.11

-11.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.72 CA$2.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$5.22 CA$7.23

-4.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$6.43 CA$8.90

1.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$1.20 CA$1.66

85.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.94 CA$4.07

-9.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$3.12 CA$4.32

4.49%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.58 CA$4.95

-6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$11.09 CA$15.36

30.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$14.95 CA$20.70

-13.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$20.08 CA$27.80

-19.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$3.83 CA$5.30

12.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.37 CA$1.89

-1.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$3.76 CA$5.21

1.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$4.02 CA$5.57

3.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$2.58 CA$3.57

2.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.98 CA$4.13

-8.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.69 CA$3.72

2.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.76 CA$2.43

10.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$14.53 CA$20.11

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$13.68 CA$18.94

7.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$2.43 CA$3.36

16.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$3.06 CA$4.24

31.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.40 CA$3.32

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$61.8 CA$85.5

39.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$3.03 CA$4.20

18.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.75 CA$2.43

-24.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$36.01 CA$49.85

-19.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.24 CA$1.72

-9.68%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$25.3K CA$35.0K

-1.74%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$20.2K CA$28.0K

8.85%

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

$217 CA$301

$50.7 CA$70.1

328.81%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$52.1 CA$72.1

-20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$65.7 CA$91.0

-11.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$43.91 CA$60.8

24.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$11.94 CA$16.53

6.95%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$728 CA$1,008

19.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$16.9K CA$23.4K

-5.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$52.1 CA$72.1

13.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$40.17 CA$55.6

15.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$84.0 CA$116

3.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$125 CA$174

-13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$871 CA$1,206

62.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$656 CA$908

78.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$1,528 CA$2,116

51.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,322 CA$1,830

42.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$4,016 CA$5,561

-3.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$3,776 CA$5,229

-7.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$3,210 CA$4,444

-1.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.53

-12.56%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Golden, BC: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $871 in Golden, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Golden, BC pays 2% 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 $66.0 in Golden, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $390 per month, with Golden, BC 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 Golden, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Golden, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Golden, BC earns 2% 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 $871 in Golden, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Golden, BC – a meal for two runs $66.0 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 $1,796 in Golden, BC – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,796 in Golden, BC versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Golden, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Golden, BC 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 Golden, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.