Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Hearst Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Hearst

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,481 in Calgary versus $2,336 in Hearst.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,599 in Calgary versus $3,406 in Hearst.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Calgary versus $4,476 in Hearst.

Living in Calgary is roughly 6% more expensive than in Hearst, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Hearst 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.64 CA$26.12

$17.18 CA$24.07

8.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$98.5

$70.5 CA$98.7

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 CA$15.78

$11.07 CA$15.51

1.72%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.19

$3.70 CA$5.18

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

$2.05 CA$2.88

$2.04 CA$2.86

0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.71 CA$2.40

-2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 CA$7.37

$5.44 CA$7.63

-3.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.44

$6.00 CA$8.40

12.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.17 CA$3.04

2.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.86

$2.72 CA$3.81

1.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 CA$4.60

$3.63 CA$5.09

-9.64%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.77

$3.39 CA$4.75

0.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 CA$20.25

$11.24 CA$15.75

28.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.58 CA$17.63

$11.54 CA$16.17

9.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.85 CA$22.20

$14.97 CA$20.97

5.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 CA$6.19

$4.14 CA$5.80

6.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.36 CA$1.90

-1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.38

$3.74 CA$5.24

2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$6.07

$3.72 CA$5.21

16.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.57

$2.52 CA$3.53

0.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$2.54 CA$3.56

7.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.64 CA$3.70

1.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.66

$1.77 CA$2.48

7.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.75

$13.70 CA$19.20

8.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 CA$20.22

$13.68 CA$19.17

5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$2.89 CA$4.05

1.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$3.06 CA$4.29

30.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.79

$2.33 CA$3.26

15.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.3 CA$124

$63.7 CA$89.2

38.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 CA$4.80

$3.24 CA$4.54

5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.49 CA$2.08

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.41 CA$39.82

$26.10 CA$36.57

8.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.16 CA$1.63

-3.45%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$25.3K CA$35.4K

-1.49%

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

$21.7K CA$30.4K

$20.6K CA$28.8K

5.65%

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

$210 CA$295

$143 CA$200

47.23%

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

$41.33 CA$57.9

$44.36 CA$62.2

-6.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CA$81.1

$62.6 CA$87.7

-7.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 CA$77.5

$41.69 CA$58.4

32.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.2 CA$73.2

$14.81 CA$20.75

252.73%

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.47

$11.46 CA$16.06

8.81%

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

$886 CA$1,242

$733 CA$1,028

20.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.4K

$11.9K CA$16.7K

33.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 CA$82.8

$53.5 CA$74.9

10.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.08 CA$66.0

$39.55 CA$55.4

19.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 CA$122

$86.0 CA$121

1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$153

$106 CA$149

2.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 CA$1,982

$1,325 CA$1,857

6.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,654

$1,200 CA$1,681

-1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,374 CA$3,327

$2,034 CA$2,850

16.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CA$2,599

$1,838 CA$2,575

0.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,755 CA$5,262

$3,673 CA$5,147

2.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,479 CA$4,875

$3,193 CA$4,474

8.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 CA$4,253

$3,185 CA$4,463

-4.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Last update for Hearst: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in Calgary and $1,325 in Hearst. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hearst pays 5% 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 $70.0 in Hearst. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $368, with Hearst 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 Hearst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hearst is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Hearst. 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: $1,415 in Calgary versus $1,325 in Hearst. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Hearst – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,481 per month in Calgary versus $2,336 in Hearst – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,336 in Hearst versus $2,481 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hearst but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Hearst 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 Hearst gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.