Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and High Level Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and High Level

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,298 in High Level.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,371 in High Level.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,445 in High Level.

Living in Calgary is roughly 7% more expensive than in High Level, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, High Level 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$17.25 CA$24.18

6.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$69.8 CA$97.9

0.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$10.84 CA$15.20

1.01%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$3.71 CA$5.21

0.81%

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

$2.04 CA$2.86

$2.05 CA$2.87

-0.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.63 CA$2.29

2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$5.55 CA$7.78

-6.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$5.83 CA$8.18

15.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.17 CA$3.05

3.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$2.69 CA$3.78

2.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$3.60 CA$5.05

-10.28%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.53 CA$4.94

-2.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$11.30 CA$15.85

27.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$11.76 CA$16.48

9.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$14.59 CA$20.45

8.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$4.09 CA$5.73

5.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.38 CA$1.93

-2.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$3.63 CA$5.09

6.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$3.68 CA$5.16

15.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$2.47 CA$3.46

3.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.49 CA$3.49

5.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.54 CA$3.56

10.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.70 CA$2.38

14.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$14.01 CA$19.64

6.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$13.79 CA$19.33

0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$2.91 CA$4.08

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$3.05 CA$4.28

28.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$2.42 CA$3.39

13.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$63.1 CA$88.5

39.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$3.12 CA$4.38

15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.47 CA$2.06

-11.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$26.17 CA$36.69

9.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.17 CA$1.64

-4.27%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$25.4K CA$35.7K

0.14%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$20.3K CA$28.5K

6.88%

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

$213 CA$299

$143 CA$200

49.25%

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

$40.96 CA$57.4

$43.91 CA$61.6

-6.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$63.7 CA$89.3

-9.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$42.43 CA$59.5

27.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$11.54 CA$16.18

9.45%

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

$874 CA$1,226

$731 CA$1,025

19.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.9K CA$16.8K

32.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$55.0 CA$77.1

6.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$39.76 CA$55.8

18.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$87.8 CA$123

-3.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$106 CA$148

1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$1,337 CA$1,874

3.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$1,196 CA$1,677

-3.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$2,031 CA$2,848

14.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$1,790 CA$2,510

6.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$3,689 CA$5,171

2.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$3,814 CA$5,347

-7.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

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 13, 2026

Last update for High Level: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,337 in High Level. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $70.0 in High Level. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $366, with High Level 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 High Level: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

High Level is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,693 in Calgary and $3,447 in High Level to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,337 in High Level. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in High Level – 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 $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,298 in High Level – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,298 in High Level versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in High Level but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes High Level 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.

Safety-wise, Calgary and High Level are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find High Level gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.