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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,363 in High Level.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,362 in High Level.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,361 in High Level.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, High Level 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$16.89 CA$23.39

10.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$70.7 CA$97.9

-0.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$10.94 CA$15.14

0.18%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$3.76 CA$5.21

-0.80%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.67 CA$2.31

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$5.60 CA$7.75

-10.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$5.85 CA$8.10

11.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$2.09 CA$2.90

6.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.61 CA$3.62

2.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$3.64 CA$5.03

-10.44%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.48 CA$4.82

-3.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$10.99 CA$15.22

31.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$11.64 CA$16.12

11.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$14.67 CA$20.31

10.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$3.95 CA$5.47

9.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.41 CA$1.95

-4.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$3.66 CA$5.07

4.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$3.84 CA$5.31

8.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$2.51 CA$3.47

5.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.50 CA$3.46

9.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.62 CA$3.63

5.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.77 CA$2.45

10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$13.78 CA$19.08

8.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$11.82 CA$16.37

24.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$2.80 CA$3.87

1.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$3.04 CA$4.21

32.24%

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

$61.9 CA$85.8

39.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$3.24 CA$4.49

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.48 CA$2.05

-10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$25.67 CA$35.54

13.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.15 CA$1.60

-2.61%

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

$21.0K CA$29.1K

4.60%

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

$217 CA$301

$140 CA$194

54.73%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$43.21 CA$59.8

-3.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$63.1 CA$87.4

-8.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$41.85 CA$57.9

30.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$11.57 CA$16.02

10.37%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$723 CA$1,002

20.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$11.8K CA$16.3K

35.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$55.1 CA$76.2

6.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$39.43 CA$54.6

17.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$86.3 CA$119

1.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$108 CA$150

0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,327 CA$1,837

6.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$1,185 CA$1,640

-1.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$2,025 CA$2,804

14.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,805 CA$2,500

4.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$4,894 CA$6,776

-20.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$4,084 CA$5,654

-14.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for High Level: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,327 in High Level. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $71.0 in High Level. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $361, 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 $3,785 in Calgary and $3,545 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,327 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 $71.0 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 $2,363 in High Level – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,363 in High Level versus $2,523 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.