Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Humboldt Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Humboldt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,259 in Humboldt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $3,123 in Humboldt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $3,988 in Humboldt.

Living in Calgary is roughly 4% more expensive than in Humboldt, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Humboldt 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.74

$10.88 CA$15.00

64.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.3

$32.66 CA$45.03

115.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.74

$10.65 CA$14.68

0.38%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.22

$3.56 CA$4.91

6.46%

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

$2.00 CA$2.76

$2.11 CA$2.91

-5.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.72

$0.94 CA$1.30

110.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.16

$4.39 CA$6.05

18.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.08

$4.38 CA$6.03

33.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.69

$1.59 CA$2.19

22.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.89

$1.78 CA$2.45

58.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.74

$3.04 CA$4.20

84.54%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.17

$1.85 CA$2.55

102.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.86

$13.75 CA$18.96

-16.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.81

$11.89 CA$16.40

-3.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.14

$16.62 CA$22.92

14.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.66

$4.17 CA$5.75

15.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.50 CA$2.07

-8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.86

$4.05 CA$5.58

4.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.72

$3.69 CA$5.09

12.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.73

$2.30 CA$3.17

17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.90

$2.35 CA$3.25

20.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.64

$2.75 CA$3.79

-4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.08

$2.03 CA$2.80

-25.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.14

$15.00 CA$20.68

-2.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.73

$13.54 CA$18.67

16.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.58

$3.49 CA$4.81

-25.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.25

$3.48 CA$4.80

-11.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.04

$2.16 CA$2.97

35.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$123

$61.2 CA$84.4

45.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.58

$3.57 CA$4.92

-7.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.97

$0.80 CA$1.11

78.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.21

$21.41 CA$29.52

29.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.06 CA$1.46

18.87%

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

$28.9K CA$39.9K

$28.8K CA$39.8K

0.32%

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

$21.3K CA$29.4K

$20.6K CA$28.4K

3.61%

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

$183 CA$252

$122 CA$168

50.25%

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

$38.31 CA$52.8

$52.4 CA$72.2

-26.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.3

$57.7 CA$79.6

-10.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.7

$44.81 CA$61.8

22.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.73

$21.15 CA$29.16

-11.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.66

$9.53 CA$13.14

49.63%

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

$828 CA$1,142

$488 CA$672

69.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$21.9K

$10.7K CA$14.8K

48.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.1

$53.2 CA$73.3

11.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.4

$39.09 CA$53.9

0.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$130

$96.4 CA$133

-2.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$110 CA$151

2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,744

$1,258 CA$1,734

0.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,450

$1,277 CA$1,760

-17.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,667

$2,157 CA$2,975

-10.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,344

$1,947 CA$2,685

-12.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,075

$4,310 CA$5,943

-14.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,597

$3,406 CA$4,697

-2.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,518

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

4.58

-3.93%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Humboldt: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $1,258 in Humboldt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $33.00 in Humboldt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $367 per month, with Humboldt 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 Humboldt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Humboldt is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,530 in Calgary and $3,388 in Humboldt 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,258 in Humboldt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Humboldt – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $2,259 in Humboldt – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,259 in Humboldt versus $2,353 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Humboldt but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Humboldt 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 Humboldt 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 Humboldt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.