Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Inuvik Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Inuvik

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,404 in Inuvik.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $3,542 in Inuvik.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $4,679 in Inuvik.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 3% less than in Inuvik, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Inuvik 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.74

$24.44 CA$34.20

-27.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$89.0 CA$125

-20.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$10.84 CA$15.17

0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$3.67 CA$5.14

4.90%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$2.03 CA$2.84

-3.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.62 CA$2.27

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$5.26 CA$7.36

-5.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.25

$5.82 CA$8.14

1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$2.09 CA$2.93

-11.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$3.71 CA$5.18

-26.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.60

$5.47 CA$7.66

-0.55%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$3.39 CA$4.74

7.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$15.25 CA$21.33

-24.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$12.52 CA$17.52

-7.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.50

$18.36 CA$25.68

3.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$4.15 CA$5.80

19.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.25 CA$1.75

13.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$3.72 CA$5.21

13.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$5.34 CA$7.46

-23.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.64 CA$3.69

-3.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$2.95 CA$4.12

-4.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$3.29 CA$4.60

-21.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.60 CA$2.23

-3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.41

$14.33 CA$20.05

1.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$12.57 CA$17.58

24.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.72 CA$3.81

-5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$3.13 CA$4.38

3.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$2.28 CA$3.19

29.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$63.3 CA$88.5

43.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$4.23 CA$5.92

-25.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$1.50 CA$2.10

-7.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.70

$24.13 CA$33.75

14.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.62 CA$2.27

-22.84%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

$28.5K CA$39.9K

-0.75%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$19.6K CA$27.5K

8.39%

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

$178 CA$249

$138 CA$192

29.29%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$39.07 CA$54.7

0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$56.9 CA$79.7

-10.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.5

$41.39 CA$57.9

32.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

$18.36 CA$25.68

2.23%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$11.22 CA$15.69

29.68%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$782 CA$1,094

3.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$12.7K CA$17.7K

29.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$53.9 CA$75.4

10.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$38.45 CA$53.8

4.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$85.9 CA$120

7.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$103 CA$144

9.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$1,270 CA$1,776

1.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,424

$1,142 CA$1,597

-10.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,766

$1,987 CA$2,780

-0.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$1,735 CA$2,427

0.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

$4,316 CA$6,037

-17.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

$3,600 CA$5,036

-6.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,495

$3,800 CA$5,316

-15.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.66

-3.86%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Inuvik: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,270 in Inuvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Inuvik pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $89.0 in Inuvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $418 per month, with Calgary 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 Inuvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Inuvik. 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: $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,270 in Inuvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $89.0 in Inuvik. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,404 in Inuvik – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,404 in Inuvik, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Inuvik. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Inuvik. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.