Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Iqaluit, NU Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Iqaluit, NU

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $4,109 in Iqaluit, NU.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $5,176 in Iqaluit, NU.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 19% less than in Iqaluit, NU, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Iqaluit, NU 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$31.86 CA$44.83

-42.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$67.5 CA$94.9

3.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$13.19 CA$18.56

-16.98%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$6.80 CA$9.56

-45.00%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$3.93 CA$5.53

-48.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.68 CA$2.36

-0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$6.69 CA$9.42

-22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.74 CA$8.08

16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.44 CA$3.44

-7.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.70 CA$3.80

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$2.89 CA$4.07

11.76%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$4.48 CA$6.30

-22.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$12.15 CA$17.09

18.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$13.61 CA$19.15

-5.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$25.53 CA$35.93

-37.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$1.96 CA$2.76

119.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$2.95 CA$4.16

-54.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$1.98 CA$2.79

94.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$2.02 CA$2.84

110.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.94 CA$4.14

-13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$4.04 CA$5.69

-35.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$3.03 CA$4.26

-7.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$3.60 CA$5.07

-45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$13.96 CA$19.64

7.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$12.07 CA$16.98

15.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$1.51 CA$2.12

93.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$2.22 CA$3.13

76.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.30 CA$3.24

19.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$145 CA$204

-39.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$6.47 CA$9.11

-44.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$0.72 CA$1.02

80.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$26.24 CA$36.92

9.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.31 CA$1.85

-14.50%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$49.4K CA$69.5K

-48.41%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$45.7K CA$64.3K

-52.43%

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

$213 CA$300

$118 CA$167

79.87%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$56.1 CA$79.0

-27.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$55.8 CA$78.5

3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$41.48 CA$58.4

30.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$22.06 CA$31.03

143.65%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$8.50 CA$11.96

48.59%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$989 CA$1,392

-11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$3,940 CA$5,545

302.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$62.5 CA$88.0

-6.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$36.72 CA$51.7

28.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$101 CA$142

-15.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$122 CA$172

-11.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,709 CA$2,404

-19.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,615 CA$2,272

-28.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$3,034 CA$4,269

-23.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,786 CA$2,514

6.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$4,270 CA$6,008

-11.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$3,563 CA$5,014

-1.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$4,212 CA$5,927

-30.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

8.1

-29.51%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 43% 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $416, with Calgary 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 Iqaluit, NU: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Iqaluit, NU. 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,709 in Iqaluit, NU. 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 $70.0 versus $67.0 in Iqaluit, NU. 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 $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $3,041 in Iqaluit, NU, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Iqaluit, NU. 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 24% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.