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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $4,047 in Iqaluit, NU.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $5,042 in Iqaluit, NU.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 17% less than in Iqaluit, NU, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Iqaluit, NU 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$31.29 CA$43.48

-40.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$65.7 CA$91.3

6.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$12.97 CA$18.03

-15.50%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$6.69 CA$9.30

-44.25%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$3.99 CA$5.55

-50.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.68 CA$2.34

2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$6.89 CA$9.57

-27.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$5.99 CA$8.33

8.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.44 CA$3.38

-9.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.69 CA$3.74

-0.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$3.00 CA$4.17

8.67%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$4.41 CA$6.13

-24.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$12.17 CA$16.91

19.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$13.62 CA$18.93

-4.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$24.77 CA$34.42

-34.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$2.03 CA$2.83

112.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$2.98 CA$4.13

-54.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$1.97 CA$2.73

94.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$2.03 CA$2.82

105.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.96 CA$4.12

-10.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$3.90 CA$5.42

-29.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.99 CA$4.15

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$3.55 CA$4.93

-45.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$14.43 CA$20.05

3.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$12.80 CA$17.79

14.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$1.46 CA$2.03

94.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$2.19 CA$3.04

83.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.35 CA$3.27

19.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$144 CA$200

-40.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$6.82 CA$9.47

-47.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$0.71 CA$0.98

85.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$25.47 CA$35.38

13.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.27 CA$1.77

-11.81%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$50.5K CA$70.2K

-50.81%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$45.7K CA$63.5K

-51.90%

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

$217 CA$302

$119 CA$165

82.85%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$54.3 CA$75.5

-23.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$56.3 CA$78.2

3.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$42.07 CA$58.5

30.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$22.02 CA$30.59

139.87%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$8.50 CA$11.82

50.24%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$1,019 CA$1,416

-14.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$3,997 CA$5,553

298.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$62.9 CA$87.3

-6.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$36.88 CA$51.2

26.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$103 CA$143

-15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$121 CA$168

-9.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,687 CA$2,344

-16.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,567 CA$2,177

-25.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$3,136 CA$4,357

-26.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$1,838 CA$2,554

2.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

$4,603 CA$6,395

-15.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

$3,811 CA$5,295

-8.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$4,299 CA$5,973

-26.74%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Iqaluit, NU: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,687 in Iqaluit, NU. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iqaluit, NU pays 37% 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 $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $414, 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Iqaluit, NU earns 37% less. 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,687 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 $66.0 in Iqaluit, NU. 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 $3,053 in Iqaluit, NU – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 21% less than in Iqaluit, NU. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.