Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Islip, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Islip, NY: $1,268 a month against $2,223 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Calgary outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,223
/mo nomad
Islip, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$1,268
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Islip, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Calgary and in Islip, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Calgary versus $1,268 in Islip, NY.

  • Calgary $2,223
  • Islip, NY $1,268

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,301 in Calgary versus $2,210 in Islip, NY.

  • Calgary $3,301
  • Islip, NY $2,210

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,379 in Calgary versus $3,153 in Islip, NY.

  • Calgary $4,379
  • Islip, NY $3,153

Living in Calgary is roughly 75% more expensive than in Islip, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Calgary is 65% above, Islip, NY is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22 CA$24.34
$26.16 $26.16
-34.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 CA$100
$119 $119
-40.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 CA$14.89
$14.20 $14.20
-25.85%
Cappuccino
$3.66 CA$5.18
$5.27 $5.27
-30.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 CA$2.80
$2.93 $2.93
-32.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$2.35 $2.35
-17.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 CA$7.00
$8.32 $8.32
-40.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 CA$7.87
$10.13 $10.13
-45.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 CA$2.65
$1.38 $1.38
36.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CA$3.78
$4.47 $4.47
-40.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.32 CA$7.52
$4.29 $4.29
24.01%
Eggs
$3.79 CA$5.35
$5.07 $5.07
-25.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.09 CA$15.68
$18.96 $18.96
-41.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 CA$16.05
$17.69 $17.69
-35.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.40 CA$26.01
$16.64 $16.64
10.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 CA$6.45
$4.26 $4.26
7.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.04
$1.33 $1.33
8.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 CA$5.76
$2.21 $2.21
84.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.89 CA$5.50
$2.89 $2.89
34.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$1.70 $1.70
55.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$2.25 $2.25
17.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 CA$3.54
$1.56 $1.56
60.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$1.12 $1.12
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05 CA$19.86
$15.19 $15.19
-7.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.70 CA$22.20
$12.76 $12.76
23.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$2.39 $2.39
2.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 CA$4.37
$3.90 $3.90
-20.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$4.52 $4.52
-37.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.6 CA$125
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 CA$4.41
$3.07 $3.07
1.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$2.20 $2.20
-38.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.02 CA$38.20
$42.03 $42.03
-35.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.64
$1.12 $1.12
3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.5K
$35.2K $35.2K
-20.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.8K
$26.1K $26.1K
-21.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 CA$227
$79.8 $79.8
101.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.13 CA$53.9
$70.5 $70.5
-45.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.0 CA$70.7
$70.4 $70.4
-28.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 CA$72.8
$59.4 $59.4
-13.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14 CA$25.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 CA$19.54
$16.13 $16.13
-14.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$786 CA$1,111
$3,352 $3,352
-76.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K CA$21.8K
$59.7K $59.7K
-74.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 CA$82.4
$45.57 $45.57
27.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.27 CA$55.5
$27.03 $27.03
45.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 CA$127
$76.0 $76.0
18.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$88.9 $88.9
23.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,229 CA$1,737
$2,025 $2,025
-39.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,001 CA$1,415
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 CA$2,716
$3,391 $3,391
-43.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 CA$2,292
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,549 CA$5,018
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,335 CA$4,715
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Islip, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,165 CA$4,474
$4,012 $4,012
-21.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
6.63
-31.98%

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

Last update for Calgary: October 13, 2026

Last update for Islip, NY: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1K
Islip, NY
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$385
Islip, NY
$418 8.6% $33
Eating Out
Calgary
$265
Islip, NY
$398 50.3% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$249
Islip, NY
$221 11.4% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$134
Islip, NY
$107 20.1% $27
Getting Around
Calgary
$110
Islip, NY
$32 * 70.7% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$79
Islip, NY
$92 15.9% $13

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Calgary and $2,025 in Islip, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Islip, NY pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $119 in Islip, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $418 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇺🇸 Islip, NY
🕒 Local time
03:26 3:26 AM
05:26 5:26 AM
2 h ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
339,938
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary Islip, NY 3,310 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Islip, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Islip, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Islip, NY cheaper than Calgary?
Islip, NY is cheaper overall, especially in clothing and transport. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Islip, NY?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Islip, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Islip, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,229 in Calgary versus $2,025 in Islip, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $786 in Calgary versus $3,352 in Islip, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Islip, NY?
Dining out is cheaper in Islip, NY – a meal for two runs $119 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Islip, NY?
At $1,268 in Islip, NY versus $2,223 in Calgary, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Islip, NY but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Islip, NY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Islip, NY?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Islip, NY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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