Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Jasper Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Jasper

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,263 in Jasper.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,238 in Jasper.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,212 in Jasper.

Living in Calgary is roughly 9% more expensive than in Jasper, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Jasper 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$11.00 CA$15.48

66.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$54.9 CA$77.3

27.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.92 CA$15.37

0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.72 CA$5.24

0.54%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.60 CA$3.65

-21.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.65 CA$2.32

1.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.58 CA$7.85

-6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$6.02 CA$8.48

11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.21 CA$3.11

1.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.69 CA$3.78

2.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.61 CA$5.08

-10.53%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.43 CA$4.83

0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$11.32 CA$15.93

27.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$11.92 CA$16.77

8.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$14.84 CA$20.88

6.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.95 CA$5.55

8.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.42 CA$2.00

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.57 CA$5.03

7.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.77 CA$5.31

12.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.43 CA$3.42

4.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.55 CA$3.59

2.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.59 CA$3.64

8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.73 CA$2.44

12.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.07 CA$19.79

6.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$17.73 CA$24.94

-21.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.94 CA$4.14

-0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.15 CA$4.43

24.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.40 CA$3.38

14.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$61.8 CA$86.9

42.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.14 CA$4.42

14.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.47 CA$2.07

-11.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$25.56 CA$35.97

12.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.16 CA$1.63

-3.45%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

0.02%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.6K CA$29.0K

5.67%

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

$213 CA$300

$143 CA$201

49.30%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$43.51 CA$61.2

-5.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$61.9 CA$87.1

-6.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$42.46 CA$59.8

27.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$11.25 CA$15.83

12.27%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$723 CA$1,018

20.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.9K CA$16.7K

33.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$54.8 CA$77.2

6.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$39.24 CA$55.2

19.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$86.7 CA$122

-1.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$106 CA$149

1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,336 CA$1,880

3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,161 CA$1,633

-0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$2,007 CA$2,823

15.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,828 CA$2,572

4.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$4,368 CA$6,146

-13.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$3,657 CA$5,145

-4.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$1,648 CA$2,319

78.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Jasper: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,336 in Jasper. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 78% 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 $55.0 in Jasper for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $377 per month, with Jasper 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 Jasper: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jasper is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 78% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,336 in Jasper. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Jasper – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. 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 $2,263 in Jasper – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,263 in Jasper versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Jasper but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Jasper 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 Jasper 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 Jasper gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.