Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Johnstown, PA

For one person, living is cheaper in Johnstown, PA: $1,657 a month against $2,255 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,255
/mo nomad
Johnstown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$1,657
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Johnstown, PA

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 Johnstown, PA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,255 in Calgary versus $1,657 in Johnstown, PA.

  • Calgary $2,255
  • Johnstown, PA $1,657

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Calgary versus $2,417 in Johnstown, PA.

  • Calgary $3,361
  • Johnstown, PA $2,417

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,468 in Calgary versus $3,177 in Johnstown, PA.

  • Calgary $4,468
  • Johnstown, PA $3,177

Living in Calgary is roughly 36% more expensive than in Johnstown, PA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 66% above, Johnstown, PA 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 CA$24.85
$13.58 $13.58
29.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 CA$97.6
$39.60 $39.60
74.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 CA$14.97
$7.19 $7.19
47.29%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.42
$6.34 $6.34
-39.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$2.72 $2.72
-29.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 CA$2.66
$2.60 $2.60
-27.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 CA$7.20
$3.93 $3.93
29.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 CA$7.97
$5.88 $5.88
-4.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 CA$2.82
$1.23 $1.23
62.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 CA$3.93
$1.39 $1.39
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.59 CA$7.90
$7.50 $7.50
-25.47%
Eggs
$3.70 CA$5.23
$5.32 $5.32
-30.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.48 CA$16.23
$16.56 $16.56
-30.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.20 CA$15.84
$4.65 $4.65
140.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.59 CA$26.28
$18.84 $18.84
-1.33%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 CA$6.64
$4.91 $4.91
-4.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.32 $1.32
9.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 CA$6.13
$6.42 $6.42
-32.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.79 CA$5.36
$2.82 $2.82
34.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.81
$0.96 $0.96
180.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 CA$3.88
$2.02 $2.02
36.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.56 CA$3.62
$2.14 $2.14
19.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 CA$2.12
$2.71 $2.71
-44.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.39 CA$20.34
$9.97 $9.97
44.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.81 CA$22.35
$15.03 $15.03
5.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 CA$3.49
$1.72 $1.72
43.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 CA$4.39
$4.98 $4.98
-37.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.81 CA$3.97
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.6 CA$128
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 CA$4.64
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.40 CA$1.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.49 CA$37.45
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.72
$0.96 $0.96
27.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K CA$40.1K
$28.1K $28.1K
0.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K CA$29.5K
$27.1K $27.1K
-23.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 CA$233
$147 $147
11.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.24 CA$54.1
$14.88 $14.88
156.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 CA$70.9
$69.5 $69.5
-27.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.8 CA$76.1
$36.40 $36.40
47.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.04 CA$25.51
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.04 CA$19.84
$9.26 $9.26
51.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 CA$1,126
$2,258 $2,258
-64.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K CA$22.3K
$60.2K $60.2K
-73.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 CA$83.5
$47.37 $47.37
24.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.20 CA$56.8
$36.50 $36.50
10.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.8 CA$128
$108 $108
-15.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$155
$122 $122
-10.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 CA$1,707
$643 $643
87.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,011 CA$1,429
$594 $594
70.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,949 CA$2,756
$900 $900
116.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 CA$2,371
$935 $935
79.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,532 CA$4,993
$829 $829
325.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,392 CA$4,795
$836 $836
305.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Johnstown, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,152 CA$4,456
$2,182 $2,182
44.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.51
6.72
-32.89%

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

Last update for Calgary: October 18, 2026

Last update for Johnstown, PA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1K
Johnstown, PA
$594 41.2% $417
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$392
Johnstown, PA
$376 4.1% $16
Eating Out
Calgary
$270
Johnstown, PA
$259 4.2% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$253
Johnstown, PA
$232 8.4% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$135
Johnstown, PA
$141 4.7% $6.4
Getting Around
Calgary
$112
Johnstown, PA
- * 100%
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$82
Johnstown, PA
$55 32.9% $27

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 $1,207 in Calgary and $643 in Johnstown, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 44% 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: $69.0 in Calgary vs $40.00 in Johnstown, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $376 per month, with Johnstown, PA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇺🇸 Johnstown, PA
🕒 Local time
19:28 7:28 PM
21:28 9:28 PM
2 h ahead of Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
22,269
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 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 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary Johnstown, PA 2,940 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Johnstown, PA

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 Johnstown, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnstown, PA cheaper than Calgary?
Johnstown, PA is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Johnstown, PA?
Average pay runs 44% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Johnstown, PA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,207 in Calgary versus $643 in Johnstown, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $797 in Calgary versus $2,258 in Johnstown, PA. 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 Johnstown, PA?
Dining out is cheaper in Johnstown, PA – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $69.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Calgary or in Johnstown, PA?
At $1,657 in Johnstown, PA versus $2,255 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Johnstown, PA but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Johnstown, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Johnstown, PA?
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 safer, Calgary or Johnstown, PA?
Safety-wise, Calgary and Johnstown, PA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Johnstown, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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