Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Joliette Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Joliette

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $1,745 in Joliette.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $2,663 in Joliette.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $3,581 in Joliette.

Living in Calgary is roughly 45% more expensive than Joliette, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Joliette 30% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.86

$18.09 CA$25.16

2.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.4

$56.3 CA$78.3

24.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

$11.13 CA$15.48

-1.53%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$2.56 CA$3.56

45.70%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$2.16 CA$3.00

-7.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.70 CA$2.37

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$4.39 CA$6.11

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.05

$6.66 CA$9.26

-2.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.29 CA$3.18

-3.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.62 CA$3.64

1.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.54

$3.19 CA$4.43

2.19%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$2.65 CA$3.68

26.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.16

$11.26 CA$15.66

28.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.01

$13.00 CA$18.08

-0.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.46

$16.06 CA$22.34

0.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.01

$4.16 CA$5.79

3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.34 CA$1.87

0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.50 CA$4.87

9.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.70 CA$5.14

12.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.56 CA$3.56

3.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$3.15 CA$4.37

-13.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$1.64 CA$2.29

68.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.52 CA$2.11

28.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$14.14 CA$19.66

5.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

$11.50 CA$15.99

27.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.52 CA$3.50

12.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$3.15 CA$4.38

27.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.43 CA$3.39

15.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$63.5 CA$88.4

35.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$2.81 CA$3.91

28.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.49 CA$2.08

-11.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$20.26 CA$28.17

43.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$0.96 CA$1.33

16.67%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$25.3K CA$35.2K

-1.81%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$22.3K CA$31.0K

-1.50%

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

$217 CA$302

$164 CA$228

32.47%

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

$41.55 CA$57.8

$43.84 CA$61.0

-5.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.8

$51.9 CA$72.1

11.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$42.53 CA$59.2

28.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.75

$11.15 CA$15.51

14.53%

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

$874 CA$1,215

$894 CA$1,244

-2.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$16.0K CA$22.3K

-0.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.8

$52.6 CA$73.1

11.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$40.97 CA$57.0

13.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$88.8 CA$123

-1.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$95.9 CA$133

13.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,966

$670 CA$932

110.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,630

$626 CA$870

87.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,225

$1,346 CA$1,872

72.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,623

$1,101 CA$1,531

71.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

$4,624 CA$6,431

-15.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

$4,348 CA$6,046

-19.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,380

$2,747 CA$3,820

14.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

5.48

4.20%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Joliette: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $670 in Joliette. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 15% 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 $56.0 in Joliette for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $361 per month, with Joliette 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 Joliette: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Joliette is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 15% more on average, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $670 in Joliette. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Joliette – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $1,745 in Joliette – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,745 in Joliette versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Joliette but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Joliette 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 Joliette 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 Joliette gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.