Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Kamloops Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Kamloops

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,498 in Kamloops.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,660 in Kamloops.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,822 in Kamloops.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 1% less than in Kamloops, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Kamloops 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$21.94 CA$30.76

-16.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$65.5 CA$91.9

6.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$10.93 CA$15.33

0.18%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$4.19 CA$5.87

-10.74%

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

$2.04 CA$2.86

$2.61 CA$3.66

-21.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$2.01 CA$2.82

-16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$5.87 CA$8.23

-11.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$5.91 CA$8.29

13.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.77 CA$3.89

-18.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$2.50 CA$3.50

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$4.54 CA$6.37

-28.85%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.86 CA$5.42

-10.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$10.15 CA$14.24

41.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$13.25 CA$18.58

-2.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$15.32 CA$21.48

3.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$4.05 CA$5.67

6.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.69 CA$2.38

-20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$3.99 CA$5.59

-3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$4.08 CA$5.72

4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$2.67 CA$3.75

-4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.12 CA$2.97

23.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.84 CA$3.98

-1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.86 CA$2.61

4.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$16.40 CA$23.00

-8.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$12.60 CA$17.66

10.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$4.46 CA$6.26

-34.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$3.93 CA$5.51

-0.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$1.44 CA$2.02

90.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$37.21 CA$52.2

135.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$3.90 CA$5.47

-7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.67 CA$2.34

-22.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$12.95 CA$18.16

121.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.25 CA$1.75

-10.40%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$24.8K CA$34.7K

2.80%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$20.2K CA$28.4K

7.49%

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

$213 CA$299

$171 CA$239

24.68%

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

$40.96 CA$57.4

$49.84 CA$69.9

-17.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$71.7 CA$100

-19.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$55.4 CA$77.7

-2.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

$28.93 CA$40.56

85.79%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$12.00 CA$16.82

5.25%

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

$874 CA$1,226

$783 CA$1,097

11.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$4,102 CA$5,751

287.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$68.4 CA$95.9

-14.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$60.5 CA$84.8

-22.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$82.6 CA$116

2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$116 CA$163

-7.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$1,496 CA$2,097

-7.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$1,263 CA$1,771

-8.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$2,295 CA$3,217

1.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$1,917 CA$2,688

-0.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$5,069 CA$7,107

-25.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$3,824 CA$5,362

-8.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

$2,869 CA$4,023

2.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.69

-14.65%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kamloops: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,496 in Kamloops. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $66.0 in Kamloops. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $397, 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 Kamloops: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% 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 $1,496 in Kamloops. 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 Kamloops. 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 $2,498 in Kamloops – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,498 in Kamloops, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Kamloops. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Kamloops. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.