Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Laval Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Laval

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,284 in Laval.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,105 in Laval.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $3,925 in Laval.

Living in Calgary is roughly 10% more expensive than Laval, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Laval 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$16.22 CA$22.64

13.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$73.5 CA$103

-5.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$11.21 CA$15.66

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$4.05 CA$5.66

-8.89%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$2.06 CA$2.88

-1.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.73 CA$2.41

0.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$6.01 CA$8.40

-11.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$6.56 CA$9.16

2.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.40 CA$3.35

-7.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.86 CA$3.99

-6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$3.28 CA$4.59

1.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$11.07 CA$15.47

30.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$12.70 CA$17.74

-1.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$15.22 CA$21.25

7.29%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$4.23 CA$5.91

1.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.69 CA$2.36

-20.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$4.08 CA$5.70

-8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$4.42 CA$6.18

-5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.48 CA$3.46

3.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.66 CA$3.72

0.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.18 CA$3.04

22.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.57 CA$2.19

19.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$13.08 CA$18.26

12.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$12.02 CA$16.78

18.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$2.51 CA$3.50

17.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$3.10 CA$4.33

25.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.89 CA$4.03

-6.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$85.1 CA$119

3.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$3.03 CA$4.22

14.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.42 CA$1.99

-8.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$19.95 CA$27.86

41.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.18 CA$1.65

-7.63%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$25.5K CA$35.6K

-1.85%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$21.5K CA$30.1K

3.22%

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

$211 CA$295

$105 CA$146

101.35%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$43.82 CA$61.2

-7.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$46.50 CA$64.9

25.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$30.33 CA$42.35

77.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$11.07 CA$15.45

14.18%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$712 CA$994

21.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$5,761 CA$8,046

178.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$54.9 CA$76.7

5.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$44.81 CA$62.6

5.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$103 CA$144

-17.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$118 CA$165

-10.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,192 CA$1,664

18.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,095 CA$1,529

5.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,676 CA$2,340

41.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,239 CA$1,731

50.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$3,034 CA$4,237

26.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$2,592 CA$3,620

19.81%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Laval: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,192 in Laval. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 20% 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 $73.0 in Laval. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $374, with Laval 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 Laval: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Laval is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 20% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,192 in Laval. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Laval – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,284 in Laval – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,284 in Laval versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Laval but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Laval 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 Laval gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.