Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Lethbridge, AB Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Lethbridge, AB

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $3,246 in Lethbridge, AB.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $4,277 in Lethbridge, AB.

Living in Calgary is roughly 6% more expensive than in Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Lethbridge, AB 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.58

$21.91 CA$30.46

-19.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.0

$69.7 CA$96.9

2.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.08

$12.37 CA$17.20

-12.29%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.36

$4.19 CA$5.83

-8.11%

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

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.76 CA$2.45

10.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.49

$2.09 CA$2.91

-14.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.90

$5.06 CA$7.03

-1.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.20

$5.62 CA$7.82

4.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.56

$2.25 CA$3.13

-18.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.80

$2.53 CA$3.51

7.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.56

$4.57 CA$6.36

19.04%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.04

$3.38 CA$4.70

7.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.05

$10.42 CA$14.48

10.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.09

$12.45 CA$17.30

-7.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.33

$13.39 CA$18.61

41.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.88

$3.38 CA$4.70

46.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.36 CA$1.89

4.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.87

$2.80 CA$3.90

50.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.68

$4.72 CA$6.56

-13.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.55

$3.67 CA$5.10

-30.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.92

$3.18 CA$4.42

-11.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$3.21 CA$4.46

-19.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.15

$1.80 CA$2.50

-13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.28

$11.93 CA$16.59

22.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.69

$14.64 CA$20.35

6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.59

$3.30 CA$4.59

-21.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.49

$3.90 CA$5.43

-17.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.12

$2.19 CA$3.05

35.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$71.2 CA$98.9

28.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.40

$3.62 CA$5.03

-12.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$2.82 CA$3.91

-50.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.46

$43.82 CA$60.9

-36.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.74

$1.07 CA$1.49

16.82%

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

$28.3K CA$39.4K

$28.9K CA$40.2K

-2.04%

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

$21.3K CA$29.6K

$23.1K CA$32.1K

-7.80%

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

$178 CA$247

$278 CA$387

-36.16%

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

$39.31 CA$54.6

$52.8 CA$73.4

-25.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$70.8

$69.8 CA$97.1

-27.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$46.19 CA$64.2

18.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.09

$14.24 CA$19.79

31.81%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.23

$14.58 CA$20.26

-0.21%

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

$812 CA$1,128

$881 CA$1,225

-7.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$22.8K

$3,644 CA$5,066

350.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$82.6

$48.90 CA$68.0

21.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.1

$52.4 CA$72.9

-23.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$128

$78.0 CA$108

18.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$157

$118 CA$164

-4.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,785

$1,023 CA$1,422

25.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,415

$774 CA$1,077

31.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,749

$1,455 CA$2,023

35.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,428

$1,287 CA$1,790

35.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,963

$5,666 CA$7,877

-36.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,669

$2,111 CA$2,934

59.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,467

$3,029 CA$4,211

6.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.85

-7.63%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,023 in Lethbridge, AB. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 6% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $70.0 in Lethbridge, AB for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $379 per month, with Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lethbridge, AB is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 6% 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: $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,023 in Lethbridge, AB. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lethbridge, AB – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,216 in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lethbridge, AB but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB 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 Lethbridge, AB gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.