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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $2,975 in Lethbridge, AB.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $3,941 in Lethbridge, AB.

Living in Calgary is roughly 26% more expensive than Lethbridge, AB, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Lethbridge, AB 50% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.86

$18.57 CA$25.82

0.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.4

$69.3 CA$96.4

1.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.24

$11.15 CA$15.51

-1.70%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.61 CA$5.02

3.32%

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

$1.99 CA$2.77

$1.60 CA$2.23

24.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.40

$1.75 CA$2.43

-1.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.25 CA$7.30

-4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.05

$6.17 CA$8.57

5.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.13 CA$2.96

4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.39 CA$3.32

11.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.54

$3.41 CA$4.74

-4.40%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.31 CA$4.60

1.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.16

$12.25 CA$17.03

18.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$18.01

$12.57 CA$17.48

3.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.46

$12.47 CA$17.35

29.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.01

$4.21 CA$5.86

2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.28 CA$1.78

5.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.78 CA$5.26

1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$4.35 CA$6.04

-3.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.59 CA$3.60

2.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.68 CA$3.72

2.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.77 CA$3.85

-0.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.95 CA$2.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.83

$14.70 CA$20.45

1.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.40

$13.10 CA$18.21

11.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$2.27 CA$3.16

25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.59

$2.93 CA$4.07

37.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.90

$2.16 CA$3.01

29.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$56.7 CA$78.9

51.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.01

$3.59 CA$4.99

0.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.36 CA$1.89

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.35

$29.17 CA$40.56

-0.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.07 CA$1.49

4.67%

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

$24.9K CA$34.6K

$25.5K CA$35.4K

-2.45%

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

$22.0K CA$30.6K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

6.00%

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

$217 CA$302

$207 CA$288

4.70%

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

$41.55 CA$57.8

$41.74 CA$58.1

-0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.8

$59.6 CA$82.8

-2.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.1

$46.10 CA$64.1

18.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.5

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.75

$11.60 CA$16.13

10.09%

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

$874 CA$1,215

$860 CA$1,196

1.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.2K

$16.0K CA$22.3K

-0.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.8

$44.42 CA$61.8

32.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$47.14 CA$65.6

-1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$87.8 CA$122

-0.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$107 CA$149

1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,966

$975 CA$1,356

45.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,630

$777 CA$1,081

50.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,225

$1,378 CA$1,916

68.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,623

$1,277 CA$1,776

47.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,413

$5,677 CA$7,896

-31.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,872

$2,056 CA$2,860

70.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,380

$3,048 CA$4,239

3.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lethbridge, AB: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $975 in Lethbridge, AB. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 3% 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 $69.0 in Lethbridge, AB for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $366 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 3% 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 $975 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 $69.0 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 $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,010 in Lethbridge, AB versus $2,523 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 26% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.