Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Lloydminster Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Lloydminster

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,299 in Lloydminster.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,353 in Lloydminster.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,408 in Lloydminster.

Living in Calgary is roughly 7% more expensive than in Lloydminster, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Lloydminster 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$12.54 CA$17.64

46.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$73.0 CA$103

-4.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.29 CA$14.48

6.41%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$2.51 CA$3.53

49.00%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.51 CA$2.12

35.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.18 CA$1.66

41.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.54 CA$7.80

-6.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$4.45 CA$6.27

50.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$1.93 CA$2.72

16.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.80 CA$3.94

-1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$5.32 CA$7.48

-39.29%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.51 CA$4.94

-1.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$9.38 CA$13.20

53.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$10.82 CA$15.23

19.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$12.30 CA$17.31

28.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.23 CA$4.55

33.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.76 CA$2.47

-23.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$2.65 CA$3.72

45.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.22 CA$4.53

31.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.23 CA$3.14

14.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.27 CA$3.20

15.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$1.43 CA$2.01

95.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$0.91 CA$1.28

114.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.71 CA$20.70

1.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$14.03 CA$19.74

-0.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.28 CA$4.62

-10.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.32 CA$4.67

17.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.41 CA$3.39

13.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$63.9 CA$89.8

37.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.57 CA$5.03

0.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.27 CA$1.79

2.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$14.89 CA$20.95

92.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.05 CA$1.48

6.67%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.4K CA$35.8K

0.22%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.6K CA$29.0K

5.37%

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

$213 CA$300

$206 CA$290

3.16%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$57.8 CA$81.3

-29.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

-0.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$42.55 CA$59.9

27.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$14.78 CA$20.79

-14.55%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$533 CA$750

64.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$14.9K CA$21.0K

6.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$43.88 CA$61.7

33.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$57.8 CA$81.3

-18.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$91.4 CA$129

-6.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$115 CA$161

-6.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$800 CA$1,126

72.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,201 CA$1,690

-3.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,210 CA$1,702

92.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,811 CA$2,548

5.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,695 CA$3,792

9.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.65

-14.14%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lloydminster: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $800 in Lloydminster. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 9% 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 Lloydminster. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $334, with Lloydminster 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 Lloydminster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lloydminster is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 9% 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 $800 in Lloydminster. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lloydminster – 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 $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,299 in Lloydminster – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,299 in Lloydminster versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lloydminster but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Lloydminster 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 Lloydminster 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 Lloydminster gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.