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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,363 in Lloydminster.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,324 in Lloydminster.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,284 in Lloydminster.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Lloydminster 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$12.50 CA$17.37

48.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$74.7 CA$104

-6.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$10.50 CA$14.59

4.38%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$2.50 CA$3.48

49.20%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.45 CA$2.01

37.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.18 CA$1.64

45.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$5.67 CA$7.88

-11.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$4.45 CA$6.18

46.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$1.93 CA$2.68

15.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.78 CA$3.87

-3.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$5.42 CA$7.53

-39.85%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.59 CA$4.99

-6.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$9.33 CA$12.96

55.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$10.87 CA$15.11

19.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$12.31 CA$17.10

31.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$3.23 CA$4.49

33.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.69 CA$2.34

-20.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$2.55 CA$3.54

50.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$3.16 CA$4.38

32.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$2.17 CA$3.01

22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.29 CA$3.19

19.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$1.43 CA$1.99

93.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$0.94 CA$1.31

107.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$14.33 CA$19.92

4.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$14.17 CA$19.69

3.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.35 CA$4.66

-15.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$3.28 CA$4.56

22.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$2.34 CA$3.26

19.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$62.0 CA$86.2

38.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$3.49 CA$4.85

3.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.27 CA$1.77

3.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$14.74 CA$20.48

96.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.05 CA$1.46

6.67%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-1.54%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$20.1K CA$27.9K

9.36%

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

$217 CA$302

$206 CA$286

5.41%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$59.7 CA$82.9

-30.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$59.7 CA$83.0

-2.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$41.79 CA$58.1

30.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$14.71 CA$20.44

-13.19%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$524 CA$728

66.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$15.0K CA$20.9K

6.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$43.62 CA$60.6

34.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$57.6 CA$80.1

-19.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$91.9 CA$128

-5.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$116 CA$161

-6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$781 CA$1,086

80.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$1,159 CA$1,611

1.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$1,185 CA$1,646

95.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$1,813 CA$2,518

4.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$2,787 CA$3,873

12.98%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lloydminster: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $781 in Lloydminster. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 13% 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 $75.0 in Lloydminster. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 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.

Calgary pays 13% 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 $781 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 $75.0 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 $2,363 in Lloydminster – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,363 in Lloydminster versus $2,523 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.