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: $2,353 in Calgary versus $1,646 in Lloydminster.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $2,555 in Lloydminster.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $3,465 in Lloydminster.

Living in Calgary is roughly 43% more expensive than in Lloydminster, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Lloydminster 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.82

$15.66 CA$21.67

14.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.6

$66.5 CA$92.0

6.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.79

$9.56 CA$13.22

11.82%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.24

$3.70 CA$5.12

2.43%

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

$2.00 CA$2.77

$1.66 CA$2.29

20.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$1.79 CA$2.48

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.18

$4.38 CA$6.07

18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.11

$4.45 CA$6.16

31.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.98 CA$2.75

-1.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$2.20 CA$3.04

28.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.77

$5.06 CA$7.00

10.87%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.19

$3.45 CA$4.77

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.91

$9.94 CA$13.75

15.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.86

$11.97 CA$16.56

-4.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.23

$13.12 CA$18.15

44.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.69

$3.88 CA$5.36

24.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.44 CA$2.00

-4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.88

$3.12 CA$4.32

36.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.74

$3.32 CA$4.59

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.74

$2.94 CA$4.07

-8.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.91

$2.19 CA$3.03

29.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.65

$2.22 CA$3.07

18.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.45 CA$2.01

4.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.21

$14.83 CA$20.52

-1.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.80

$14.15 CA$19.58

11.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.59

$2.93 CA$4.05

-11.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.26

$3.51 CA$4.86

-12.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$124

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.59

$4.39 CA$6.08

-24.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$0.82 CA$1.13

74.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.34

$14.66 CA$20.28

89.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.02 CA$1.41

23.53%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$28.5K CA$39.4K

1.63%

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

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$21.0K CA$29.1K

1.46%

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

$183 CA$253

$195 CA$270

-6.16%

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

$38.31 CA$53.0

$50.9 CA$70.4

-24.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.5

$58.2 CA$80.5

-11.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.9

$43.89 CA$60.7

24.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.82

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.73

$10.62 CA$14.70

34.27%

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

$828 CA$1,146

$505 CA$698

64.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.0K

$15.0K CA$20.8K

5.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.4

$45.81 CA$63.4

30.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.6

$29.40 CA$40.68

34.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$85.5 CA$118

10.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$111 CA$153

1.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,750

$748 CA$1,035

69.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,454

$584 CA$809

79.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,676

$1,190 CA$1,647

62.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,352

$1,097 CA$1,517

55.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,092

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,533

$2,816 CA$3,897

16.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

4.8

-8.33%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Lloydminster: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $748 in Lloydminster. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 16% 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 $66.0 in Lloydminster for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $351 per month, with Lloydminster 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 Lloydminster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lloydminster is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $748 in Lloydminster. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $828 in Calgary versus $505 in Lloydminster. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lloydminster – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,646 in Lloydminster versus $2,353 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 43% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.