Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Marathon Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Marathon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,404 in Marathon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,402 in Marathon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $4,401 in Marathon.

Living in Calgary is roughly 5% more expensive than Marathon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Marathon 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$18.52 CA$25.86

-0.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$60.0 CA$83.7

16.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$12.44 CA$17.37

-12.54%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.79 CA$5.30

-2.64%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$1.88 CA$2.63

7.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.46 CA$2.04

19.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

$5.40 CA$7.54

-1.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$5.07 CA$7.08

32.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.45 CA$3.42

-8.98%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.52 CA$3.52

6.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$2.55 CA$3.56

31.37%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$2.87 CA$4.01

16.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$8.77 CA$12.25

64.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$16.53 CA$23.08

-24.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$16.06 CA$22.42

1.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$3.43 CA$4.78

24.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.15 CA$1.60

17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.30 CA$4.60

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$3.16 CA$4.42

31.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.59 CA$3.62

-1.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$0.97 CA$1.36

176.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$3.02 CA$4.21

-11.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.13 CA$1.57

66.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$9.06 CA$12.66

61.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$12.59 CA$17.58

13.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

$1.66 CA$2.32

77.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$2.76 CA$3.86

40.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.32 CA$3.24

16.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$63.2 CA$88.2

38.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$3.29 CA$4.59

5.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.44 CA$2.01

-9.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$25.59 CA$35.74

10.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.15 CA$1.61

-5.22%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$24.7K CA$34.6K

1.11%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$20.5K CA$28.7K

8.20%

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

$211 CA$295

$200 CA$279

5.79%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$43.96 CA$61.4

-8.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$81.7 CA$114

-28.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$42.72 CA$59.7

25.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$10.84 CA$15.13

16.61%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$734 CA$1,025

17.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$11.7K CA$16.4K

36.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$59.0 CA$82.4

-1.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$36.75 CA$51.3

28.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$77.2 CA$108

10.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$141 CA$197

-24.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,289 CA$1,800

9.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,163 CA$1,625

-0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,991 CA$2,781

19.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,818 CA$2,539

2.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$4,374 CA$6,108

-12.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$3,900 CA$5,447

-11.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$1,824 CA$2,547

70.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.19

-7.75%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for Marathon: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,289 in Marathon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 70% 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 $60.0 in Marathon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $356 per month, with Marathon 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 Marathon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marathon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 70% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,289 in Marathon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Marathon – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,404 in Marathon – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,404 in Marathon versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Marathon but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Marathon 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 Marathon 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 Marathon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.