Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Meadow Lake, SK Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Meadow Lake, SK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,485 in Meadow Lake, SK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,527 in Meadow Lake, SK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,568 in Meadow Lake, SK.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 1% less than in Meadow Lake, SK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Meadow Lake, SK 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$16.01 CA$22.53

14.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$88.1 CA$124

-20.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.26 CA$14.43

6.73%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.69 CA$5.20

1.36%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.51 CA$3.53

-18.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$2.02 CA$2.84

-17.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$4.16 CA$5.85

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.97 CA$8.40

12.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$1.24 CA$1.75

81.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.82 CA$3.97

-2.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$5.41 CA$7.62

-40.30%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.57 CA$5.02

-3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$8.79 CA$12.37

63.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$12.28 CA$17.28

4.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$16.36 CA$23.02

-3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.73 CA$5.24

15.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.69 CA$2.38

-20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$4.82 CA$6.78

-20.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.23 CA$4.54

31.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.98 CA$4.19

-14.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$1.71 CA$2.40

53.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$1.81 CA$2.55

54.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.22 CA$1.72

59.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.56 CA$20.48

2.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$13.60 CA$19.13

2.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.39 CA$4.77

-13.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.36 CA$4.73

16.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.42 CA$3.41

13.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$62.5 CA$87.9

40.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.53 CA$4.97

1.98%

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

$11.13 CA$15.66

157.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.16 CA$1.64

-3.45%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.8K CA$34.9K

2.63%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.2K CA$28.4K

7.70%

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

$213 CA$300

$216 CA$305

-1.59%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$59.6 CA$83.9

-31.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$70.5 CA$99.3

-17.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$41.42 CA$58.3

30.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$14.69 CA$20.67

-14.02%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$528 CA$743

65.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$15.2K CA$21.4K

4.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$76.2 CA$107

-23.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$58.5 CA$82.2

-19.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$92.0 CA$129

-7.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$113 CA$159

-4.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,295 CA$1,822

6.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,166 CA$1,640

-0.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,994 CA$2,806

16.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,818 CA$2,558

4.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$4,863 CA$6,842

-22.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$3,730 CA$5,249

-5.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,885 CA$4,059

1.90%

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 Meadow Lake, SK: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,295 in Meadow Lake, SK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $88.0 in Meadow Lake, SK. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $363, with Meadow Lake, SK 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 Meadow Lake, SK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% 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 $1,295 in Meadow Lake, SK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $88.0 in Meadow Lake, SK. 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 $2,485 in Meadow Lake, SK – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,485 in Meadow Lake, SK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Meadow Lake, SK. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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.

Expats usually find Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Meadow Lake, SK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.