Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Moncton Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Moncton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $1,965 in Moncton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $2,944 in Moncton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,923 in Moncton.

Living in Calgary is roughly 25% more expensive than in Moncton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Moncton 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.70

$18.23 CA$25.56

0.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.0

$66.9 CA$93.8

4.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.35

$10.93 CA$15.32

0.18%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.24

$3.31 CA$4.63

12.99%

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

$2.04 CA$2.86

$1.93 CA$2.70

5.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.77 CA$2.49

-5.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.29

$3.63 CA$5.09

43.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.41

$4.35 CA$6.10

54.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$2.65 CA$3.72

-15.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.85

$3.10 CA$4.34

-11.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.53

$3.52 CA$4.94

-8.24%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.83

$3.71 CA$5.20

-7.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.19

$12.60 CA$17.66

14.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.07

$11.38 CA$15.96

13.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.24

$10.55 CA$14.80

50.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.02

$5.31 CA$7.44

-19.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.48 CA$2.07

-9.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.40

$3.93 CA$5.50

-2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.97

$4.15 CA$5.81

2.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.57

$2.32 CA$3.26

9.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.68

$2.56 CA$3.59

2.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.92

$2.41 CA$3.38

16.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.73

$2.18 CA$3.06

-10.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$20.99

$13.35 CA$18.71

12.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.49

$14.23 CA$19.95

-2.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.10

$2.66 CA$3.73

9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.48

$4.23 CA$5.93

-7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.84

$2.27 CA$3.18

20.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$123

$52.5 CA$73.6

67.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.04

$2.99 CA$4.20

20.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.82

$1.30 CA$1.83

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.24

$22.00 CA$30.84

30.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.19 CA$1.67

-5.88%

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

$25.5K CA$35.7K

$25.1K CA$35.1K

1.62%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$20.1K CA$28.2K

8.15%

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

$213 CA$299

$126 CA$176

69.31%

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

$40.96 CA$57.4

$38.39 CA$53.8

6.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.2

$61.9 CA$86.8

-6.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.0

$37.19 CA$52.1

45.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.4

$6.62 CA$9.28

711.93%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.71

$12.12 CA$17.00

4.21%

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

$874 CA$1,226

$393 CA$551

122.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$7,283 CA$10.2K

117.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.2

$52.4 CA$73.5

11.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$65.9

$39.19 CA$55.0

19.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$119

$105 CA$148

-19.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$149 CA$209

-27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,935

$1,049 CA$1,471

31.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,625

$827 CA$1,159

40.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,259

$1,650 CA$2,313

40.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,670

$1,292 CA$1,811

47.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,308

$2,241 CA$3,142

68.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,922

$2,099 CA$2,942

67.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,121

$2,430 CA$3,407

20.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.57

-13.09%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Moncton: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,049 in Moncton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 21% 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 $67.0 in Moncton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $383 per month, with Moncton 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 Moncton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moncton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 21% 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 $1,049 in Moncton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Moncton – a meal for two runs $67.0 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 $1,965 in Moncton – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,965 in Moncton versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Moncton but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Moncton 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 Moncton 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 Moncton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.