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: $2,523 in Calgary versus $1,982 in Moncton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $2,942 in Moncton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $3,902 in Moncton.

Living in Calgary is roughly 27% more expensive than Moncton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Moncton 48% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$18.12 CA$25.08

2.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$67.3 CA$93.1

4.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$11.11 CA$15.38

-1.35%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$3.30 CA$4.57

13.03%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$1.86 CA$2.57

6.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.83 CA$2.54

-6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$3.65 CA$5.05

37.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$4.35 CA$6.02

49.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$2.65 CA$3.66

-16.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$3.05 CA$4.22

-12.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$3.60 CA$4.98

-9.44%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.58 CA$4.96

-6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$12.83 CA$17.77

13.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$11.05 CA$15.30

17.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$10.51 CA$14.55

53.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$5.46 CA$7.55

-20.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.54 CA$2.13

-12.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$3.78 CA$5.23

1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$4.18 CA$5.78

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$2.24 CA$3.10

18.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.56 CA$3.55

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.35 CA$3.26

17.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$2.18 CA$3.02

-10.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$13.06 CA$18.09

14.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$11.76 CA$16.28

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$2.64 CA$3.66

7.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$4.25 CA$5.88

-5.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.19 CA$3.03

27.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$50.7 CA$70.2

69.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$2.87 CA$3.97

25.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.34 CA$1.86

-1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$22.43 CA$31.05

29.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.26 CA$1.74

-11.11%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$24.7K CA$34.3K

0.46%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$19.9K CA$27.6K

10.44%

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

$217 CA$301

$130 CA$180

66.77%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$37.82 CA$52.4

9.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$60.9 CA$84.3

-4.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$37.36 CA$51.7

46.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

$6.70 CA$9.28

688.36%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$12.28 CA$17.01

3.99%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$396 CA$548

120.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$7,276 CA$10.1K

119.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$54.2 CA$75.0

8.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$38.74 CA$53.6

19.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$107 CA$148

-18.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$145 CA$200

-24.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,020 CA$1,413

38.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$836 CA$1,157

40.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$1,614 CA$2,234

43.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,301 CA$1,801

45.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$2,281 CA$3,159

70.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$2,114 CA$2,927

65.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$2,553 CA$3,534

23.37%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Moncton: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,020 in Moncton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 23% 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 $397 vs $376 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 23% 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 $1,020 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 $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $1,982 in Moncton – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,982 in Moncton versus $2,523 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 27% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.