Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Mont-Laurier Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Mont-Laurier

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,481 in Calgary versus $2,184 in Mont-Laurier.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,599 in Calgary versus $3,234 in Mont-Laurier.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,716 in Calgary versus $4,284 in Mont-Laurier.

Living in Calgary is roughly 14% more expensive than in Mont-Laurier, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Mont-Laurier 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.64 CA$26.13

$15.98 CA$22.40

16.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 CA$98.5

$72.2 CA$101

-2.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 CA$15.78

$11.07 CA$15.51

1.72%

Cappuccino

$3.70 CA$5.19

$3.74 CA$5.25

-1.07%

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

$2.05 CA$2.88

$2.11 CA$2.95

-2.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.34

$1.47 CA$2.06

13.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.26 CA$7.37

$6.02 CA$8.44

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.44

$6.82 CA$9.56

-1.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.32 CA$3.25

-3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.86

$2.73 CA$3.83

0.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 CA$4.60

$2.60 CA$3.65

26.15%

Eggs

$3.40 CA$4.77

$3.45 CA$4.84

-1.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 CA$20.25

$6.26 CA$8.77

130.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.58 CA$17.63

$11.75 CA$16.47

7.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.85 CA$22.21

$15.60 CA$21.86

1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 CA$6.19

$3.65 CA$5.11

21.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$1.57 CA$2.20

-14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 CA$5.38

$4.01 CA$5.62

-4.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 CA$6.07

$3.40 CA$4.76

27.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 CA$3.57

$1.49 CA$2.09

70.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$1.11 CA$1.56

145.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.08 CA$2.91

29.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.66

$1.79 CA$2.51

6.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.81 CA$20.76

$10.55 CA$14.78

40.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 CA$20.22

$6.23 CA$8.73

131.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 CA$4.12

$3.12 CA$4.37

-5.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 CA$5.58

$3.52 CA$4.93

13.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.70 CA$3.79

$2.33 CA$3.26

15.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.3 CA$124

$61.9 CA$86.8

42.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 CA$4.80

$3.58 CA$5.02

-4.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 CA$1.84

$1.46 CA$2.04

-10.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.41 CA$39.83

$34.51 CA$48.37

-17.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.58

$1.14 CA$1.60

-1.75%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$25.1K CA$35.1K

-0.70%

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

$21.7K CA$30.5K

$21.4K CA$29.9K

1.71%

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

$210 CA$295

$74.0 CA$104

184.12%

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

$41.33 CA$57.9

$36.07 CA$50.6

14.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.8 CA$81.1

$43.93 CA$61.6

31.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.3 CA$77.5

$41.09 CA$57.6

34.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.2 CA$73.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.47 CA$17.48

$11.20 CA$15.69

11.34%

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

$886 CA$1,242

$624 CA$875

42.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.4K

$5,952 CA$8,342

167.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.1 CA$82.8

$62.4 CA$87.5

-5.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.08 CA$66.0

$44.77 CA$62.8

5.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 CA$122

$104 CA$145

-16.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CA$154

$120 CA$169

-8.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 CA$1,983

$1,325 CA$1,858

6.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 CA$1,655

$1,172 CA$1,642

0.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,374 CA$3,328

$2,031 CA$2,847

16.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 CA$2,600

$1,783 CA$2,500

3.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,755 CA$5,263

$3,804 CA$5,332

-1.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,479 CA$4,876

$3,677 CA$5,155

-5.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,035 CA$4,254

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

5.01

13.97%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mont-Laurier: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,415 in Calgary and $1,325 in Mont-Laurier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $72.0 in Mont-Laurier. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $331, with Mont-Laurier 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 Mont-Laurier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mont-Laurier is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,722 in Calgary and $3,276 in Mont-Laurier to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,415 in Calgary versus $1,325 in Mont-Laurier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mont-Laurier – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,481 per month in Calgary versus $2,184 in Mont-Laurier – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,184 in Mont-Laurier versus $2,481 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mont-Laurier but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Mont-Laurier 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 Mont-Laurier 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 Mont-Laurier gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.