Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Moose Jaw, SK Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Moose Jaw, SK

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,510 in Calgary versus $1,759 in Moose Jaw, SK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,653 in Calgary versus $2,848 in Moose Jaw, SK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,937 in Moose Jaw, SK.

Living in Calgary is roughly 43% more expensive than Moose Jaw, SK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Moose Jaw, SK 31% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.65 CA$25.54

$22.04 CA$30.20

-15.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 CA$97.4

$86.9 CA$119

-18.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 CA$14.82

$8.72 CA$11.95

24.08%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.21

$3.77 CA$5.16

0.80%

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

$2.05 CA$2.81

$2.44 CA$3.35

-15.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.29

$1.50 CA$2.05

11.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.15

$4.78 CA$6.54

9.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$8.84

$5.90 CA$8.08

9.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.04

$1.48 CA$2.03

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 CA$3.81

$2.41 CA$3.30

15.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.67

$5.31 CA$7.27

-35.78%

Eggs

$3.47 CA$4.75

$3.14 CA$4.31

10.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 CA$19.75

$8.27 CA$11.33

74.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 CA$17.61

$9.75 CA$13.36

31.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.24 CA$22.25

$16.56 CA$22.69

-1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$3.03 CA$4.15

47.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.78

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$2.49 CA$3.41

49.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.86

$3.13 CA$4.29

36.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.66

$2.89 CA$3.96

-7.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.30 CA$3.15

16.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.76

$2.74 CA$3.75

0.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.69

$1.21 CA$1.66

61.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.55 CA$19.94

$13.20 CA$18.08

10.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 CA$20.09

$14.25 CA$19.52

2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.86

$3.39 CA$4.64

-17.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 CA$5.47

$3.39 CA$4.64

17.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.75

$2.61 CA$3.58

4.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.7 CA$119

$58.3 CA$79.9

48.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 CA$4.90

$3.64 CA$4.99

-1.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 CA$1.77

$1.28 CA$1.75

0.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.58 CA$39.15

$14.66 CA$20.08

94.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.48

$1.13 CA$1.55

-4.42%

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

$25.4K CA$34.8K

$25.3K CA$34.6K

0.57%

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

$21.6K CA$29.5K

$20.5K CA$28.1K

5.22%

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

$215 CA$294

$155 CA$213

38.24%

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

$40.83 CA$55.9

$48.62 CA$66.6

-16.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$79.4

$70.8 CA$97.0

-18.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 CA$74.0

$48.68 CA$66.7

10.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$51.7 CA$70.9

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 CA$17.21

$10.80 CA$14.80

16.30%

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

$871 CA$1,193

$535 CA$733

62.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.1K

$15.1K CA$20.6K

6.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$80.3

$51.7 CA$70.8

13.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.97 CA$64.4

$58.6 CA$80.3

-19.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 CA$118

$91.2 CA$125

-5.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$150

$112 CA$154

-2.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,388 CA$1,901

$660 CA$904

110.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 CA$1,618

$580 CA$794

103.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 CA$3,202

$1,182 CA$1,619

97.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,583

$1,246 CA$1,708

51.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,823 CA$5,237

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,596 CA$4,926

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,125 CA$4,281

$2,830 CA$3,877

10.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

4.72

20.97%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 25, 2026

Last update for Moose Jaw, SK: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,388 in Calgary and $660 in Moose Jaw, SK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 10% 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $87.0 in Moose Jaw, SK. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $335, with Moose Jaw, 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 Moose Jaw, SK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moose Jaw, SK is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 10% 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: $1,388 in Calgary versus $660 in Moose Jaw, SK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Moose Jaw, SK – a meal for two runs $87.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,510 per month in Calgary versus $1,759 in Moose Jaw, SK – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,759 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $2,510 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Moose Jaw, SK but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Moose Jaw, SK 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 Moose Jaw, SK gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.