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: $2,344 in Calgary versus $1,766 in Moose Jaw, SK.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $2,825 in Moose Jaw, SK.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $3,884 in Moose Jaw, SK.

Living in Calgary is roughly 33% more expensive than in Moose Jaw, SK, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Moose Jaw, SK 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.73

$18.20 CA$25.46

-2.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$68.0 CA$95.2

4.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$9.15 CA$12.79

18.58%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$2.76 CA$3.87

39.49%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$2.04 CA$2.86

-4.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.16 CA$1.62

54.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$4.26 CA$5.97

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.25

$4.99 CA$6.97

18.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$1.48 CA$2.07

24.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$1.96 CA$2.75

39.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.60

$5.02 CA$7.03

8.37%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$3.15 CA$4.41

15.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$7.69 CA$10.76

50.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$9.25 CA$12.94

25.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.50

$16.62 CA$23.25

13.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$2.99 CA$4.19

65.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.23 CA$1.72

15.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$2.36 CA$3.30

78.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.71

$2.98 CA$4.17

37.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.80 CA$3.91

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$2.07 CA$2.89

36.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$2.86 CA$4.00

-10.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.45 CA$2.03

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.40

$13.13 CA$18.36

11.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$13.75 CA$19.23

13.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.85 CA$3.99

-9.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$3.37 CA$4.71

-4.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$2.56 CA$3.58

15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$58.6 CA$82.0

55.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$4.34 CA$6.07

-26.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$0.78 CA$1.09

78.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.70

$14.30 CA$20.00

93.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.12 CA$1.57

11.61%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

$29.0K CA$40.6K

-2.42%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$21.1K CA$29.6K

0.69%

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

$178 CA$249

$208 CA$290

-14.34%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$40.85 CA$57.1

-3.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$61.2 CA$85.6

-16.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.5

$46.97 CA$65.7

16.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$10.22 CA$14.30

42.37%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$505 CA$707

60.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$14.6K CA$20.4K

12.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$49.60 CA$69.4

19.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$43.87 CA$61.4

-8.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$85.7 CA$120

7.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$107 CA$149

5.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$813 CA$1,136

57.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,424

$627 CA$877

62.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,766

$1,498 CA$2,096

31.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$1,365 CA$1,910

27.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,494

$2,779 CA$3,887

15.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.72

-5.08%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Moose Jaw, SK: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $813 in Moose Jaw, SK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 16% 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 $68.0 in Moose Jaw, SK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $323 per month, with Moose Jaw, SK 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 Moose Jaw, SK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moose Jaw, SK is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $1,284 in Calgary versus $813 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 $68.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $1,766 in Moose Jaw, SK – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,766 in Moose Jaw, SK versus $2,344 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 33% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.