Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Nanaimo, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Nanaimo, BC

😐 Solo nomad: Calgary is 3.5% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC without rent, and 8.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Calgary is 4.1% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC without rent, and 1.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.57 CA$25.44
$18.27 CA$25.03
1.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2 CA$96.1
$62.6 CA$85.7
12.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 CA$15.04
$13.30 CA$18.22
-17.44%
Cappuccino
$3.86 CA$5.29
$4.11 CA$5.62
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 CA$2.81
$2.50 CA$3.43
-18.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CA$2.30
$1.97 CA$2.70
-14.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 CA$6.94
$6.05 CA$8.29
-16.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55 CA$8.97
$5.78 CA$7.92
13.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CA$3.04
$1.87 CA$2.56
18.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 CA$3.79
$3.33 CA$4.56
-17.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 CA$4.60
$4.15 CA$5.69
-19.04%
Eggs
$3.36 CA$4.60
$3.85 CA$5.27
-12.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.46 CA$19.81
$12.00 CA$16.44
20.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.88 CA$17.64
$16.00 CA$21.92
-19.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.88 CA$21.75
$18.44 CA$25.27
-13.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.26 CA$5.84
$4.32 CA$5.91
-1.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.78
$1.56 CA$2.14
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.73 CA$5.12
$3.42 CA$4.69
9.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.24 CA$5.81
$4.65 CA$6.37
-8.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 CA$3.54
$3.06 CA$4.20
-15.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 CA$3.58
$2.90 CA$3.98
-9.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.65 CA$3.63
$3.13 CA$4.29
-15.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.54
$2.28 CA$3.13
-18.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.61 CA$20.02
$13.56 CA$18.58
7.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 CA$19.88
$12.84 CA$17.59
13.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 CA$3.97
$2.45 CA$3.35
18.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 CA$5.54
$3.40 CA$4.65
18.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 CA$3.72
$1.99 CA$2.72
36.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.6 CA$120
$47.19 CA$64.6
85.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 CA$4.93
$2.87 CA$3.93
25.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 CA$1.87
$1.33 CA$1.83
3.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.89 CA$39.58
$34.09 CA$46.71
-15.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 CA$1.53
$1.30 CA$1.78
-13.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$34.0K
$25.0K CA$34.2K
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$29.8K
$20.5K CA$28.0K
6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 CA$295
$117 CA$160
84.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.83 CA$55.9
$46.98 CA$64.4
-13.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1 CA$79.7
$67.0 CA$91.7
-13.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 CA$73.3
$30.25 CA$41.45
76.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.7 CA$72.1
$10.92 CA$14.96
382.14%
Cinema Ticket
$12.33 CA$16.89
$10.97 CA$15.02
12.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$875 CA$1,198
$773 CA$1,059
13.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K CA$22.2K
$12.2K CA$16.7K
33.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 CA$80.0
$44.63 CA$61.2
30.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.38 CA$64.9
$34.26 CA$46.93
38.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 CA$118
$80.6 CA$110
6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$146
$103 CA$141
3.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,366 CA$1,871
$1,353 CA$1,854
0.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 CA$1,609
$1,158 CA$1,587
1.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,354 CA$3,225
$2,044 CA$2,801
15.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,868 CA$2,560
$1,892 CA$2,592
-1.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,793 CA$5,197
$3,889 CA$5,328
-2.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,599 CA$4,931
$3,472 CA$4,757
3.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Nanaimo, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,114 CA$4,266
$3,105 CA$4,254
0.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
6.47
-11.75%

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

Last update for Calgary: March 1, 2026

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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