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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,336 in Nanaimo, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $3,430 in Nanaimo, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $4,525 in Nanaimo, BC.

Monthly costs are close between Calgary and Nanaimo, BC; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Nanaimo, BC 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.74

$18.16 CA$25.40

-2.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$79.7 CA$111

-10.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$11.72 CA$16.40

-7.42%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$4.11 CA$5.74

-6.33%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$2.27 CA$3.18

-14.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.61 CA$2.25

11.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$5.65 CA$7.91

-12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.26

$5.69 CA$7.96

3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$1.70 CA$2.38

8.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$3.44 CA$4.82

-20.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.61

$3.15 CA$4.41

72.70%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$4.15 CA$5.80

-12.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$11.59 CA$16.22

-0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$13.62 CA$19.06

-15.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.51

$17.48 CA$24.46

8.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$4.69 CA$6.56

5.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$1.30 CA$1.82

9.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.91

$4.26 CA$5.96

-0.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$4.80 CA$6.72

-14.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.68 CA$3.76

-4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$2.95 CA$4.12

-4.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$2.91 CA$4.08

-11.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$2.29 CA$3.21

-32.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.41

$12.55 CA$17.56

16.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$14.49 CA$20.28

7.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.63 CA$3.69

-1.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$2.64 CA$3.70

22.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

$1.81 CA$2.53

63.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

$45.89 CA$64.2

98.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$2.91 CA$4.07

8.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$2.18 CA$3.06

-36.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.71

$28.56 CA$39.96

-3.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.39 CA$1.94

-10.07%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

0.14%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$19.6K CA$27.4K

8.86%

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

$178 CA$249

$154 CA$216

15.10%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$40.78 CA$57.1

-3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$65.5 CA$91.7

-22.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.6

$28.32 CA$39.62

93.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.26

$19.16 CA$26.80

-2.04%

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$10.97 CA$15.35

32.63%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$522 CA$731

55.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$13.5K CA$18.8K

21.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$49.33 CA$69.0

20.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$34.08 CA$47.68

18.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$101 CA$142

-8.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$107 CA$149

5.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$1,404 CA$1,964

-8.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,425

$1,144 CA$1,601

-11.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,767

$2,099 CA$2,937

-5.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$1,763 CA$2,467

-0.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

$3,922 CA$5,488

-8.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,699

$3,474 CA$4,861

-3.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,495

$3,269 CA$4,574

-1.71%

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 Nanaimo, BC: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,404 in Nanaimo, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nanaimo, BC pays 2% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $80.0 in Nanaimo, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $409 per month, with Calgary 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 Nanaimo, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Nanaimo, BC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,404 in Nanaimo, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $812 in Calgary versus $522 in Nanaimo, BC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Nanaimo, BC – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,336 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nanaimo, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Nanaimo, BC 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 Nanaimo, BC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Nanaimo, BC wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.