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: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,378 in Nanaimo, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $3,486 in Nanaimo, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $4,595 in Nanaimo, BC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 5% more expensive than Nanaimo, BC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Nanaimo, BC 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.67

$18.21 CA$25.49

0.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$99.4

$61.7 CA$86.4

15.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.75

$13.31 CA$18.63

-15.48%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.35

$4.10 CA$5.74

-6.59%

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

$1.96 CA$2.74

$2.53 CA$3.54

-22.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.31

$1.93 CA$2.71

-14.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.40

$5.76 CA$8.06

-8.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.50

$6.03 CA$8.44

12.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.14

$1.79 CA$2.51

25.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.83

$3.26 CA$4.56

-16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.73

$4.14 CA$5.80

-18.36%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.61

$3.97 CA$5.56

-17.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.66

$11.85 CA$16.59

24.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.77

$15.77 CA$22.07

-19.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.32

$18.28 CA$25.59

-12.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.03

$4.35 CA$6.09

-0.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.60 CA$2.25

-15.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.29

$3.55 CA$4.96

6.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$4.59 CA$6.42

-8.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$3.06 CA$4.28

-15.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.77

$2.75 CA$3.85

-2.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.83

$2.96 CA$4.15

-7.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.71

$2.29 CA$3.20

-15.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.64

$13.15 CA$18.40

12.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.71

$12.46 CA$17.44

13.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.93

$2.42 CA$3.39

16.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.54

$3.32 CA$4.65

19.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.94

$1.96 CA$2.75

43.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$121

$47.91 CA$67.1

80.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.78

$2.99 CA$4.19

14.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.90

$1.34 CA$1.88

1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$40.64

$34.10 CA$47.73

-14.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.50

$1.35 CA$1.88

-20.74%

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

$25.0K CA$35.0K

$24.7K CA$34.5K

1.46%

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

$22.1K CA$30.9K

$20.4K CA$28.6K

8.13%

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

$215 CA$300

$118 CA$165

81.68%

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

$40.33 CA$56.5

$46.04 CA$64.4

-12.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.1

$66.1 CA$92.5

-12.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.7

$30.43 CA$42.59

80.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.0

$11.17 CA$15.64

379.59%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.71

$10.91 CA$15.26

16.04%

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

$872 CA$1,221

$783 CA$1,096

11.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.6K

$12.1K CA$16.9K

33.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$80.9

$45.44 CA$63.6

27.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.3

$34.67 CA$48.52

36.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$122

$79.6 CA$111

9.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$152

$101 CA$141

8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,979

$1,322 CA$1,851

6.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,614

$1,168 CA$1,635

-1.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,234

$2,056 CA$2,878

12.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,626

$1,922 CA$2,689

-2.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,365

$3,883 CA$5,435

-1.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,747

$3,501 CA$4,900

-3.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,377

$3,083 CA$4,315

1.44%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,322 in Nanaimo, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 1% 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 $62.0 in Nanaimo, BC. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $418, with Calgary 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 Nanaimo, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nanaimo, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 1% 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,322 in Nanaimo, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nanaimo, BC – a meal for two runs $62.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,485 per month in Calgary versus $2,378 in Nanaimo, BC – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,378 in Nanaimo, BC versus $2,485 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.

Expats usually find Nanaimo, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.