Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and New Glasgow Nova Scotia Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and New Glasgow Nova Scotia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,051 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,063 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,075 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia.

Living in Calgary is roughly 23% more expensive than New Glasgow Nova Scotia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, New Glasgow Nova Scotia 53% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.83

$14.82 CA$20.59

25.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.3

$58.5 CA$81.2

19.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.22

$8.78 CA$12.19

24.83%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.19

$3.74 CA$5.20

-0.27%

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

$1.99 CA$2.76

$1.70 CA$2.36

17.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.27 CA$1.76

35.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.97

$3.97 CA$5.51

26.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.04

$4.78 CA$6.64

35.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.00 CA$2.78

11.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.71

$2.81 CA$3.91

-4.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.53

$3.62 CA$5.03

-9.94%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.66

$3.58 CA$4.98

-6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.14

$12.46 CA$17.31

16.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.99

$11.89 CA$16.52

8.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.44

$16.18 CA$22.49

-0.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$6.00

$4.00 CA$5.56

8.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.52 CA$2.11

-11.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.32

$3.38 CA$4.69

13.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.81

$5.39 CA$7.48

-22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.68

$1.79 CA$2.48

48.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.81

$2.10 CA$2.92

30.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.84

$2.64 CA$3.67

4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.71

$1.94 CA$2.70

0.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.81

$15.57 CA$21.63

-3.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.38

$11.63 CA$16.16

26.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.95

$3.41 CA$4.74

-16.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.58

$3.02 CA$4.20

33.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.51 CA$2.10

85.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$120

$59.9 CA$83.2

43.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.00

$2.83 CA$3.93

27.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.83

$1.35 CA$1.88

-2.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.31

$36.53 CA$50.8

-20.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.56

$1.19 CA$1.66

-5.88%

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

$24.9K CA$34.5K

$24.8K CA$34.5K

0.07%

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

$22.0K CA$30.5K

$21.2K CA$29.5K

3.62%

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

$217 CA$302

$131 CA$183

65.25%

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

$41.55 CA$57.7

$38.04 CA$52.9

9.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.7

$70.7 CA$98.2

-17.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.0

$43.37 CA$60.3

26.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.4

$13.17 CA$18.30

301.06%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.74

$11.11 CA$15.44

14.94%

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

$874 CA$1,214

$166 CA$230

426.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$11.6K CA$16.2K

36.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.7

$40.82 CA$56.7

44.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.6

$35.23 CA$48.95

31.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$87.7 CA$122

-0.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$110 CA$153

-1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,964

$1,098 CA$1,525

28.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,629

$927 CA$1,288

26.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,222

$1,627 CA$2,260

42.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,621

$1,603 CA$2,227

17.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,407

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,867

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,375

$2,533 CA$3,519

24.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.16

-7.31%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for New Glasgow Nova Scotia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,098 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 24% 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $58.0 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $382 per month, with New Glasgow Nova Scotia 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 New Glasgow Nova Scotia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Glasgow Nova Scotia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 24% 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 $1,098 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in New Glasgow Nova Scotia – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,051 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,051 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in New Glasgow Nova Scotia but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes New Glasgow Nova Scotia 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 New Glasgow Nova Scotia 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 New Glasgow Nova Scotia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.