Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and New Westminster Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and New Westminster

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,514 in New Westminster.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,642 in Calgary versus $3,909 in New Westminster.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,850 in Calgary versus $5,304 in New Westminster.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 3% less than in New Westminster, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 81% above, New Westminster 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.20 CA$24.93

$14.63 CA$20.04

24.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$95.9

$73.0 CA$99.9

-4.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.01 CA$15.09

$9.36 CA$12.83

17.63%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.11

$3.98 CA$5.45

-6.28%

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

$1.98 CA$2.71

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.26

$1.46 CA$2.00

13.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 CA$7.22

$6.40 CA$8.77

-17.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.65 CA$9.11

$6.72 CA$9.20

-1.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 CA$2.94

$2.24 CA$3.07

-4.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.46 CA$3.38

8.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.66

$3.60 CA$4.93

-5.56%

Eggs

$3.28 CA$4.49

$3.47 CA$4.75

-5.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.65 CA$20.07

$10.15 CA$13.90

44.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.61 CA$17.28

$10.47 CA$14.35

20.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.13 CA$22.10

$10.04 CA$13.76

60.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$3.06 CA$4.20

45.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.37 CA$1.88

-2.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$2.83 CA$3.88

31.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.29 CA$5.88

$3.67 CA$5.02

16.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.65

$2.43 CA$3.33

9.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 CA$3.57

$2.21 CA$3.03

18.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.76

$1.89 CA$2.59

44.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 CA$2.60

$2.11 CA$2.89

-9.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.52

$16.48 CA$22.58

-9.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 CA$19.59

$15.49 CA$21.22

-7.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 CA$3.97

$2.25 CA$3.08

28.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 CA$5.44

$2.99 CA$4.10

32.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$2.56 CA$3.51

4.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 CA$120

$96.7 CA$133

-9.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 CA$4.88

$2.27 CA$3.11

57.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.84

$1.61 CA$2.21

-16.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.30 CA$40.15

$23.89 CA$32.72

22.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.55

$1.28 CA$1.75

-11.72%

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

$25.1K CA$34.4K

$24.8K CA$34.0K

1.10%

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

$22.2K CA$30.4K

$19.8K CA$27.1K

12.16%

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

$218 CA$299

$116 CA$159

88.17%

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

$41.44 CA$56.8

$45.86 CA$62.8

-9.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.2 CA$79.7

$68.4 CA$93.7

-14.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 CA$73.6

$34.08 CA$46.69

57.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.4 CA$71.8

$18.08 CA$24.77

189.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.34

$12.32 CA$16.88

2.76%

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

$885 CA$1,212

$825 CA$1,130

7.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.0K

$8,121 CA$11.1K

97.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$79.6

$47.08 CA$64.5

23.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.22 CA$66.1

$33.48 CA$45.87

44.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 CA$121

$83.5 CA$114

5.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$146

$105 CA$144

1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,396 CA$1,913

$1,606 CA$2,200

-13.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 CA$1,625

$1,394 CA$1,909

-14.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 CA$3,142

$2,918 CA$3,997

-21.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,859 CA$2,547

$2,735 CA$3,746

-32.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 CA$5,178

$4,872 CA$6,674

-22.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,509 CA$4,808

$4,203 CA$5,758

-16.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,117 CA$4,271

$3,149 CA$4,314

-1.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.44

-11.34%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 14, 2026

Last update for New Westminster: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,396 in Calgary and $1,606 in New Westminster. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New Westminster 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: $70 in Calgary vs $73 in New Westminster. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $334, with New Westminster 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 New Westminster: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, New Westminster earns 1% less. 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: $1,396 in Calgary versus $1,606 in New Westminster. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $73.0 in New Westminster. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,433 per month in Calgary versus $2,514 in New Westminster – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,433 in Calgary versus $2,514 in New Westminster, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in New Westminster. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Westminster 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in New Westminster. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.