Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and North Vancouver Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and North Vancouver

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,846 in North Vancouver.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $4,438 in North Vancouver.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $6,029 in North Vancouver.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 13% less than in North Vancouver, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, North Vancouver 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$18.68 CA$26.28

-1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$70.7 CA$99.4

-1.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.34 CA$14.55

5.90%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$4.12 CA$5.80

-9.22%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.07 CA$2.91

-1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.31 CA$1.84

27.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.01 CA$7.04

3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$7.01 CA$9.87

-4.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.11 CA$2.97

6.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.66 CA$3.74

3.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$2.64 CA$3.72

22.35%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.69 CA$5.20

-6.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$10.45 CA$14.70

37.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$11.91 CA$16.76

8.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$14.47 CA$20.37

9.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.32 CA$4.68

29.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.45 CA$2.04

-7.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$2.98 CA$4.20

29.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.83 CA$5.39

10.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.47 CA$3.47

3.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$1.98 CA$2.79

32.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.50 CA$3.51

12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.20 CA$1.69

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.47 CA$20.36

3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$12.66 CA$17.81

9.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.85 CA$5.41

-24.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$2.36 CA$3.32

65.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.51 CA$3.53

9.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$88.6 CA$125

-0.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$2.66 CA$3.74

35.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.56 CA$2.20

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$28.68 CA$40.35

0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.37 CA$1.93

-18.25%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.7K CA$34.8K

2.98%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.3K CA$28.6K

6.89%

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

$213 CA$300

$133 CA$187

60.25%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$41.67 CA$58.6

-1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$66.5 CA$93.6

-12.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$32.76 CA$46.09

65.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$29.91 CA$42.09

79.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$12.71 CA$17.88

-0.63%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$1,227 CA$1,727

-28.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.1K CA$15.6K

43.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$56.1 CA$79.0

4.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$45.69 CA$64.3

2.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$95.8 CA$135

-11.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$113 CA$159

-4.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,870 CA$2,632

-26.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,657 CA$2,331

-30.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$3,549 CA$4,993

-34.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$3,468 CA$4,880

-45.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$8,266 CA$11.6K

-54.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$6,664 CA$9,377

-47.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$3,097 CA$4,358

-5.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.54

-12.69%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for North Vancouver: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,870 in North Vancouver. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

North Vancouver pays 5% 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 $71.0 in North Vancouver. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $349, with North Vancouver 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 North Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 5% lower in North Vancouver. 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,870 in North Vancouver. 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 $71.0 in North Vancouver. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,846 in North Vancouver – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,846 in North Vancouver, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in North Vancouver. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Calgary is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in North Vancouver, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Calgary and North Vancouver 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 16% less than in North Vancouver. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.