Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Okotoks Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Okotoks

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,517 in Calgary versus $2,318 in Okotoks.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Calgary versus $3,241 in Okotoks.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,776 in Calgary versus $4,165 in Okotoks.

Living in Calgary is roughly 9% more expensive than Okotoks, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Okotoks 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.37 CA$25.65

$11.13 CA$15.55

65.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 CA$97.4

$65.0 CA$90.7

7.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 CA$15.19

$11.45 CA$15.98

-4.98%

Cappuccino

$3.69 CA$5.16

$3.86 CA$5.39

-4.40%

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

$2.03 CA$2.84

$1.64 CA$2.28

23.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 CA$2.43

$1.60 CA$2.24

8.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.30 CA$7.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.74 CA$9.42

$5.04 CA$7.04

33.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$2.03 CA$2.83

9.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 CA$3.75

$2.84 CA$3.97

-5.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 CA$4.68

$3.13 CA$4.37

7.03%

Eggs

$3.33 CA$4.65

$3.47 CA$4.85

-4.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.12

$12.49 CA$17.44

15.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.50 CA$17.46

$12.53 CA$17.51

-0.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 CA$22.81

$15.84 CA$22.12

3.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 CA$5.98

$3.29 CA$4.59

30.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.89

$1.38 CA$1.92

-2.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.22

$3.91 CA$5.47

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.83

$3.71 CA$5.19

12.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$2.43 CA$3.39

5.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.74

$2.23 CA$3.12

20.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 CA$3.71

$2.67 CA$3.73

-0.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.88 CA$2.62

$1.93 CA$2.70

-2.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.66 CA$20.47

$12.97 CA$18.12

13.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.23 CA$19.87

$12.35 CA$17.24

15.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CA$4.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 CA$5.44

$3.22 CA$4.50

20.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 CA$3.79

$2.51 CA$3.51

7.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.7 CA$122

$55.1 CA$76.9

59.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 CA$4.83

$3.20 CA$4.46

8.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.81

$1.67 CA$2.33

-22.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.30 CA$39.52

$22.97 CA$32.08

23.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 CA$1.52

$1.05 CA$1.47

3.81%

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

$25.0K CA$34.9K

$25.2K CA$35.1K

-0.57%

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

$22.2K CA$31.0K

$22.3K CA$31.2K

-0.53%

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

$211 CA$295

$202 CA$282

4.55%

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

$40.40 CA$56.4

$45.12 CA$63.0

-10.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.5 CA$81.7

$66.2 CA$92.4

-11.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.8 CA$75.1

$28.19 CA$39.36

90.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.2

Cinema Ticket

$12.64 CA$17.66

$12.36 CA$17.25

2.27%

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

$865 CA$1,208

$696 CA$973

24.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.4K

$11.7K CA$16.3K

37.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 CA$81.1

$42.93 CA$60.0

35.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.18 CA$65.9

$42.08 CA$58.8

12.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 CA$119

$63.5 CA$88.7

34.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CA$148

$74.1 CA$104

42.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 CA$1,977

$1,254 CA$1,751

12.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,611

$1,168 CA$1,631

-1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,370 CA$3,309

$1,755 CA$2,451

35.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 CA$2,603

$1,628 CA$2,273

14.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 CA$5,354

$3,155 CA$4,405

21.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,443 CA$4,808

$3,066 CA$4,282

12.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,105 CA$4,337

$2,988 CA$4,173

3.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.08

-6.09%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 7, 2026

Last update for Okotoks: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,416 in Calgary and $1,254 in Okotoks. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 4% 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 $65.0 in Okotoks for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $373 per month, with Okotoks 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 Okotoks: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Okotoks is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 4% 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: $1,416 in Calgary versus $1,254 in Okotoks. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Okotoks – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,517 per month in Calgary versus $2,318 in Okotoks – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,318 in Okotoks versus $2,517 in Calgary, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Okotoks but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Okotoks 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 Okotoks 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 Okotoks gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.