Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Orem, UT Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Orem, UT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,568 in Orem, UT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $3,521 in Orem, UT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $4,474 in Orem, UT.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 8% less than in Orem, UT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Orem, UT 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.82

$15.28 $15.28

17.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.6

$59.7 $59.7

18.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.79

$11.08 $11.08

-3.52%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.24

$4.59 $4.59

-17.43%

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

$2.00 CA$2.77

$1.81 $1.81

10.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.73

$1.46 $1.46

35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.18

$6.18 $6.18

-16.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.11

$6.96 $6.96

-15.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.03 $1.03

89.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.91

$3.25 $3.25

-13.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.77

$2.43 $2.43

130.86%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.19

$2.99 $2.99

25.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.91

$14.54 $14.54

-20.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.86

$13.24 $13.24

-13.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.23

$19.44 $19.44

-2.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.69

$2.80 $2.80

72.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.72 $1.72

-20.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.88

$2.47 $2.47

72.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.74

$4.50 $4.50

-7.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.74

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.91

$1.31 $1.31

116.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.65

$1.66 $1.66

59.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.91 $1.91

-20.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.21

$8.80 $8.80

65.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.80

$15.28 $15.28

3.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.59

$2.16 $2.16

20.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.26

$3.03 $3.03

1.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.05

$2.45 $2.45

19.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$124

$82.2 $82.2

8.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.59

$1.52 $1.52

118.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.98

$0.89 $0.89

60.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.34

$20.04 $20.04

38.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.03 $1.03

22.33%

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

$28.9K CA$40.0K

$23.2K $23.2K

24.63%

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

$21.3K CA$29.5K

$25.0K $25.0K

-14.45%

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

$183 CA$253

$165 $165

10.92%

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

$38.31 CA$53.0

$44.44 $44.44

-13.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.5

$61.7 $61.7

-16.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.9

$30.25 $30.25

81.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.82

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.73

$15.04 $15.04

-5.19%

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

$828 CA$1,146

$961 $961

-13.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.0K

$9,866 $9,866

61.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.4

$53.7 $53.7

10.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.6

$40.83 $40.83

-3.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$84.7 $84.7

11.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$134 $134

-15.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,750

$1,710 $1,710

-26.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,454

$1,357 $1,357

-22.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,676

$2,192 $2,192

-11.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,352

$1,856 $1,856

-8.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,092

$2,309 $2,309

59.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,613

$2,345 $2,345

42.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,533

$3,615 $3,615

-9.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

6.68

-34.13%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Orem, UT: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $1,710 in Orem, UT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Orem, UT pays 10% 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 $60.0 in Orem, UT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $369 per month, with Orem, UT 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 Orem, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Orem, UT. 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $1,710 in Orem, UT. 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 $71.0 versus $60.0 in Orem, UT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $2,568 in Orem, UT – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,568 in Orem, UT, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Orem, UT. 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 Orem, UT 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 9% less than in Orem, UT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.