Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Parry Sound Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Parry Sound

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,510 in Calgary versus $2,451 in Parry Sound.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,653 in Calgary versus $3,255 in Parry Sound.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,059 in Parry Sound.

Living in Calgary is roughly 2% more expensive than Parry Sound, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 87% above, Parry Sound 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.65 CA$25.54

$15.37 CA$21.06

21.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.1 CA$97.4

$44.34 CA$60.7

60.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 CA$14.82

$10.83 CA$14.84

-0.09%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.21

$3.00 CA$4.10

26.67%

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

$2.05 CA$2.81

$1.81 CA$2.48

13.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.29

$1.31 CA$1.79

27.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.22 CA$7.15

$5.03 CA$6.90

3.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.45 CA$8.84

$4.40 CA$6.03

46.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.04

$2.33 CA$3.19

-4.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 CA$3.81

$2.13 CA$2.91

30.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 CA$4.67

$1.66 CA$2.27

105.42%

Eggs

$3.47 CA$4.75

$3.28 CA$4.49

5.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 CA$19.75

$4.22 CA$5.79

241.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 CA$17.61

$9.61 CA$13.17

33.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.24 CA$22.25

$7.49 CA$10.26

116.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 CA$6.11

$3.45 CA$4.73

29.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 CA$1.78

$0.73 CA$1.00

78.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.11

$0.73 CA$1.00

410.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 CA$5.86

$2.18 CA$2.99

95.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 CA$3.66

$1.69 CA$2.31

57.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 CA$3.67

$1.36 CA$1.87

97.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 CA$3.76

$1.45 CA$1.99

89.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 CA$2.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.55 CA$19.94

$12.26 CA$16.80

18.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 CA$20.09

$11.52 CA$15.78

27.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.86

$2.41 CA$3.30

16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 CA$5.47

$2.77 CA$3.80

44.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.75

$2.34 CA$3.20

17.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.7 CA$119

$62.0 CA$84.9

39.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 CA$4.90

$3.18 CA$4.35

12.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 CA$1.77

$2.17 CA$2.97

-40.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.58 CA$39.15

$22.14 CA$30.33

29.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.48

$1.10 CA$1.51

-1.82%

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

$25.4K CA$34.8K

0.22%

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

$21.6K CA$29.5K

$20.2K CA$27.7K

6.70%

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

$215 CA$294

$172 CA$236

24.46%

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

$40.83 CA$55.9

$33.54 CA$45.94

21.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$79.4

$51.9 CA$71.1

11.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 CA$74.0

$42.27 CA$57.9

27.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$51.7 CA$70.9

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 CA$17.21

$13.15 CA$18.01

-4.49%

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

$871 CA$1,193

$990 CA$1,356

-12.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.1K

$11.3K CA$15.5K

42.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$80.3

$61.3 CA$83.9

-4.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.97 CA$64.4

$44.37 CA$60.8

5.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 CA$118

$96.7 CA$132

-10.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$150

$94.7 CA$130

15.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,388 CA$1,901

$1,151 CA$1,577

20.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 CA$1,618

$1,374 CA$1,882

-14.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 CA$3,202

$2,009 CA$2,753

16.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,583

$1,821 CA$2,495

3.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,823 CA$5,237

$4,036 CA$5,529

-5.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,596 CA$4,926

$3,829 CA$5,245

-6.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,125 CA$4,281

$2,196 CA$3,008

42.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

14.20%

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

Last update for Calgary: April 25, 2026

Last update for Parry Sound: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,388 in Calgary and $1,151 in Parry Sound. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 42% 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 $44.00 in Parry Sound for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $399 vs $261 per month, with Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Parry Sound is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 42% 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: $1,388 in Calgary versus $1,151 in Parry Sound. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Parry Sound – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,510 per month in Calgary versus $2,451 in Parry Sound – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,451 in Parry Sound versus $2,510 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Parry Sound but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound 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 Parry Sound gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.