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: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,430 in Parry Sound.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $3,215 in Parry Sound.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $4,001 in Parry Sound.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Parry Sound 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.93

$15.02 CA$21.23

22.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$100

$43.67 CA$61.7

62.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.91

$11.20 CA$15.83

0.45%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.41

$2.91 CA$4.12

31.62%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$1.85 CA$2.62

5.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.33

$1.27 CA$1.79

29.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.47

$5.23 CA$7.40

1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.60

$4.49 CA$6.34

51.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.17

$2.32 CA$3.28

-3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.87

$2.13 CA$3.00

28.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.77

$1.61 CA$2.28

109.94%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.66

$3.36 CA$4.75

-2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.87

$4.27 CA$6.04

245.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.95

$9.37 CA$13.24

35.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.55

$7.19 CA$10.17

121.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.09

$3.47 CA$4.90

24.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.91

$0.72 CA$1.02

87.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.35

$0.71 CA$1.00

432.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.96

$2.18 CA$3.09

93.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.65

$1.69 CA$2.38

52.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.81

$1.38 CA$1.95

94.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.87

$1.49 CA$2.11

83.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.74

$1.97 CA$2.78

-1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.85

$12.68 CA$17.93

16.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.91

$11.59 CA$16.38

21.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.97

$2.40 CA$3.39

17.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.59

$2.74 CA$3.88

44.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.98

$2.35 CA$3.32

19.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$122

$63.8 CA$90.2

35.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.82

$3.10 CA$4.38

10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.92

$2.11 CA$2.99

-35.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$41.04

$21.74 CA$30.73

33.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.52

$1.10 CA$1.56

-2.73%

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

$25.0K CA$35.4K

$25.4K CA$36.0K

-1.60%

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

$22.1K CA$31.2K

$20.6K CA$29.2K

6.95%

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

$215 CA$303

$176 CA$249

22.01%

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

$40.33 CA$57.0

$33.21 CA$46.95

21.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.9

$52.2 CA$73.7

11.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$77.5

$42.25 CA$59.7

29.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.7

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.89

$13.07 CA$18.47

-3.14%

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

$872 CA$1,233

$965 CA$1,364

-9.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.8K

$11.3K CA$16.0K

42.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$81.7

$61.7 CA$87.2

-6.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.9

$43.43 CA$61.4

9.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$123

$98.8 CA$140

-12.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$154

$94.6 CA$134

15.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,998

$1,131 CA$1,599

24.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,630

$1,390 CA$1,965

-17.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,266

$2,022 CA$2,859

14.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,652

$1,793 CA$2,534

4.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,419

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,794

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,421

$2,121 CA$2,999

47.43%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Parry Sound: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,131 in Parry Sound. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 47% 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 $395 vs $259 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.

Average pay runs 47% higher in Calgary, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,131 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 $2,485 per month in Calgary versus $2,430 in Parry Sound – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,430 in Parry Sound versus $2,485 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.