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: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,313 in Parry Sound.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,470 in Calgary versus $3,222 in Parry Sound.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,597 in Calgary versus $4,132 in Parry Sound.

Living in Calgary is roughly 1% more expensive than in Parry Sound, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Parry Sound 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 CA$24.74

$17.77 CA$24.86

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.2 CA$99.6

$52.6 CA$73.5

35.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 CA$15.18

$10.82 CA$15.14

0.28%

Cappuccino

$3.85 CA$5.39

$3.33 CA$4.66

15.62%

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

$1.95 CA$2.73

$1.48 CA$2.07

31.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.51

$1.09 CA$1.53

64.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 CA$6.95

$4.59 CA$6.43

8.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.25

$4.36 CA$6.09

35.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 CA$2.58

$2.01 CA$2.81

-8.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$2.30 CA$3.22

18.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.44 CA$7.60

$1.61 CA$2.25

237.89%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.07

$3.09 CA$4.33

17.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 CA$16.15

$4.15 CA$5.81

178.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 CA$16.19

$10.76 CA$15.05

7.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 CA$26.50

$7.09 CA$9.92

167.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 CA$6.92

$3.36 CA$4.69

47.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.98

$0.74 CA$1.03

91.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.90

$0.75 CA$1.05

462.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.72

$2.22 CA$3.11

84.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$1.66 CA$2.32

54.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 CA$3.95

$1.35 CA$1.89

108.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.59

$1.41 CA$1.97

82.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.16

$1.58 CA$2.21

-1.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.59 CA$20.41

$12.40 CA$17.35

17.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.60 CA$21.83

$11.66 CA$16.32

33.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 CA$3.61

$2.91 CA$4.07

-11.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 CA$4.52

$3.49 CA$4.88

-7.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.96 CA$4.14

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.1 CA$127

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 CA$4.43

$8.49 CA$11.88

-62.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.67 CA$38.70

$19.24 CA$26.91

43.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 CA$1.75

$1.11 CA$1.56

12.61%

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

$28.3K CA$39.6K

$28.0K CA$39.2K

1.10%

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

$21.3K CA$29.8K

$18.8K CA$26.4K

12.96%

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

$178 CA$249

$128 CA$179

39.13%

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

$39.31 CA$55.0

$27.08 CA$37.88

45.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.9 CA$71.2

$45.74 CA$64.0

11.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$76.5

$33.44 CA$46.78

63.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.77 CA$26.25

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 CA$20.36

$10.13 CA$14.18

43.63%

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

$812 CA$1,135

$894 CA$1,250

-9.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K CA$23.0K

$28.2K CA$39.4K

-41.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 CA$83.1

$43.36 CA$60.7

37.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 CA$56.4

$37.55 CA$52.5

7.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 CA$129

$95.3 CA$133

-3.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$158

$97.6 CA$137

15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,284 CA$1,796

$1,110 CA$1,553

15.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 CA$1,424

$1,359 CA$1,902

-25.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,977 CA$2,766

$2,201 CA$3,079

-10.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 CA$2,443

$2,176 CA$3,044

-19.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,571 CA$4,995

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,359 CA$4,698

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,213 CA$4,495

$2,167 CA$3,032

48.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.56

-1.75%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 12, 2026

Last update for Parry Sound: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,284 in Calgary and $1,110 in Parry Sound. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 48% 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 $53.0 in Parry Sound for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $262 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 48% 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: $1,284 in Calgary versus $1,110 in Parry Sound. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $812 in Calgary versus $894 in Parry Sound. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Parry Sound – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,313 in Parry Sound versus $2,344 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 1% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.