Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Prince George

For one person, living is cheaper in Prince George: $2,140 a month against $2,297 in Calgary, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Calgary, Canada
Prince George, Canada
Calgary
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,297
/mo nomad
Prince George
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,140
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calgary and in Prince George

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Calgary and in Prince George actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,297 in Calgary versus $2,140 in Prince George.

  • Calgary $2,297
  • Prince George $2,140

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,378 in Calgary versus $3,209 in Prince George.

  • Calgary $3,378
  • Prince George $3,209

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,459 in Calgary versus $4,277 in Prince George.

  • Calgary $4,459
  • Prince George $4,277

Living in Calgary is roughly 7% more expensive than in Prince George, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Prince George 58% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.94 CA$25.13
$18.02 CA$25.24
-0.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9 CA$96.5
$71.2 CA$99.8
-3.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 CA$15.32
$8.67 CA$12.14
26.18%
Cappuccino
$3.70 CA$5.19
$3.87 CA$5.42
-4.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.90
$2.23 CA$3.12
-7.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 CA$2.86
$2.39 CA$3.35
-14.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 CA$8.05
$5.60 CA$7.85
2.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 CA$7.98
$7.25 CA$10.16
-21.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 CA$2.77
$1.74 CA$2.44
13.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 CA$3.71
$2.53 CA$3.54
4.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.84 CA$8.17
$4.60 CA$6.44
26.96%
Eggs
$3.81 CA$5.34
$4.19 CA$5.87
-9.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.81 CA$15.13
$6.35 CA$8.89
70.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.02 CA$15.43
$14.24 CA$19.95
-22.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.87 CA$25.03
$14.24 CA$19.94
25.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 CA$6.84
$4.03 CA$5.64
21.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 CA$2.03
$2.83 CA$3.96
-48.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 CA$5.82
$5.50 CA$7.70
-24.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 CA$5.59
$3.81 CA$5.33
4.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 CA$4.10
$3.07 CA$4.29
-4.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 CA$4.23
$2.31 CA$3.23
30.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.67 CA$3.73
$3.02 CA$4.22
-11.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 CA$2.20
$2.12 CA$2.97
-25.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11 CA$19.76
$15.06 CA$21.10
-6.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.45 CA$21.64
$10.81 CA$15.14
42.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 CA$3.51
$5.62 CA$7.87
-55.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.45
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.85 CA$3.99
$2.00 CA$2.80
42.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.2 CA$126
$44.99 CA$63.0
100.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 CA$4.43
$2.92 CA$4.09
8.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.97
$1.76 CA$2.47
-19.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.46 CA$38.46
$33.81 CA$47.36
-18.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.66
$1.36 CA$1.90
-13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K CA$39.0K
$27.5K CA$38.5K
1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.5K
$22.6K CA$31.7K
-6.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 CA$255
$171 CA$239
6.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.01 CA$50.4
$42.01 CA$58.8
-14.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.80 CA$68.4
$60.8 CA$85.2
-19.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.78 CA$68.3
$43.23 CA$60.6
12.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.15 CA$25.42
$17.74 CA$24.84
2.31%
Cinema Ticket
$14.52 CA$20.33
$8.93 CA$12.50
62.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$542 CA$759
$410 CA$574
32.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K CA$29.6K
$3,568 CA$4,997
493.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 CA$82.7
$61.2 CA$85.7
-3.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.34 CA$59.3
$38.92 CA$54.5
8.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 CA$132
$94.4 CA$132
-0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 CA$152
$147 CA$206
-26.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 CA$1,700
$1,124 CA$1,574
7.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 CA$1,451
$919 CA$1,287
12.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,045 CA$2,865
$1,732 CA$2,425
18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 CA$2,317
$1,548 CA$2,167
6.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,653 CA$5,116
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,183 CA$4,458
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calgary
Prince George
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,219 CA$4,508
$3,089 CA$4,327
4.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
4.96
-10.69%

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

Last update for Calgary: November 2, 2026

Last update for Prince George: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calgary
$1K
Prince George
$919 11.3% $117
Groceries & Markets
Calgary
$390
Prince George
$390 * 0.1% $0.3
Eating Out
Calgary
$277
Prince George
$278 0.1% $0.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calgary
$267
Prince George
$274 2.6% $7.1
Clothing & Footwear
Calgary
$137
Prince George
$154 12.3% $17
Getting Around
Calgary
$112
Prince George
$65 42.1% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Calgary
$78
Prince George
$61 21.5% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,214 in Calgary and $1,124 in Prince George. 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: $69 in Calgary vs $71 in Prince George for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 vs $390 per month, with Calgary cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Calgary
🇨🇦 Prince George
🕒 Local time
20:15 8:15 PM
19:15 7:15 PM
1 h behind Calgary
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,267,344
71,974
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.714 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calgary Prince George 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Calgary
  • Prince George

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Prince George: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prince George cheaper than Calgary?
Prince George is about 7% cheaper overall, especially in transport and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Calgary or Prince George?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Calgary, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Calgary and Prince George?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,214 in Calgary versus $1,124 in Prince George. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $542 in Calgary versus $410 in Prince George. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Calgary or in Prince George?
Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $69 versus $71 in Prince George. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 enough for either Calgary or Prince George?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Prince George gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Calgary or in Prince George?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Prince George wins on affordability, Calgary on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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