Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Prince Rupert, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Prince Rupert, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,344 in Calgary versus $2,000 in Prince Rupert, BC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,499 in Calgary versus $3,148 in Prince Rupert, BC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,655 in Calgary versus $4,296 in Prince Rupert, BC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 17% more expensive than in Prince Rupert, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 70% above, Prince Rupert, BC 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.45 CA$25.59

$17.79 CA$24.67

3.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.5 CA$99.2

$66.9 CA$92.7

6.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 CA$14.81

$10.71 CA$14.86

-0.28%

Cappuccino

$3.93 CA$5.46

$3.69 CA$5.11

6.50%

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

$2.02 CA$2.80

$2.00 CA$2.77

1.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CA$2.73

$1.67 CA$2.31

17.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 CA$6.82

$5.38 CA$7.46

-8.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CA$8.19

$5.76 CA$7.99

2.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 CA$2.82

$1.98 CA$2.75

2.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 CA$3.97

$2.58 CA$3.57

10.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.72 CA$7.93

$3.45 CA$4.78

65.80%

Eggs

$3.81 CA$5.29

$5.02 CA$6.97

-24.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.56 CA$16.04

$8.67 CA$12.03

33.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.95 CA$16.57

$11.21 CA$15.54

6.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.97 CA$26.30

$16.32 CA$22.64

16.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 CA$6.82

$1.84 CA$2.55

166.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$1.06 CA$1.47

33.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 CA$6.04

$3.29 CA$4.57

32.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CA$5.59

$3.93 CA$5.45

2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$2.58 CA$3.57

5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$3.99

$2.19 CA$3.03

31.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.57 CA$3.57

$2.61 CA$3.62

-1.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 CA$2.07

$1.62 CA$2.25

-8.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 CA$20.41

$14.65 CA$20.31

0.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 CA$21.60

$13.96 CA$19.36

11.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.50

$2.64 CA$3.66

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 CA$4.53

$2.99 CA$4.14

9.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 CA$4.07

$2.42 CA$3.35

21.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.8 CA$125

$60.8 CA$84.3

47.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 CA$4.58

$3.03 CA$4.21

8.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 CA$1.90

$1.65 CA$2.29

-16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.07 CA$37.54

$20.63 CA$28.61

31.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.69

$1.23 CA$1.71

-0.81%

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

$28.6K CA$39.6K

$29.6K CA$41.0K

-3.41%

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

$20.9K CA$29.0K

$17.6K CA$24.4K

18.64%

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

$182 CA$253

$143 CA$198

27.64%

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

$39.50 CA$54.8

$35.98 CA$49.90

9.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.4 CA$71.3

$52.2 CA$72.4

-1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$76.0

$38.39 CA$53.3

42.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 CA$26.07

$15.84 CA$21.98

18.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.52 CA$20.14

$11.64 CA$16.14

24.74%

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

$819 CA$1,136

$699 CA$969

17.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K CA$22.7K

$12.7K CA$17.6K

28.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 CA$85.8

$47.27 CA$65.6

30.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 CA$55.7

$39.99 CA$55.5

0.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$131

$86.0 CA$119

9.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$158

$102 CA$142

11.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 CA$1,741

$1,092 CA$1,515

14.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 CA$1,510

$870 CA$1,207

25.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 CA$2,766

$1,995 CA$2,767

-0.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,706 CA$2,367

$1,747 CA$2,423

-2.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,627 CA$5,031

$4,916 CA$6,818

-26.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 CA$4,719

$4,113 CA$5,704

-17.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,246 CA$4,502

$3,296 CA$4,571

-1.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.48

4.68

-4.27%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 6, 2026

Last update for Prince Rupert, BC: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,256 in Calgary and $1,092 in Prince Rupert, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Prince Rupert, BC pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $71.0 in Calgary vs $67.0 in Prince Rupert, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $348 per month, with Prince Rupert, BC 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 Prince Rupert, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Prince Rupert, BC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Prince Rupert, BC. 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: $1,256 in Calgary versus $1,092 in Prince Rupert, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Prince Rupert, BC – a meal for two runs $67.0 versus $71.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,344 per month in Calgary versus $2,000 in Prince Rupert, BC – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,000 in Prince Rupert, BC versus $2,344 in Calgary, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Prince Rupert, BC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Prince Rupert, BC 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.

Expats usually find Prince Rupert, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.