Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Quesnel Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Quesnel

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,440 in Quesnel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Calgary versus $3,444 in Quesnel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,622 in Calgary versus $4,447 in Quesnel.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 4% less than in Quesnel, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 71% above, Quesnel 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.94 CA$24.74

$16.70 CA$23.02

7.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.5 CA$97.3

$46.70 CA$64.4

51.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.69 CA$14.74

$11.19 CA$15.43

-4.47%

Cappuccino

$3.79 CA$5.22

$4.32 CA$5.95

-12.27%

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

$2.00 CA$2.76

$2.56 CA$3.53

-21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CA$2.72

$2.12 CA$2.93

-6.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.19 CA$7.16

$4.78 CA$6.60

8.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.86 CA$8.08

$5.68 CA$7.84

3.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 CA$2.69

$2.35 CA$3.24

-17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 CA$3.89

$2.45 CA$3.38

15.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 CA$7.74

$4.27 CA$5.89

31.38%

Eggs

$3.75 CA$5.17

$5.03 CA$6.94

-25.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.50 CA$15.86

$12.49 CA$17.23

-7.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 CA$15.81

$16.98 CA$23.42

-32.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.95 CA$26.14

$17.22 CA$23.74

10.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 CA$6.66

$4.19 CA$5.77

15.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 CA$1.89

$1.32 CA$1.82

3.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.86

$4.71 CA$6.49

-9.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 CA$5.72

$4.34 CA$5.98

-4.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 CA$3.73

$3.23 CA$4.46

-16.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 CA$3.90

$3.71 CA$5.11

-23.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 CA$3.64

$2.59 CA$3.57

1.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.08

$1.76 CA$2.43

-14.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.60 CA$20.14

$11.94 CA$16.47

22.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 CA$21.73

$10.67 CA$14.72

47.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 CA$3.58

$2.66 CA$3.67

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CA$4.25

$3.45 CA$4.76

-10.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 CA$4.04

$2.39 CA$3.30

22.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89.3 CA$123

$58.5 CA$80.6

52.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.58

$2.55 CA$3.52

30.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 CA$1.97

$2.21 CA$3.05

-35.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.71 CA$38.21

$43.38 CA$59.8

-36.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.20 CA$1.65

5.00%

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

$28.9K CA$39.9K

$29.3K CA$40.5K

-1.36%

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

$21.3K CA$29.4K

$23.4K CA$32.3K

-8.90%

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

$183 CA$252

$179 CA$247

2.21%

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

$38.31 CA$52.8

$39.51 CA$54.5

-3.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.7 CA$71.3

$73.4 CA$101

-29.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.9 CA$75.7

$41.02 CA$56.6

33.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 CA$25.73

$18.43 CA$25.42

1.25%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 CA$19.66

$7.71 CA$10.63

84.95%

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

$828 CA$1,142

$783 CA$1,080

5.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$21.9K

$14.3K CA$19.7K

11.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 CA$82.1

$37.51 CA$51.7

58.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 CA$54.4

$46.80 CA$64.5

-15.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 CA$130

$79.3 CA$109

18.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 CA$156

$106 CA$147

6.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 CA$1,744

$800 CA$1,104

58.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 CA$1,450

$1,155 CA$1,593

-8.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,934 CA$2,667

$1,999 CA$2,756

-3.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 CA$2,344

$1,744 CA$2,405

-2.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,680 CA$5,075

$4,846 CA$6,683

-24.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,333 CA$4,597

$3,186 CA$4,393

4.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,276 CA$4,518

$2,490 CA$3,433

31.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.4

5.35

-17.76%

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

Last update for Calgary: September 1, 2026

Last update for Quesnel: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Calgary and $800 in Quesnel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 32% 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 $47.00 in Quesnel. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $419, with Calgary cheaper for home cooking.

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 Quesnel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 32% 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: $1,265 in Calgary versus $800 in Quesnel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Calgary – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $47.00 in Quesnel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,353 per month in Calgary versus $2,440 in Quesnel – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,353 in Calgary versus $2,440 in Quesnel, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Calgary but tight or insufficient in Quesnel. The gap between the two cities makes Calgary 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 Calgary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Quesnel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.