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: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,481 in Quesnel.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,496 in Quesnel.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,512 in Quesnel.

Living in Calgary costs roughly 1% less than in Quesnel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Quesnel 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$18.27 CA$25.71

0.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$47.12 CA$66.3

48.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$11.25 CA$15.83

-2.67%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$4.21 CA$5.92

-11.16%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$2.13 CA$3.00

-4.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.63 CA$2.29

2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$4.53 CA$6.37

14.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.92 CA$8.33

13.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.98 CA$4.19

-24.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.74 CA$3.86

0.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$5.05 CA$7.10

-36.04%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$4.03 CA$5.67

-14.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$6.88 CA$9.69

109.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$9.09 CA$12.79

41.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$11.20 CA$15.76

41.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$4.73 CA$6.66

-9.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.42 CA$1.99

-5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$4.63 CA$6.51

-16.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.99 CA$5.61

6.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$4.39 CA$6.18

-41.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$3.40 CA$4.78

-22.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$3.32 CA$4.68

-15.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.68 CA$2.36

16.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$12.38 CA$17.42

20.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$10.40 CA$14.64

33.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.79 CA$3.92

4.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$4.70 CA$6.62

-16.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$1.80 CA$2.53

52.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$63.4 CA$89.2

38.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$2.69 CA$3.78

33.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$2.09 CA$2.94

-37.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$43.73 CA$61.5

-34.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.20 CA$1.69

-6.67%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$25.4K CA$35.8K

0.25%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$18.2K CA$25.6K

19.52%

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

$213 CA$300

$220 CA$309

-3.11%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$44.12 CA$62.1

-7.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$67.6 CA$95.2

-14.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$74.4 CA$105

-27.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$9.78 CA$13.76

29.14%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$558 CA$785

56.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.9K CA$16.7K

33.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$37.91 CA$53.4

54.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$58.3 CA$82.0

-19.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$80.6 CA$113

5.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$110 CA$155

-2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$953 CA$1,340

44.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$1,196 CA$1,683

-3.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,987 CA$2,796

16.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,798 CA$2,530

5.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$4,466 CA$6,284

-15.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$3,200 CA$4,502

9.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,446 CA$3,442

20.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.46

-11.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Quesnel: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $953 in Quesnel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Calgary vs $47.00 in Quesnel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $361 per month, with Quesnel 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 Quesnel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 20% 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $953 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 $70.0 versus $47.00 in Quesnel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,481 in Quesnel – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,481 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 1% less than in Quesnel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.