Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Red Deer Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Red Deer

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,523 in Calgary versus $2,199 in Red Deer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Calgary versus $3,126 in Red Deer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,780 in Calgary versus $4,053 in Red Deer.

Living in Calgary is roughly 15% more expensive than Red Deer, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 88% above, Red Deer 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.59 CA$25.74

$18.01 CA$24.94

3.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 CA$97.0

$55.7 CA$77.1

25.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.96 CA$15.17

$11.01 CA$15.24

-0.45%

Cappuccino

$3.73 CA$5.17

$3.88 CA$5.37

-3.87%

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

$1.99 CA$2.75

$1.75 CA$2.42

13.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 CA$2.39

$1.74 CA$2.41

-1.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.94

$4.86 CA$6.73

3.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.50 CA$9.01

$5.80 CA$8.03

12.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 CA$3.08

$1.76 CA$2.44

26.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 CA$3.69

$2.82 CA$3.90

-5.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 CA$4.52

$3.06 CA$4.23

6.54%

Eggs

$3.35 CA$4.64

$3.21 CA$4.45

4.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.07

$10.46 CA$14.48

38.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.95 CA$17.93

$12.36 CA$17.11

4.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 CA$22.36

$13.99 CA$19.37

15.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$4.60 CA$6.37

-6.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.88

$1.38 CA$1.91

-2.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 CA$5.30

$3.84 CA$5.31

-0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 CA$5.79

$3.58 CA$4.96

16.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 CA$3.67

$2.44 CA$3.38

8.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 CA$3.79

$2.23 CA$3.09

22.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$2.62 CA$3.63

5.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.70

$1.95 CA$2.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.98 CA$20.74

$14.45 CA$20.00

3.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.67 CA$20.31

$14.66 CA$20.30

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 CA$3.94

$3.09 CA$4.27

-8.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 CA$5.56

$3.19 CA$4.42

26.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 CA$3.88

$2.16 CA$2.99

29.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.2 CA$119

$54.3 CA$75.2

58.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$4.99

$2.71 CA$3.75

32.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 CA$1.82

$1.33 CA$1.85

-0.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.01 CA$40.17

$23.78 CA$32.92

21.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.55

$1.08 CA$1.49

3.70%

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

$24.9K CA$34.4K

$24.6K CA$34.1K

0.85%

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

$22.0K CA$30.4K

$22.3K CA$30.9K

-1.58%

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

$217 CA$301

$192 CA$265

13.28%

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

$41.55 CA$57.5

$44.60 CA$61.8

-6.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.1 CA$80.4

$65.8 CA$91.0

-11.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 CA$75.8

$40.36 CA$55.9

35.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.8 CA$73.1

$11.08 CA$15.34

376.71%

Cinema Ticket

$12.77 CA$17.68

$11.00 CA$15.23

16.09%

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

$874 CA$1,210

$706 CA$978

23.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.1K

$11.7K CA$16.2K

36.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 CA$81.5

$49.03 CA$67.9

19.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 CA$64.4

$34.31 CA$47.51

35.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 CA$121

$74.6 CA$103

16.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$151

$101 CA$140

7.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,957

$1,106 CA$1,531

27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 CA$1,623

$988 CA$1,368

18.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,319 CA$3,211

$1,495 CA$2,069

55.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 CA$2,612

$1,409 CA$1,951

33.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,892 CA$5,389

$2,837 CA$3,928

37.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,503 CA$4,851

$2,859 CA$3,959

22.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,149 CA$4,360

$3,015 CA$4,175

4.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.08

-6.09%

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

Last update for Calgary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Red Deer: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,106 in Red Deer. 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: $70.0 in Calgary vs $56.0 in Red Deer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $367 per month, with Red Deer 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 Red Deer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Red Deer is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Calgary pays 4% more on average, 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,106 in Red Deer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Red Deer – a meal for two runs $56.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,523 per month in Calgary versus $2,199 in Red Deer – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,199 in Red Deer versus $2,523 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Red Deer but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Red Deer 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 Red Deer gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.