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: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,163 in Red Deer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,106 in Red Deer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $4,048 in Red Deer.

Living in Calgary is roughly 14% more expensive than in Red Deer, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Red Deer 62% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$17.38 CA$24.45

5.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$54.8 CA$77.1

27.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.92 CA$15.36

0.27%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.83 CA$5.38

-2.35%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.77 CA$2.49

15.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.78 CA$2.50

-6.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$4.73 CA$6.65

9.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.77 CA$8.12

16.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$1.74 CA$2.45

29.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.87 CA$4.04

-4.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.07 CA$4.31

5.21%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.18 CA$4.47

8.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$10.59 CA$14.90

35.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$12.54 CA$17.65

2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$13.61 CA$19.16

16.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$4.73 CA$6.66

-9.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.36 CA$1.92

-1.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.84 CA$5.41

0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.58 CA$5.04

18.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.45 CA$3.44

4.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.20 CA$3.09

19.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.72 CA$3.83

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.93 CA$2.72

1.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$14.82 CA$20.85

1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$14.16 CA$19.92

-1.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.96 CA$4.16

-1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.17 CA$4.46

23.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.27 CA$3.19

20.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$53.5 CA$75.2

64.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$2.83 CA$3.98

27.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.30 CA$1.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$23.82 CA$33.52

20.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.06 CA$1.50

5.66%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.7K CA$34.8K

3.15%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$22.0K CA$31.0K

-1.27%

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

$213 CA$300

$195 CA$274

9.27%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$44.84 CA$63.1

-8.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$66.3 CA$93.3

-12.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$39.98 CA$56.3

35.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$11.09 CA$15.60

384.67%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$11.00 CA$15.48

14.82%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$700 CA$985

24.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.8K CA$16.6K

34.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$49.23 CA$69.3

19.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$35.28 CA$49.65

33.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$76.5 CA$108

11.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$103 CA$145

4.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,094 CA$1,539

26.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$998 CA$1,404

16.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,484 CA$2,088

56.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,450 CA$2,040

31.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$2,758 CA$3,880

37.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$2,691 CA$3,787

30.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,969 CA$4,178

-0.99%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Red Deer: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,094 in Red Deer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Red Deer pays 1% 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 $55.0 in Red Deer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Red Deer. 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: $1,380 in Calgary versus $1,094 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 $55.0 versus $70.0 in Calgary. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,462 per month in Calgary versus $2,163 in Red Deer – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,163 in Red Deer versus $2,462 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 14% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.