Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Richmond Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Richmond

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,485 in Calgary versus $2,517 in Richmond.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,590 in Calgary versus $3,725 in Richmond.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,694 in Calgary versus $4,933 in Richmond.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 86% above, Richmond 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 CA$25.93

$16.27 CA$23.00

12.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 CA$100

$74.5 CA$105

-4.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.25 CA$15.91

$9.83 CA$13.90

14.45%

Cappuccino

$3.83 CA$5.41

$4.05 CA$5.72

-5.43%

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

$1.96 CA$2.76

$2.05 CA$2.89

-4.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.33

$1.30 CA$1.84

26.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 CA$7.47

$5.54 CA$7.83

-4.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 CA$9.60

$5.97 CA$8.44

13.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.17

$2.11 CA$2.98

6.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 CA$3.87

$2.38 CA$3.36

14.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 CA$4.77

$2.58 CA$3.65

31.01%

Eggs

$3.29 CA$4.66

$3.25 CA$4.59

1.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.76 CA$20.87

$9.51 CA$13.44

55.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.70 CA$17.95

$10.24 CA$14.47

24.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.95 CA$22.55

$9.94 CA$14.05

60.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 CA$6.09

$3.13 CA$4.43

37.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 CA$1.91

$1.45 CA$2.04

-6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.35

$2.64 CA$3.74

43.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 CA$5.96

$3.86 CA$5.45

9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 CA$3.65

$2.48 CA$3.50

4.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 CA$3.81

$2.23 CA$3.15

20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 CA$3.87

$1.92 CA$2.71

42.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 CA$2.74

$1.17 CA$1.66

65.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.75 CA$20.85

$14.64 CA$20.70

0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 CA$19.91

$12.95 CA$18.31

8.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.97

$2.13 CA$3.02

31.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 CA$5.59

$2.27 CA$3.20

74.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 CA$3.98

$2.25 CA$3.18

24.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.6 CA$122

$77.8 CA$110

11.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 CA$4.82

$3.01 CA$4.25

13.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 CA$1.92

$1.48 CA$2.09

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 CA$41.04

$25.49 CA$36.03

13.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CA$1.52

$1.37 CA$1.94

-21.90%

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

$25.0K CA$35.4K

$24.6K CA$34.7K

1.90%

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

$22.1K CA$31.2K

$19.9K CA$28.1K

10.90%

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

$215 CA$303

$112 CA$158

91.56%

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

$40.33 CA$57.0

$45.26 CA$64.0

-10.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.9

$46.22 CA$65.3

25.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 CA$77.5

$56.4 CA$79.7

-2.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.6 CA$75.7

$5.01 CA$7.08

969.26%

Cinema Ticket

$12.66 CA$17.89

$11.99 CA$16.94

5.59%

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

$872 CA$1,233

$937 CA$1,325

-6.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K CA$22.8K

$10.9K CA$15.4K

47.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 CA$81.7

$49.32 CA$69.7

17.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 CA$66.9

$33.74 CA$47.69

40.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.9 CA$123

$93.4 CA$132

-7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 CA$154

$126 CA$178

-13.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 CA$1,998

$1,800 CA$2,545

-21.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 CA$1,630

$1,434 CA$2,027

-19.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 CA$3,266

$2,929 CA$4,140

-21.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,876 CA$2,652

$2,487 CA$3,515

-24.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,833 CA$5,419

$9,937 CA$14.0K

-61.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,392 CA$4,794

$8,035 CA$11.4K

-57.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 CA$4,421

$3,106 CA$4,391

0.68%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Richmond: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Calgary and $1,800 in Richmond. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary 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: $71.0 in Calgary vs $74.0 in Richmond. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $307, with Richmond 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 Richmond: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calgary is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $1,414 in Calgary versus $1,800 in Richmond. 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 $74.0 in Richmond. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,485 per month in Calgary versus $2,517 in Richmond – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Calgary is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Richmond. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.