Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Rimouski,QC Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Rimouski,QC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $1,501 in Rimouski,QC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $2,245 in Rimouski,QC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $2,988 in Rimouski,QC.

Living in Calgary is roughly 64% more expensive than in Rimouski,QC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Rimouski,QC 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$12.46 CA$17.53

47.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$58.6 CA$82.5

19.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$8.55 CA$12.03

28.07%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.66 CA$5.15

2.19%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.99 CA$2.81

2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.51 CA$2.12

10.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$5.62 CA$7.91

-7.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$4.30 CA$6.05

56.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.18 CA$3.07

3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.32 CA$3.27

18.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$3.02 CA$4.26

6.95%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$2.08 CA$2.92

65.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$8.33 CA$11.71

72.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$8.31 CA$11.70

55.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$13.18 CA$18.54

20.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.07 CA$4.32

40.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.16 CA$1.63

15.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$4.32 CA$6.08

-10.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$3.96 CA$5.58

7.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$1.94 CA$2.73

31.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.56 CA$3.60

2.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.27 CA$3.19

23.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.51 CA$2.12

29.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$12.80 CA$18.01

16.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$10.07 CA$14.18

38.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$2.06 CA$2.90

41.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$1.27 CA$1.79

207.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.23 CA$3.13

22.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$63.7 CA$89.6

37.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.69 CA$5.19

-2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$2.35 CA$3.30

-44.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$31.24 CA$43.95

-8.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.14 CA$1.60

-1.75%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

0.01%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.1K CA$28.2K

8.40%

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

$213 CA$300

$86.4 CA$122

146.55%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$34.05 CA$47.91

20.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$42.29 CA$59.5

36.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$32.83 CA$46.19

65.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$10.34 CA$14.55

22.15%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$823 CA$1,158

6.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$6,206 CA$8,733

155.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$54.8 CA$77.1

6.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$50.4 CA$70.9

-6.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$100 CA$141

-15.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$128 CA$180

-16.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$917 CA$1,291

50.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$542 CA$763

113.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,267 CA$1,782

83.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$699 CA$984

172.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,632 CA$3,704

11.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.6

-13.48%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Rimouski,QC: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $917 in Rimouski,QC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 12% 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 $59.0 in Rimouski,QC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $302 per month, with Rimouski,QC 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 Rimouski,QC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rimouski,QC is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% 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 $917 in Rimouski,QC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Rimouski,QC – a meal for two runs $59.0 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 $1,501 in Rimouski,QC – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,501 in Rimouski,QC versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rimouski,QC but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Rimouski,QC 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 Rimouski,QC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.