Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Saint John, New Brunswick Cost of Living Comparison Between Calgary and Saint John, New Brunswick

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,462 in Calgary versus $2,095 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,628 in Calgary versus $3,020 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,795 in Calgary versus $3,946 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Living in Calgary is roughly 18% more expensive than in Saint John, New Brunswick, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Calgary 84% above, Saint John, New Brunswick 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.33 CA$25.79

$22.02 CA$30.98

-16.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 CA$98.3

$60.6 CA$85.3

15.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.41

$10.37 CA$14.58

5.59%

Cappuccino

$3.74 CA$5.26

$3.15 CA$4.43

18.73%

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

$2.04 CA$2.87

$1.68 CA$2.37

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 CA$2.35

$1.17 CA$1.65

42.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.20 CA$7.32

$4.34 CA$6.11

19.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 CA$9.45

$5.04 CA$7.10

33.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 CA$3.16

$2.01 CA$2.83

11.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 CA$3.87

$2.94 CA$4.13

-6.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.54

$1.83 CA$2.57

76.50%

Eggs

$3.45 CA$4.85

$3.64 CA$5.12

-5.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 CA$20.26

$11.57 CA$16.28

24.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 CA$18.13

$8.80 CA$12.39

46.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 CA$22.32

$16.27 CA$22.90

-2.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 CA$6.05

$3.95 CA$5.56

8.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.45 CA$2.04

-7.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.42

$3.64 CA$5.12

5.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.99

$4.37 CA$6.14

-2.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$2.06 CA$2.89

23.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 CA$3.69

$2.14 CA$3.01

22.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 CA$3.94

$2.68 CA$3.77

4.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CA$2.74

$1.49 CA$2.10

30.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.97 CA$21.06

$18.33 CA$25.79

-18.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 CA$19.57

$9.62 CA$13.54

44.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 CA$4.11

$3.39 CA$4.77

-13.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 CA$5.50

$3.26 CA$4.59

19.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.74 CA$3.85

$2.15 CA$3.02

27.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.8 CA$124

$60.2 CA$84.7

45.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.06

$3.63 CA$5.11

-0.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$1.11 CA$1.57

17.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.70 CA$40.39

$29.56 CA$41.59

-2.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 CA$1.57

$1.21 CA$1.70

-7.44%

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

$25.5K CA$35.8K

$24.7K CA$34.7K

3.23%

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

$21.7K CA$30.6K

$20.1K CA$28.2K

8.43%

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

$213 CA$300

$129 CA$181

65.26%

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

$40.96 CA$57.6

$37.71 CA$53.1

8.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.9 CA$81.5

$63.8 CA$89.8

-9.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 CA$76.2

$42.19 CA$59.4

28.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.8 CA$75.6

$36.57 CA$51.5

46.98%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 CA$17.77

$11.11 CA$15.63

13.68%

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

$874 CA$1,230

$164 CA$231

432.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K CA$22.3K

$11.6K CA$16.4K

36.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 CA$82.5

$41.85 CA$58.9

40.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.01 CA$66.2

$43.13 CA$60.7

9.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 CA$120

$86.0 CA$121

-1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 CA$151

$120 CA$168

-10.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 CA$1,942

$1,032 CA$1,452

33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 CA$1,631

$962 CA$1,353

20.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 CA$3,270

$1,643 CA$2,311

41.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 CA$2,680

$1,409 CA$1,982

35.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,786 CA$5,327

$2,016 CA$2,837

87.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,511 CA$4,940

$2,089 CA$2,939

68.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,940 CA$4,136

$2,501 CA$3,519

17.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.18

-7.61%

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

Last update for Calgary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,380 in Calgary and $1,032 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Calgary pays 18% 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 $61.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $346 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint John, New Brunswick is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 18% 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 $1,032 in Saint John, New Brunswick. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick – a meal for two runs $61.0 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 $2,095 in Saint John, New Brunswick – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,095 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,462 in Calgary, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint John, New Brunswick but tight or insufficient in Calgary. The gap between the two cities makes Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Calgary. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.